ReCredible: Topic Maps for Knowledge Management and E- learning Laura Kamandulytė-Merfeldienė Rytis Maskeliūnas Vaidas Repečka Vytautas Magnus University Kaunas University of Technology Kaunas University of Technology recredible.com recredible.com recredible.com laura@recredible.com rytis@recredible.com vaidas@recredible.com ABSTRACT content discovery and curation, and to use this for educational Topic Map technology (ISO 13250) is a way to facilitate the purposes. This idea has been stimulated by the theories described management and navigation of knowledge by creating meta-level below. perspectives of the underlying concepts, and the relationships between concepts that are expressed by domain ontologies. Topic 2. MOTIVATION OF THE SOLUTION maps are known to be an effective tool for organizing and Meaningful learning theory says that learners must relate new navigating information, and for integrating different kinds of knowledge to relevant concepts they already know [1]. knowledge resources. In addition, Topic Map technology can Meaningful learning involves recognition of the links between become the core of an e-learning portal that will allow users to concepts. According to Ausubel [1], knowledge is hierarchically explore and navigate datasets through faceted searches and graph organized, so we learn by constructing a network of concepts and browsing, to discover related information and to understand adding to them. The concept map, developed by Novak’s concepts and their relationships better than using traditional research group at Cornell University in the early 1970s, is an reading of continuous texts. This paper discusses the need for an instructional device that uses this aspect of theory to find a better innovative virtual study environment. The focus is on our work way to represent conceptual understandings [2]. Novak found on the development of the innovative platform, ‘ReCredible’ that that the use of concept maps could help students learn how to will allow users to find information quickly and to learn more learn meaningfully [2]. easily using Topic Maps. According to Novak et al. [3], advances in graphical user interfaces and technologies in the 1990s allowed for the Categories and Subject Descriptors development of computer-based concept mapping editors. The D.2.2 [Software Engineering]: Design Tools and Techniques - development of concept mapping tools such as CmapTools [4] user interfaces, enabled the collaborative construction of concept maps, and I.2.4 [Ontologies], publishing and sharing of concept maps on the Web [3]. I.2.7 [Artificial Intelligence]: Natural Language Processing, During the last decade concept mapping has been applied to H.3.4 [Semantic Web], teaching and learning of different subjects and courses, including K.3.1 [Computers and Education]: Computer Uses in medicine [5], [6], physics [7], [8], [9], biology [10], [11], Education chemistry [12], [13], business and management [14], mathematics [15], social studies [16], [17], learning foreign General Terms languages [18], [19], etc. Concept mapping has been shown to be Algorithms, Management, Measurement, Design, effective when used as an assessment tool at all levels of Standardization, Languages, Theory, Verification. education. When used with pre-school or elementary school children, concept maps also facilitate language learning and learning to read as well as promoting better ways to learn [3]. It Keywords is clear that concept mapping has had a large impact on Topic Map, concept map, ontology, e-learning, e-learning facilitating easy understanding of the subject to be learned, and platform on the organization of the learning content. In addition, concept 1. INTRODUCTION maps have been identified as an effective tool for evaluation, Fascinating technological advances and an overwhelming displaying students’ prior knowledge, summarizing what has amount of information even within specific topics has prompted been learned, note taking, aiding study, planning, scaffolding for the growth of new technologies for knowledge management. understanding, consolidating educational experiences, improving Topic Map technology (ISO 13250) is known to be an effective affective conditions for learning, teaching critical thinking and tool for facilitating the management and navigation of supporting cooperation and collaboration [20]. information. The core of topic maps can be summarized very Despite the fact that concept map technology is an effective tool succinctly: a topic map consists of a collection of topics, each of for the learning process, it is not used universally. Although which represents some concept. Topics are related to each other texts, videos, pictures, presentation slides and other forms of by associations. A topic may also be related to any number of material representation are used every day in learning activities, resources by its occurrences. The definition of allowed types is concept maps are not so popular. The most important reason is known as the ontology of the topic map. Topic Maps are similar that constructing concept maps is not easy – it requires effort and to concept maps and mind maps in many respects, though only time to build a good map. Concept mapping or mind mapping Topic Maps are standardized. tools are not simple to use. Specialists or domain experts create We describe a novel solution in our ontology-driven Topic Map domain ontologies, but this is done with sophisticated software portal ‘ReCredible’ that interlinks concepts, definitions, related and is therefore not a feasible method for the ordinary user. information and online resources via semantic, related Topic There is a lack of the tools needed for constructing concept maps Maps. Our basic idea is to convert unstructured information to that are both easy to use and don’t rely on some knowledge of the lightweight ontologies that are optimized for visual browsing, underlying theory. In addition, there are no mobile applications or online courses on the web that would provide learning ontology creation so every user of ReCredible can take part in the material in the form of the concept maps or would incorporate the creation of the Topic Maps and e-learning material. Registered concept maps in e-learning content. For these reasons we have user can edit Topic Maps, add information, and create new Topic used Topic Maps, which are a standardized means of Maps in very simple and intuitive way. Educational institutions representing polymorph structures in a comprehensive way for will receive APIs so that they can include plugins of ReCredible building an innovative e-learning tool for knowledge in their systems. management and e-learning. As has been described above, the main idea of ReCredible is to provide a Topic Map based system for knowledge finding and e- 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE SOLUTION learning. This idea has several advantages. As mentioned above, ReCredible.com beta (along with the 1. The concept map of the knowledge. These days mankind ReCredible mobile applications for iPad and IPhone devices) is creates and stores more information in a single day than was a personal learning environment based on the concept of topic created and stored in previous centuries. It is paradoxical, but maps. This section discusses this powerful way to manage, people are reading less and less, and finding it harder to work structure and navigate knowledge, and describes the use of the out which parts are most important for them in the mass of intuitive, visual interface of the ReCredible system for learning information. The information given in ReCredible is linked via purposes. We offer a new methodology for the development and Topic Maps in the same way your mind links concepts, allowing maintenance of the Topic Maps e-learning portal and briefly the user to find the exact information very quickly without present a pilot application. reading different texts. 2. Personalization of learning process. The platform breaks learning into bite-sized chunks and offers each part as a “snack” 3.1 Focus of ReCredible so it is possible to choose your own way of reading concepts. In virtual study environments, Topic Maps technology is 3. User-friendly, intuitive navigation enabled by ontologies. applicable as follows. Each e-course focuses on a certain Typical e-learning tools or online courses consist of various discipline, which has its own terminology. This terminology is information that includes texts, pictures and links, but a better conceptualized by the discipline (domain) ontology. The Topic way to understand and memorize information is graphic Map application of study resources can be built above this visualization. ReCredible converts unstructured information to ontology. Such a Topic Map application visualizes the discipline simplified visualized ontologies that are optimized for visual terminology, which helps students to understand the structures of browsing, content discovery and curation. The attractive studied disciplines [21]. In addition, together with the discipline visualization of Topic Maps helps users to memorize information ontologies, used for subject categorization of resources, it is very intuitively. possible to apply a kind of course ontology for arranging units and elements that together form the course content. Therefore 3.2 Development of ReCredible technology teachers can define the recommended order of resources Current Topic Map technology (ISO 13250) is on its way (presentations, documents, exercises etc.) to be studied using the towards consolidating its position as a powerful way to manage Topic Map portal, as well as in the e-course’s study content structure and navigate knowledge. The general idea behind topic module in the current virtual study environments [21]. maps is to organize information by subjects and relations The ReCredible system focuses on the development of topic between subjects [22]. maps for e-learning content but it offers opportunities to integrate No methodology of Topic Map application creation is presented different kind of e-learning resources (e-courses material, videos, in the basic ISO/IEC Topic Map standard, so the consecution presentations, exercises, and links to online courses) as well. totally depends on authors of particular Topic Map applications Currently, ReCredible beta users can browse Topic Maps for and on software used for the implementation of Topic Maps different content and search for information. Tools for different applications. General Topic Map developers’ guides suggest resources integration are being developed and will be available adopting either a top-down, or bottom-up methodology. The soon. former works by defining the application area, and the second by All the concepts, definitions, related information and online summarizing the available information and knowledge resources resources are interlinked via semantic, related concept maps in to be covered by the Topic Map application [21]. ReCredible. Topic Maps technology allows users to find In both approaches, the next Topic Map application development information quickly without reading all the text, and to memorize contains the following steps: it easily, looking at the knowledge as a whole. ReCredible could - definition of functional requirements and the purpose become the way that people explore and learn about topics and of the future Topic Map concepts, enjoying easy navigation and a visual experience. The - definition of schema of the Topic Maps based portal - ReCredible system provides an alternative to traditional learning the ontology methods and reading of continuous texts. This will become - selection of the tool for implementation of the Topic increasingly important in the era of touch screens, smart glasses, Maps solution and motion sensing. In addition, the use of Topic Map - population of instances, including evaluation of technology will allow the application to assess the user’s fulfilling all restrictions and constraints interests and knowledge automatically based on his search in the - optional revision of the schema of the Topic Maps [21] ReCredible concept maps, and to offer the most useful topics and The Topic Map model defines three basic building blocks: topic, concepts to the user, as well as related online resources which association and occurrence [23]. Topics are computer would be interesting for him. Unlike other e-learning courses or representations, either of particular subjects of our world, or tools, ReCredible assesses the user’s interests in just a few abstract categories that exist in this world. Occurrences are seconds because of the use of Topic Maps where all the characteristics of topics and are true in the context of the knowledge is interlinked. particular scope. The occurrence is a string value - either a ReCredible converts unstructured information to lightweight statement about the topic, or a link to the resource (monograph, ontologies that are optimized for visual browsing, content article, image, sound file etc.). Associations are essential for discovery and curation. We are basically trying to democratize establishing the network structure of topic. Two or more topics are in an association if there is some relationship between them. A topic is loaded on to The solution developed on recredible.com includes the semi- server automatic generation of Topic Maps and visualization of the generated Topic Maps. The entire system works on a client- server principle. The system proceeds according to three major A topic map is steps: a) a topic is created using an online editor; b) the topic is retrieved from converted into our topic map format and hosted on our servers; c) a database the topic is published and made accessible via a frontend of choice (visualized on a touchscreen or web-enabled frontend). These steps are illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Data representation and visualization process is started Selection of a topic Categorizing is Knowledge sources done and appropriate color is attached Data extraction Size and intesity is Manual mining Automated mining determined and set (books, collections (wikipedia, dbpedia, for each of the nodes of text, etc.) etc.) Positioning is calculated and saved Pre-processing and determining semantic information Appropriate data is Concept Relation Constraint written to a database selection Retrieval Discovery Informat ion is ready for access via a web service Building an ontology Fig. 2 Backend processing Integrated knowledge base 3.3 Visualisation of ReCredible Topic Maps Integrated topic map Information visualization is a well-studied scientific topic, and unfortunately remains an unsolved problem. Since the earliest cave paintings, Homo Sapiens have always pursued an effective Fig. 1 Making a Topic Map way to visualize information. Our knowledge perception systems and abilities are the result of evolution. Graphical perceptions are Figure 1 illustrates the simplified building of a Topic Map. Each processed pre-attentively and rapidly, and are accessible Topic Map is chosen very carefully by determining which intuitively without the need for active cognition. ReCredible domain the ontology will cover, what we are going to use the visualization solution allows us to access, control, explore, ontology for, what types of answers the information should combine and manipulate various types of knowledge, also provide, and who will use the ontology. The process itself is helping us to create new insights. Knowledge visualization and started by data extraction from various sources. This is done visual thinking are gaining importance in all areas of science, e- either manually from books and text, or automatically from business and society. Knowledge visualization aims to facilitate structured sources of information (such as Wikipedia, DBpedia, the mutual transfer of facts, insights, experiences, values, FreeBase, etc.). Developing an ontology includes defining expectations, perspectives, opinions and predictions. State-of-the- classes in the ontology, arranging the classes in a taxonomic art visual approaches aim to support the creation, application and (subclass–superclass) hierarchy, defining slots, describing communication of knowledge and insights – particularly in allowed values for these slots and filling in the values for slots situations where people from different educational, cultural and for instances. Everything is saved and maintained in our professional backgrounds collaborate. This method of knowledge base. information display offers an easier way to dive into the data itself, much like a human brain works. The main problems are effectively creating and transferring insights between various Image 1. A orbit view in ReCredible: pilot iPad application information sets, various users, and effectively various minds, as well as managing and reducing the complexity of standard As instances are the actual data associated with the ontology and presentations, thus allowing a more effective interpretation and are typically what most users are actually looking for, we understanding by such increasing the amount of parsed data, represent them as connected nodes (bubbles). As showing all the supporting learning, communication and interaction through connections via visual links is not effective when there is a large novel and easier-to-grasp approaches and techniques. To ensure number of relations we have an overview mode (called orbit that visualizations can to match the problem, purpose and view) which presents instances in an orbit, where more important knowledge in mind, new visualizations are often required to items are moved towards the center of the orbit (see Image 1). support various tasks. The presentation of the taxonomy on which the ontology is based Visualization of ontologies is not an easy task. Ontology is is essential for understanding the inheritance relations between something more than a hierarchy of concepts. Relations among classes, thus we provide a holistic view of this taxonomy. The concepts and each concept have various attributes. We think that user can hide certain items thus creating a partial view and the following five questions should be answered in any good focusing on a portion of the taxonomy. When a class has more knowledge visualization model [24]: than one parent the tree view (see Image 2, Image 3) presents an • What is the aim and the effect of externalizing effective visualization to indicate nodes with multiple parents knowledge into visual representations? and provide efficient means to view all the direct ancestors of a • What is relevant and should be visualized? node. Links (relations) are also displayed in the tree view but the names are hidden to avoid clutter, especially on smaller screens • Which audience should be addressed? such as on an iPad. It’s possible to display the names on a larger • What is the interest of the recipient? screen (e.g. recredible.com) or when the hierarchy is smaller and • What is the most efficient way to visualize the more manageable, and this is always an option to consider. knowledge? We have developed techniques specifically for visualization of our application. The backend of the system (see Figure 2) consists of the Mongo database, which is a NoSQL data structure well suited to storing nested data like Topic Maps. For rapid server-client communication the RESTful Web service API (Application Programming Interface) was created. With the use of API, the client’s application can easily receive detailed information about the Topic Maps and each individual topic. All the data is served in a JSON format. The process starts with retrieving a Topic Map from a database and starting a data representation and visualization processes. In principle what it does is check for a number of possible categories, assigning a visual representative for each of those (a different color), setting the opacity depending on the quality of content inside, determining the possible size and position of each node based on the relations they have, and writing all this information back to the database of visualization-ready Topic Maps. 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