This project uses the new ISO standard for organizing, retrieving, and interchanging semantic information on the Web, Topic Maps, for developing e-learning courseware in computer science. Specifically, the project is developing subject ontologies for four modules of undergraduate Computer Science courses, using them to create comprehensive Topic Maps-based learning materials, and utilizing the developed materials in Web-assisted courses to assess their impact on student learning. The project is proving that a concept-based organization is an efficient form of structuring digital learning content in STEM disciplines and especially in Computer Science, as well as proving that Topic Maps technology is suitable for developing efficiently searchable and reusable educational materials on the Web. The topic map editor and viewer are available through the NSDL and the project is developing workshops for persons who want to develop their own topic-map based software.
The project's intellectual merit lies in concept-based organization of educational materials, providing grounds for improving students' learning in STEM disciplines by supporting topic-aware content browsing and context-based information retrieval. The developed Topic Maps-based Computer Science modules will serve as a model of ontology-driven courseware.
The project's broader impacts on courseware developers comes from promoting the application of ontologies for e-learning and using the new Topic Maps standard, and on learners, by developing courseware that provides guidance in self-exploration and task-related information search, especially for students with difficulties in conceptual understanding and reasoning.
