The Semantic Aspects of e-Learning: Using the Knowledge Life Cycle to Manage Semantics for Grid and Service Oriented Systems

Abstract : The aim of bringing semantics to learning content and services is to enable large scale collaboration of e-learning activities over the Grid infrastructure. As machines and software applications will be ubiquitously involved in enabling and facilitating this collaboration, it requires a common understanding of the domain, in particular at the conceptual level, so that both computers and human participants of the e-learning activities understand and are able to communicate among themselves though a common conceptualisation of the learning domain. In this paper we propose that Ontology is required in this context which is shared as a language to enrich resources with semantics. In line with the pedagogical view of the semantics obtained from experts in the learning domain, we describe a semantics driven knowledge life cycle to address the key phases in managing semantics in e-learning. Service oriented architecture is adopted for the vision of Grid infrastructure, reusable components and easy integration at a later phase.