Study of Personalized Teaching System Based on Web2.0

1. 2008 International Symposium on Computational Intelligence and Design
Study of Personalized Teaching System Based on Web2.0
Yanfeng Wang Fengfeng Duan
Department of information technology, Department of information technology,
Huazhong Normal University, Wuhan, China Huazhong Normal University, Wuhan, China
wyfeng@ mail.ccnu.edu.cn dffeng2007@yahoo.com.cn
Abstract classification, obtaining, presentation and sharing of
the resources, as well as arousing the students' interests.
They are all very useful for students’ study.
Personalized teaching systems are gradually
However, in facing of the rapid development of
introduced into the teaching field along with the
information society, how to extract, publish, and share
development of information technology and many fruits
efficiently from the massive resources, arouse the
are achieved. But people must re-examine the teaching
initiative of students, and how to expand and extend
and learning based on information technology with the
the learning content based on the existed teaching
arrival of Web2.0 era. There is no doubt that the
system are issues that need to be re-examined.
development and utilization of Web2.0's ideas and
Fortunately, it may be a good way to solve the
technologies have been bringing new vitality to
problems as the Web2.0’s arrival. So, the construction
teaching and learning. How to make better and more
of personalized teaching system based on Web2.0 is a
efficient use of the technologies and ideas in teaching
valuable topic that worthy researching and developing.
and learning should be paid more attention. So, in
order to facilitate teaching and learning efficiently,
personalized teaching system need to be fully 2. Value of Web2.0 in facilitating
researched. This paper is to analysis the technologies personalized teaching and learning
and ideas of Web2.0 and their value to the
personalized teaching and learning, construct the 2.1. What is the Web2.0
personalized teaching system framework based on
Web2.0 and then analysis and design its personalized We still can not give a clear, convincing definition
modules. The purpose is to combine Web2.0's to Web2.0. Blogger Don, in" Interpretation of the
technologies and ideas with teaching system design for concept of Web2.0" ,said that "Web2.0 is a new model
teaching and learning. of internet represented by Flickr, Craigslist, Linkedin,
Tribes,Ryze,Friendster,Del.icio.us,43Things.com,
1. Introduction including Blog, TAG, SNS, RSS, Wiki and other social
software as the core, based on six-times division,
The purpose of design and development of teaching XML, Ajax, and other new theories . "[1] We can see
system is to facilitate the students' learning. Rich that Web2.0 is not a single technology, but an
resources and many learning models are gradually integration of a variety of technologies and theories. So
utilized by students, as the changing from the CAI Web2.0 can be used as an idea in most cases.
courseware at first to the network courses and on-line Originating from Web1.0, Web2.0 fully presents its
learning nowadays. However, it is a problem that how characteristics of non-centralization, personalization as
to choose their own facing so many resources and well as the self-organization of information. Perhaps it
models deserves carefully considering. In the past, is because of these, Web1.0's ideas and technologies
especially in times of Web1.0, most concerns were are thrown far from behind of the times. Web2.0's
paid on rich resources, direct presentation and passive social software, such as Blog, Wiki, RSS, SNS, IM and
application. The research, design and development of P2P, enables the releasing, obtaining, updating,
personalized teaching system based on Agent, B/S deleting, and utilization of information more barrier-
many layer structure, web, web data mining, free and convenient.
information theory etc. have many innovations in
978-0-7695-3311-7/08 $25.00 © 2008 IEEE 524
DOI 10.1109/ISCID.2008.165

2. 2.2. Value of Web2.0 in facilitating organize the learning content. At the same time, the
personalized teaching and learning content of scalability is also supported by its strong
scalability and platform-independent.
The ideas and technologies based on Web 2.0 have
a tremendous impact on students' learning. So there are 2.2.4. Diversity and mutual cooperation of learning
many positive affects in facilitating personalized methods. Students in the learning process are not
learning by utilizing personalized teaching system separate individuals. They not only exchange with the
based on Web2.0. teachers, but also use various ways with other students
in learning, such as inquiry, mutual cooperation and
2.2.1. Relative abundance and absolute openness of exploration.
learning resources. Personalized teaching system
based on Web2.0 can integrate all types of learning 2.2.5. Socialization and uncertainty of students. The
resources, and update them instantly. Tag, as Web2.0's groups of student have changed a lot in the
classified tool, demonstrates its continuity and personalized teaching system based Web2.0 as the
common in social effects ,which makes the Internet expansion of Web2.0's users. Anyone can become
information orderly closer to users' personal feelings learners and creators of the resources. Some of the
and emotional experience.[2] Therefore, resources of latest technologies can be utilized by everyone not only
personalized teaching system based on Web2.0 are not the professionals. Age, group, especially the initial
spelled disorderly, but a sequence of classified knowledge of students is no longer the effective
polymerization. At the same time, one can get access to learning factors that affect students.
resources of the other sites.
3. Framework of personalized teaching
2.2.2. Active participation and self-regulatory of system and construction of important
learning process. Personalized teaching system based modules based on Web2.0
on Web2.0 provides us with friendly and simple
interface, including a variety of resources. So the
students' enthusiasm can be fully aroused and they can 3.1. Framework of personalized teaching
choose their own resources, time, places, methods and system based on Web2.0
process of learning according to their own needs.
The ideas and advanced technologies of Web2.0
2.2.3. Scalability and self-organization of learning play an important role in constructing and utilizing
content. One of the greatest features of Web2.0 is the personalized teaching system and facilitating the
non-centralization. Therefore, each learner is the centre students' personalized learning. The framework of
in personalized teaching system based on Web2.0. personalized teaching system based on Web2.0 can be
Students not only learn from, but also create and constructed as figure 1.It includes the following parts:
Figure 1. Framework of personalized teaching system based on Web2.0
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3. 3.1.1. Exchange and cooperation between Learners. question and answer online, teaching forum, an
In personalized teaching system based on Web2.0, they interactive on demand; public service module includes
are in equal status between students and teachers. They resource management, authority management, search
are connected peer-to-peer. Students will join together help, and so on. With the design and utilization of
by Social Network Software to expand their relations these modules, on the one hand learning will be more
with others and powerful learning communities can be convenient and instant; the real teaching is reproduced
formed. In the community learners all can achieve from invisible system, too; on the other hand the
progress by communicating with each other barrier- system can be more optimization, learning and
freely, establishing partnership, and helping each other. teaching will be in order, too.
At the same time, according to the theory of six-time Social learning software: The powerful social
division, students can continue to communicate with software of Web2.0 is used in personalized teaching
more learners, so students in the communities will be system. The social software of Web2.0 provides more
more and more. So more valuable resources will be convenient ways of information exchange in teaching
continue to added to the teaching system as the and learning for teachers and students. Students can
students increase because students are also the creators establish Blog and Wiki on a subject by individuals or
of learning content and resources. Teaching system and groups. More students who are interested in it can join
resources are no longer considered as the center by in and make exchange, evaluation and discussion with
students. In contrast, learners become the center in the help of Tag, RSS, SNS .Internet exchange platform
teaching system and learning process. So, it is a typical and virtual teaching and research platform can be
learner-centered teaching and learning system. constructed naturally ,which students can use for self-
study, learning based on research and collaborative
3.1.2. Sharing of resources among learning sites. learning.[4] The communicating tools of Instant
Learning content and resources are no longer from one Messaging enable learners to feel the true reality of
or some isolate sites in the personalized teaching learning from each other and sharing the feeling face-
system based on Web2.0, but from a series of to-face with teachers and other students.
connected sites. Resources can be shared and
polymerized through RSS between the site and site, so 3.1.4. The learning process of students. Students can
the resources and content can also be expanded. When push and pull learning content and resources to and
the learners want to get access to certain types of from personalized teaching system based on Web2.0
learning content and resources, they can be gathered on through friendly easy-to-use personalized navigation
the site from others automatically. At the same time, system .At the same time students can make full use of
the content and resources of polymerization will be the social software for learning and push excellent
stored, so that students can utilize them more learning content and resources to the learning site.
conveniently. As can be seen, the more sites are Also, students can get access to the latest information
connected, the richer resources students can get access and resources according to their needs through RSS
to. readers. They can read learning content and
information even not accessing the internet. Because
3.1.3. Perfect and powerful learning system. of this, learners in personalized teaching system based
Learning content, resources, and various types of on Web2.0 will participate in actively and happily.
learning supportive services and application software
are integrated in the personalized teaching system 3.2. Construction of personalized teaching
based on Web2.0. modules based on Web2.0’s key technologies
Learning resources: Teaching content, resources
library, exercises, question and answer library, learning
strategies, file library included. These are directly 3.2.1. Syndication and sharing of resources in
utilized and learned by heart by students. The file personalized teaching system based on Web2.0. It is
library of learning is the records of each student in a powerful guarantee for the social function of the RSS
learning process and the level of mastering knowledge. (Really Simple Syndication) in constructing
[3] Learning resources in the library of resources are personalized teaching system. So it's more flexible and
prepared at first, and it will continue to be expanded in humane to obtain and release learning content and
subsequent learning. resources for students. The model of RSS used in
Service system: Includes the learning supportive personalized teaching system can be demonstrated as
module and the public service module. The learning figure 2.
supportive module includes Broad Board System,
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4. become the center of learning. So, collaborative and
interactive learning platform will be constructed in
open-learning community. [6]
Students can use Blog and other social software at
any time to demonstrate their feelings, learning fruits,
excellent learning content and resources. Students are
not only the learners but more importantly are also the
creators of the resources. They are the real masters of
Figure2.Model of RSS in personalized teaching network. They can obtain and release the personalized
system learning content and resources according to their
interests and needs. In this case, the initiative of
One of the most popular using of XML (The learners must be fully aroused.
Extensible Markup Language) is RSS. Generally Students participate in the learning will have mutual
speaking, it can be regarded as an extensive model of exchange and collaboration by SNS. They are no
resource sharing. Students can take full advantage of longer the competitors independently. They can be
learning resources through resource sharing and organized in different approaches and framework
gathering modules in personalized teaching system. At between students, students and content, students and
first, a RSS Feed is released by student, and then the activities, as well as students, content and activities.
customized information contained in the RSS Feed can These also can be combined into a collective body. It is
be called by the site or directly called by other sites. It the so-called self - organization.
is easy for the data and information to be utilized in The interactive is much easier because of two-way
other terminals and servers because they are in dynamic real-time information transmission (or IM).
formation of standard XML. At the same time, RSS Learners can get help and feedback of the teachers and
Feed can also be called each other among the sites. So, other students instantly and they can also give response
learning resources and the latest information can be and help to others. The process can be demonstrated as
obtained automatically. This is the so-called Web figure 3.
Alliance (or the Alliance of RSS).In most cases,
because different RSS channels are dynamically tied as
the format of OPML(Outline Processor Markup
Language), categorized and filtered information and
resources can be delivered to the students real-timely,
quickly and efficiently. Personalized selection of
information is realized. So the original isolate islands
of information converge on an interactive group. In this
group information and resources can be shared
conveniently. [5]
Students can also make configuration of the relevant
parameters according to their needs in the RSS Figure 3.The model of students’ learning process
Readers, such as: initial state of the system, the way of
information browse, the selection of channel update, The initiative, participation and interest of learners
the settings of network links, and so on. arouse because of User-driven rather than editor-driven
teaching system based on Web2.0. The efficiency is
3.2.2. Participation and interactive of learners in higher because of the interaction.
personalized teaching system based on Web2.0. It is
a problem that how to arouse the enthusiasm of 3.2.3. The scalability of platform and seamless
students and improve the efficiency of learning must connection for personalized teaching system based
be considered by all teaching systems. How to achieve on Web2.0. The platform scalability and seamless is
the goal? A number of attempts are carried out in many another feature of personalized teaching system based
personalized teaching systems, but few satisfactory on Web2.0 due to the application of Ajax. Learning
results are made. The ideas of non-centralization, platform can be customized because the system can be
personalization, autonomy, grass-roots, and the social established according to the learning groups, activities,
software of Blog, Wiki, Tag, IM are used in knowledge and learning process of students.
personalized teaching system based on Web2.0, which Application platform can be updated and expanded
makes students absorbed in learning system deeply. immediately according to the changing of students'
Not the learning content and resources but the students groups and knowledge. At the same time, in the
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5. personalized teaching system based on Web2.0, a The functions of personalized teaching system
series of sub-procedures, protocols and tools of API based on web 2.0 are not perfect in this paper and need
(Application Program Interface), are facilitate to the to be further improved, but its outstanding features are
secondary development of teaching system and some very useful in teaching and learning. A new era comes
learning software. Almost different RSS readers can as Web2.0's arrival and the enormous contribution is
now be used in most popular operating system made to teaching and learning. All in all, the key lies in
nowadays. The UCS (Usite Community & Social the use and perhaps we do not expect how many
Network Software, edge software community) which is technologies we have, but we hope to utilize some of
developed based onWeb2.0 is a typical representative them in teaching and learning. The personalized
of the secondary development. Students do not have to teaching system based on Web2.0 will present us a
consider the compatibility of learning platform because clear answer.
of technology scalability, content scalability and
learning activities scalability. Students can learn across 5. References
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4. Summary
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