Visual language-based system for designing and presenting e-learning courses

In this chapter we present a system supporting instruction designers in the design and deployment of e-learning courses. The system includes integrated modules for several authoring activities, such as the definition of knowledge content objects, and the creation of assessment and self-assessment tests. The distinguishing characteristics of the proposed system is that it is based on a suite of visual languages, enabling the modelling of different aspects of the construction process for Web-based distance courses. The languages include a Learning Activity Diagram, which extends UML Activity Diagrams to make them suitable for modelling distance course structures; a Self-Consistent Learning Object language used to define knowledge contents; and a Test Maker Language for specifying assessment and self-assessment tests. The use of visual languages provides an intuitive and friendly system user interface that allows instruction designer to easily compose and analyze the distance course structure and keep track of the knowledge acquisition process individually for each learner. Copyright © 2005, Idea Group Inc.