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UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

DECLARATION OF THESIS / UNDERGRADUATE PROJECT PAPER AND COPYRIGHT
Authors full name : JOEI ONG SUK MEI Date of birth Title : 26 JAN 1971 : A WEB-BASED E-LEARNING SYSTEM USING

SEMENTIC WEB FRAMEWORK

Academic Session : 2009/2010 I declare that this thesis is classified as :

CONFIDENTIAL (Contains confidential information under the

Official Secret Act 1972)*

RESTRICTED

(Contains restricted information as specified by

the organization where research was done )* OPEN ACCESS

I agree that my thesis to be published as online open access (full text)

I acknow ledged that Universiti Teknologi Malaysia reserves the right as follows: 1. The thesis is the property of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. 2. The Library of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia has the right to make copies for the purpose of research only. 3. The Library has the right to make copies of the thesis for academic exchange. Certified by :

____________________

___________________________
SIGNATURE OF SUPERVISOR ASSOC. PROF. DR. NAOMIE
(NAME OF SUPERVISOR)

SIGNATURE 710126135514
(NEW IC NO./PASSPORT NO.)

DATE: 30 OCT 2009

DATE: 30 OCT 2009

NOTES :* If the thesis is CONFIDENTAL or RESTRICTED, please attach with the letter from the organization with period and reasons for confidentiality or restriction.

A WEB-BASED E-LEARNING SYSTEM USING SEMANTIC WEB FRAMEWORK

JOEI ONG SUK MEI

A project report submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science (Information Technology Management)

Faculty of Computer Science and Information Systems University Technology Malaysia

OCTOBER 2009

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I declare that I have read this project and in my opinion this project report has satisfied the scope and quality for the award of the degree of Master of Science (IT - Management).

Signature

: ..

Name of Supervisor : Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naomie Salim Date : 30 OCT 2009

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I declare that this project report entitle A Web-Based E-Learning System Using Semantic Web Framework is the result of my own research and analysis except as cited in the references. This project report has not been accepted for any degree and is not concurrently in candidature of any other degree.

Signature Name Date

: . : JOEI ONG SUK MEI : 30 OCT 2009

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Dedicated to my beloved family, my supportive colleagues and friends, Mr. Hamzah Osman, Rebecca and Army.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I wish to express my appreciation to my project supervisor, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Naomie Salim of Faculty of Computer Science and Information Systems, University Technology Malaysia, for her advices, guidance and patience throughout the preparation of this project.

Special thanks to members from Facebook Social Network Group, The Semantic Web Benefits, Education & Outreach for contribution of ideas, suggestions and collaboration in providing the building data for evaluation of the findings. My sincere appreciation also extends to all my lecturers in the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Systems.

Last but not least, I would like to express my sincere thanks to my beloved family and friends, for all encouragement, inspiration and patience provided at every step during the whole project progress.

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ABSTRACT

The Semantic Web Technology is a well known knowledge representation framework that to make meaning explicit and more accessible to automatic processing. We discuss the potential and capability of this technology for the development of content for learning technology systems. We have applying the Semantic Web framework in the context of development of e-Learning application. The application is developed to be integrated in current Learning Content Management System, MOODLE. The application is aim at demonstrating the benefits of semantic interoperability for sharing learning resources through Web. In this context, the application implicated is competency-based approach. It is using competency ontologies and Semantic Web Services to deliver learning objects to learners in a corporate environment.

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ABSTRAK

Teknologi Semantik Web merupakan sebuah kerangka pewakilan pengetahuan yang diketahui ramai, ia menjadikan sesuatu makna lebih jelas dengan memudahkan pemprosesan automatik. Kami telah membincangkan potensi dan kemampuan teknologi ini dalam pengembangan isi kandung system teknologi pembelajaran. Kami telah menerapkan kerangka Semantik Web dalam konteks pengembangan aplikasi e-pembelajaran. Aplikasi yang dibangunkan itu digabungkan dalam Sistem Pengurusan Kandungan Pembelajaran yang sedia ada, MOODLE. Aplikasi ini bertujuan untuk menunjukkan manfaat dari operasi dalaman semantic untuk berkongsi sumber pembelajaran melalui web. Dalam Konteks ini, aplikasi yang terlibat adalah beralaskan pendekatan berkebolehan (kompetensi). Ini adalah berkebolehan menggunakan ontologi dan perkidmatan semantik web untuk menyampaikan objek pembelajaran kepada pelajar-pelajar dalam persekitaran perusahaan.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER

TITILE DECLARATION DEDICATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ABSTRACT ABSTRAK TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES LIST OF FIGURES LIST OF ABBREVIATION LIST OF APPENDICES

PAGE ii iii v vi vii viii xiii xiv xvi xviii

PROJECT OVERVIEW 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The Background of the Study 1.3 Problem Statement 1.4 Project Objectives 1.5 Project Scope 1.6 Project Important 1.7 Summary

1 1 4 7 7 8 9 10

ix 2 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Introduction 2.2 E-Learning Overview 2.2.1 Definition of e-Learning 2.2.2 History of e-Learning 2.2.3 General View on e-Learning system 2.2.4 Learning Object 2.2.4.1 SCORM 2.2.4.2 LOM 2.2.5 E-Learning Framework 2.2.6 Britain-Liber Framework 2.2.7 Moodle 2.2.7.1 Psychological Foundations 2.2.7.2 Pedagogical Foundations 2.2.7.3 Technological Foundations 2.2.7.4 Cultural Foundations 2.2.7.5 Pragmatic Foundations 2.2.7.6 Conclusion 2.2.8 Discussion of e-Learning 2.3 Semantic Web Overview 2.3.1 The Current Web 2.3.2 The Semantic Web 2.3.2.1 The Vision 2.3.2.2 The Program 2.3.2.3 The Technology 2.3.3 Semantic Web Languages 2.3.3.1 The Resource Description Framework 2.3.3.2 RDF Vocabulary Description Language 2.3.3.3 Ontologies 37 37 35 11 11 12 12 12 13 14 15 15 18 20 22 23 24 25 25 26 27 28 30 30 31 31 32 32 35

x 2.4 Semantic Web and Its Impact Area 2.4.1 Information Management 2.4.2 Digital Libraries 2.4.3 Building Communities and Collaborations 2.4.4 E-Learning 2.5 Special Issue at a Glance 2.6 Semantic Web and e-Learning 2.7 Software Agent 2.8 Semantic Web based Educational Services 2.9 Semantic-based e-Learning Model 2.9.1 Semantic based Conceptual e-Learning Portal 2.9.2 The 3-Tier Content Management Architecture 2.9.3 Organic. Edunet 2.10 Summary 3 METHODOLOGY 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Project Methodology 3.2.1 Feasibility Study 3.2.2 Gather Requirements 3.2.3 Refinement 3.2.4 Evaluation 3.2.5 Application and Evolution 3.3 Hardware & Software Requirements 3.4 Project Schedule 3.5 Summary 51 53 54 55 55 55 58 58 58 59 59 59 60 61 49 40 40 41 43 46 47 49 38 39 39

xi 4 INITIAL FINDINGS AND RESULTS 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Following the Methodology 4.2.1 Phase 1: Feasibility Study 4.2.2 Phase 2: Gather Requirements 4.2.3 Phase 3: Refinement 4.2.4 Phase 4: Evaluation 4.2.5 Phase 5: Application & Evolution 4.3 Summary 5 FINALIZED FRAMEWORK 5.1 Introduction 5.2 An Integrated Model 5.3 The Framework Architectural Blocks 5.4 The Set of Components of the Framework 5.5 Semantic Search Portal Architecture 5.6 Semantic Web Framework in Action 5.7 Summary 6 PRE IMPLEMENTATION 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Prototype Description 6.2.1 Inventory of Resources 6.3 Competency Ontology 6.4 Storyboard 6.5 Prototype Pre-Implementation 6.5.1 GUI 6.5.2 Negotiation Layer 6.5.2.1 Negotiation Component 6.5.2.2 Query Resolver 6.5.2.3 Composer 62 62 63 63 68 79 83 87 87 88 88 89 95 96 98 98 102 103 103 104 104 105 107 108 108 113 113 114 114

xii 6.5.3 Profile 6.5.3.1 Profile in Moodle 6.5.3.2 Rest of the User Profile 6.6 Summary 7 EVALUATION 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Evaluation Approach 7.2.1 Evaluation Criteria 7.3 Evaluation Method 7.3.1 Evaluation Participants 7.3.2 Evaluation Sheet 7.4 Evaluation Results 7.5 Summary 8 CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION 8.1 Conclusion 8.2 Achievement 8.3 Constraints and Challenges 8.4 Future Research 8.5 Summary LIST OF REFERENCE LIST OF APPENDICES 115 115 116 117 118 118 119 121 122 122 124 125 129 130 130 131 132 133 134 135 143

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LIST OF TABLES

TABLE NO.

TITLE

PAGE

Table 2.1 Table 2.2

Special Issue at a Glance Benefits of Using Semantic Web Framework for e-Learning

42

45 95 96 105 114 116 121 123 124 125

Table 5.1 Table 5.2 Table 6.1 Table 6.2 Table 6.3 Table 7.1 Table 7.2 Table 7.3 Table 7.4

Framework Architecture Blocks A Set of Components Framework Listing Inventory Resources Listing Negotiation Components User Porfile Definition Evaluation Criteria Evaluation Participants List Evaluation Sheet Evaluation Results

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LIST OF FIGURES

FIGURE NO. Figure 1.1 Figure 2.1 Figure 2.2 Figure 2.3 Figure 2.4 Figure 2.5 Figure 2.6 Figure 2.7 Figure 2.7.1 Figure 2.7.2 Figure 2.8 Figure 2.9 Figure 2.10 Figure 2.11 Figure 3.1 Figure 4.1 Figure 4.2

TITLE Project Scope General View on Capture Requirements Specification LOM Base Scheme The E-Learning Framework Britain-Liber Simplified Adaptation OLEs Framework Semantic Web Layered Architecture RDF Statement N3 RDF Representation RDF/XML Representation Simple Ontology Conceptual Semantic e-Learning Portal The 3-Tier e-Learning Content Management Architecture Architecture of Organic Edunet Research Methodology Google Advanced Search Merlot Advanced Search

PAGE 8 13 17 18 21 23 33 36 36 37 38 50 51 53 57 65 66

xv Figure 4.3 Figure 4.4 Figure 4.5 Figure 4.6 Figure 4.7 Figure 4.8 Figure 4.9 Figure 4.10 Figure 5.1 Figure 5.2 Figure 5.3 Figure 6.1 Figure 6.2 Figure 6.3 Figure 6.4 Figure 6.5 Figure 6.6 Figure 6.7 Figure 7.1 Use Case Diagram Sequence Diagram Search Metadata in LOMR Sequence Diagram for User perform Semantic Search Tasks and Associated Components Layered General architecture The Astrakan Process Modelling Process Goals Review Learning Goals Review Service Oriented Approach in Semantic Framework Prototype Architecture Semantic Web Framework Workflow Basic Elements of GCS Modelling Competency Measurement Moodle Login Moodle Form for User Specific Data Management Moodle Query Form Moodle LOs Proposal Moodle Registration Page Evaluation Scheme 110 111 112 116 120 90 97 99 106 106 109 76 78 81 84 85 85 75 71

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LIST OF ABBREVIATION

ADL AT C2I CAM CFS CMS

Advanced Distribed Learning Annotation Tool Educational IT & Internet Competency Content Aggregation Model Content Structure Formats Content Management System DARPA Agent Markup Language + Ontology Interface Layer

DAML+OIL DRM IEEE IMS GCO GUI LCMS LMS LO LOR LOM -

Digital Right Management Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineer IMS Global Learning Consortium Internet Reasoning Service General Competency Ontology Graphical User Interface Learning Content Management System Learning Management System Learning Object Learning Object Repository Learning Object Metadata Learning Object Metadata Repository Machine Readable Cataloging Metadata Object Description Schema

IRS-III -

LOMR MARC MODS -

xvii MOODLENL OLE OWL RDF SOAP SWS UDDI URI URL VLE WS Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment Negotiation Layer Open Learning Environment Web Ontology Language Resource Description Framework Sharable Content Object Reference Model Simple Object Access Protocal Semantic Web Service Universal Description Discovery & Integration Uniform Resource Identifier Uniform Resource Locator Virtual Learning Environment World Wide Web Web Service Web Service Definition Language Web Service Modeling Language Web Service Modeling Ontology Web Service Modeling Execution Environment

SCORM -

WWW WSDL WSML WSMO WSMX -

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LIST OF APPENDICES

APPENDIX A B

TITLE Project Schedule Online Questionnaire

PAGE 143 144