Exposure and Support of Latent Social Networks among Learning Object Repository Users

Abstract: Although immense efforts have been invested in the construction of hundreds of learning object repositories, the degree of reuse of learning resources maintained in such repositories is still disappointingly low. As the reasons for this observation are not well understood, we carried out an empirical investigation with the objectives to identify recurring patterns in the retrieval and (re-) use of learning resources and to design and test social networking functionality supporting communities of practice. The outcomes of this project, which are reported here, aim to affect the design of a new generation of learning object repositories, like CampusContent, that tries to eliminate deficits of current repositories and involve recent contributions in the area of social software. Object of our investigation was LON-CAPA, a crossinstitutional learning content management and assessment system used since 2000. We analyzed hundreds of thousands of log data collected over a period of t...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2008
• Where: JUCS
• Authors: Peng Han, Gerd Kortemeyer, Bernd J. Krämer, Christine von Prümmer
• Keywords: Functionality Supporting Communities, JUCS 2008, LON-CAPA Users, Object Repositories