Personalized Learning Path Delivery in Web based Educational Systems using a Graph Theory based Approach
C. Beulah, Christalin Latha, E. Kirubakaran · 2013
Learning is the process of acquiring knowledge or skill. It is the process of filtering, storing and organizing information in our brains. E-learning is defined as an innovative approach for delivering well designed, learner centered, interactive and facilitated learning environment to anyone, at any place and at any time by exploiting the potential of digital learning resources and technologies well suited for open, flexible and pervasive learning environments. The efficiency of learning depends upon various factors including the way in which the knowledge is dissipated to the learner. Each learner learns in a unique way. Learning proves to be more effective if the teaching process becomes compatible with the characteristics of the learner such as his learning style, his learning goal and his learning need. In classroom teaching, the teacher takes care of the characteristics of the learner and can train the learner in the appropriate manner. In web based educational systems, the absence of a teacher or trainer becomes a bottleneck in delivering contents in an appropriate manner to the learner. Intelligent tutoring systems provide solution to this problem by tailoring the delivery of contents that suits the characteristics of the learner. These systems treat learners as unique individuals and deliver the contents in a variety of ways. Intelligent tutoring systems thus provide various means of providing an efficient learning including adaptation or personalization. Personalization is the process of making a generalized content specific to the needs and traits of the user. Personalization in e-learning is tailoring learning materials or contents according the learning style of the learner, learner's profile, learner's interests, previous knowledge level, learner's goal and pedagogical method. It provides a way to alter the one size fits all approach that is generally followed in traditional web based education systems. This paper proposes a novel way of recommending a personalized learning path to a user using a graph theory based approach in web-based learning systems in order to make the learning process effective.