Modeling Methods For Distributed Learning System

With the further development of the Internet technology's application in education, the scope and complexity of the information learning resources and learning system have been increasing and the technological means, designing ideas and system architecture have all undergone profound changes, with the web-based learning system developing towards the directions of distribution, cooperation and intelligization. On the one hand, by virtue of the internet technology, the scope of learning systems is increasingly expanded and displays a distinctive characteristics of distributed structure. On the other hand, it is also hoped that these distributed learning resources and systems can be shareable, reusable and interoperable.Field-researchers have made broad and profound researches into the increasingly complicated distributed learning systems from various points of view. The institute of ADL(Advanced Distributed Learning) proposes for the perspective of resource a "Shareable Content Object Reference Model"(known as SCORM), aiming at solving the problems of the shareability of the learning content, interoperability, coordination in a larger scope, and intelligent guide of the distributed learning. The learning technology standard research organizations such as the ISO SC36, IEEE LTSC, IMS Global Learning Consortium have, from the perspectives of the system structure, the learner, learning resources and learning management system, brought forth a series of information models and specifications as the reference for the development of distributed learning system.Nevertheless, there is still no reliable theoretical model for constructing on the level of methodology these increasingly complicated distributed learning systems.The mainstream of contemporary software engineering technology is in favor of the model-driven methods in constructing software systems.Therefore, it is of great significance and with great application value to construct, from the perspective of the combination of instructional system design with software system design, a set of modeling methods for the design of distributed learning system to realize its software modeling, so as to support its effective development. In the meantime, it can also greatly enrich methodologically the theories of designing and developing instructional systems.Focusing on this problem, the present study sets out from the perspectives of theoretical basis, analysis methods, modeling process and model representation to make a multi-angle and crossing study on the various theories, methods and technologies such as the theory of constructivism learning environment design, the methods of instructional system design, object-oriented methods and UML modeling technology. Through theoretical analysis and practical investigations, a set of software modeling methods, we call it RAE(Role-Activity-Environment), centering around the learning "role-activities-nvironment" framework and oriented toward the development of distributed learning system.The dissertation consists of eight chapters, with the second, fourth, and fifth being the most important. The following is the frame of the present study:Chapter One introduces the key questions to be solved here, the practical basis and the contents, objectives and methods of the study.Chapter Two provides a summary of the basic concepts of distributed learning system and its theoretical and technological foundations. Then an abstract model of the distributed learning system is put forward from both the static and dynamic perspectives, on the basis of which the problem domain of the study of distributed learning modeling is defined on the two aspects of system elements and modeling methods.Chapter Three offers a comprehensive analysis of the software modeling of distributed learning system, including its basic concepts, object-oriented modeling techniques and the methods and techniques of the software modeling representation of the distributed system.Chapter Four discuses the theoretical frame of RAE from the perspective...