An Ontology-Based E-Learning Assessment System for Online Learners in Higher Learning Institutions

Abstract

Learning is a process of acquiring knowledge and skills in a particular domain of interest. This process, though continuous in one's life, ends with formative or summative assessment, in specific domain. In higher learning institutions, learning is acquired mostly through reading, experiments, observation, discussion, collaboration, lecturing etc, where sources of information play a fundamental roll. Repositories of learning resources are made available to students through portals that are integrated into e-learning management systems. Observations have showed that students are interested in these learning resources so that through utilising them they can acquire knowledge and skills, a part that is fundamental for one to be described as learned. The paper delves on the development and implementation of an ontology based innovative e-learning system with regard to acquisition of knowledge and skills by online learners at higher learning institutions set up where only core learner activities are identified. An e-learning ontology is used to model a domain of knowledge, thus complementing the functionalities of other learning systems that do not implement this technology. The paper presents assessment of students using assignments with instant feedback on the performance of the students following a Student-Teacher interaction algorithm (STia). The system is developed following creative design methodology and tested with the undergraduate students in the department of Computer Science at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Zimbabwe. Empirical results are given with regard to the strengths and weaknesses of the system as seen by the users. Recommendations to higher learning institutions in terms of policy, e-learning technologies and utilisation of e-learning systems are given.