Virtual Museum in Teaching Subjects in the Culture Area

Abstract

The article presents the concept of a virtual museum. The data model and the main data entities of such a museum as well as its content management system are described. Splitting entities into subtypes using the polymorphism of classes allows us to adjust the model to a specific museum/subject area. The model comprises several groups of classes implementing different parts of the information resource. Each group is formed around some basic entity corresponding to some important type of museum information objects. The authors demonstrate a use of this methodology for implementing the electronic study guide, History of Western European Culture of the 20th Century, developed as a course support for the graduate level students at Novosibirsk State University. It supports multiple educational trajectories and levels of complexity. Professors may use it during lectures as well as the students for independent study; the best results are achieved when independent work with the resource is combined with its usage during the lectures. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]