Building knowledge structures for online instructional/learning systems via knowledge elements interrelations

The knowledge structure of an online instructional/learning system can serve as a guide that directs an inexperienced learner to appropriately capture knowledge. In this paper, a Knowledge Construction Model (KCM) that helps instructors in any domain to build a knowledge structure for an online instructional/learning system is designed and developed. The developed KCM contains two parts. The first part is to preprocess the knowledge elements and their interrelations for a defined subject provided by an instructor or instructors. Based on the interrelations of knowledge elements, the second part is to generate the knowledge structure on a level-by-level basis. A practical application case that is used to demonstrate the developed KCM is delineated. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.