TDG – Support Self-Directed Learning in Interdisciplinary Studies by Developing a Knowledge Visualization and Navigation System

Abstract

With the emergence of massive and flexible information resources in learning settings, students have to cope with complex arrays of knowledge and information. This is particularly true with the exploration of multimedia and digital information resources on the Internet. In addition to class exposition, students learn from their own interactions with a wide range of learning resources. In this context, students need to develop capacities to structure and organize their knowledge and learning resources. This is especially important in interdisciplinary studies, where knowledge from different subjects and domains is interrelated and ill-structured in a complex way. This project addressed the challenge by developing a Web-based knowledge visualization and navigation learning system. Knowledge visualization is used as the key approach to help both learners and instructors to engage in an active learning and instruction processes by constructing spatial-semantic displays of knowledge and by providing navigation guidance to learners. The developed system was used and evaluated by students at several undergraduate courses at HKU. We explore the impact of such knowledge visualization-based learning system in providing students with meaningful and self-directed learning experience.

Deliverables