A major publication from the Ensemble project has been published in the IEEE Journal ‘Transactions on Learning Technologies’. This has been available online ‘early view’ for some time, but is now published as part of a special issue on Semantic Technologies in Education. This reviews the work of the project and sets out a potential research and development agenda for work on semantic and linked data in higher education settings – including semantic archives, rapid prototyping environments and support for multiple ontologies in pedagogical settings.
Abstract: This paper explores the potential of Semantic Web technologies to support teaching and learning in a variety of higher education settings in which some form of case-based learning is the pedagogy of choice. It draws on the empirical work of a major three year research and development project in the United Kingdom: “Ensemble: Semantic Technologies for the Enhancement of Case-Based Learning” which has been oriented toward developing a better understanding of the nature of case-based learning in different settings, but also exploring the potential for Semantic Web technologies to support, enhance, and transform existing practice. The experience of working in diverse educational settings has highlighted Semantic Web technologies that may be particularly valuable, as well as some of the enablers and barriers to wider adoption, and areas for further research and development.
Agustina Martinez-Garcia, Simon Morris, Michael Tscholl, Frances Tracy, Patrick Carmichael (2012) “Case-Based Learning, Pedagogical Innovation, and Semantic Web Technologies,” IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies 5(2) pp. 104-116, doi:10.1109/TLT.2011.34
