Towards A Web-Based Handbook of Generic, Process-Oriented Learning Designs

Process-oriented learning designs are innovative learning activities that include a set of inter-related learning tasks and are generic (could be used across disciplines). An example includes a problem-solving process widely used in problem-based learning today. Most of the existing process-oriented learning designs are not documented, let alone analysed, in any systematic way because they are tacit knowledge gained through years of experience and reflection. The paper investigates the problems of creation, sharing and IT support of process-oriented learning designs and proposes a new type of process-oriented, knowledge management educational technology called the web-based handbook of learning designs. It is envisaged that this technology will enable teachers to assemble, share, reuse and execute process-oriented learning designs without any programming involved. To design this technology, the paper proposes a multidisciplinary framework that integrates research in six different areas: educational theories, educational technologies, knowledge management, software engineering, process management and web-services. The paper then uses this multidisciplinary framework to identify the main research challenges that need to be solved before this technology can be adopted on a