Visual Modelling Language for Describing Pedagogical Patterns Priit Tammets IMKE

Priit Tammets

IMKE

Introduction Communication gap Visual communication Alexander 1977, architecture

Communication gap

Visual communication

Alexander 1977, architecture

Research questions How can existing workflow languages be used for visualising pedagogical patterns? What adaptations are needed to workflow language in order to support analysing and designing distributed learning environments? What is a minimal visual vocabulary for describing distributed learning environments in concordance with activity theory?

How can existing workflow languages be used for visualising pedagogical patterns?

What adaptations are needed to workflow language in order to support analysing and designing distributed learning environments?

What is a minimal visual vocabulary for describing distributed learning environments in concordance with activity theory?

Goals To analyse existing visual modelling languages To develop vocabulary for new graphical modelling language To evaluate new graphical modelling language

To analyse existing visual modelling languages

To develop vocabulary for new graphical modelling language

To evaluate new graphical modelling language

Theoretical part Conceptual design issues - methodology of the conceptual design, and conceptual design of distributed learning environments Overview of the existing visual modelling languages:

Conceptual design issues - methodology of the conceptual design, and conceptual design of distributed learning environments

Overview of the existing visual modelling languages:

Concept maps

Mind maps

Flowcharts

Object modelling language (UML2)

Mathematical modelling languages (Petri nets)

Process modelling languages (newYAWL)

Garrett’s visual vocabulary

Practical part Compiling new visual language - defining the requirements; definition of the Pedagogical Patterns and its usage in our context; visual representation of the new language, creating an Omnigraffle stencil Evaluation based on action research; overview of the example course; implementing the language as a tool for course design; usability inspection

Compiling new visual language - defining the requirements; definition of the Pedagogical Patterns and its usage in our context; visual representation of the new language, creating an Omnigraffle stencil

Evaluation based on action research; overview of the example course; implementing the language as a tool for course design; usability inspection

Results of the thesis Existing workflow languages are not the most appropriate to be used without the modifications and adaptations for describing pedagogical patterns in distributed learning environments

Existing workflow languages are not the most appropriate to be used without the modifications and adaptations for describing pedagogical patterns in distributed learning environments

Results of the thesis Some elements should be adopted or presented in existing visual modelling languages, for example users, events, tool based tasks in order to support the better visualisation of the distributed learning environments

Some elements should be adopted or presented in existing visual modelling languages, for example users, events, tool based tasks in order to support the better visualisation of the distributed learning environments

Results of the thesis For supporting the activity theory based learning design model, visual modelling language should involve the following parts; objects, subjects, activity (consisting of task, the user role and rules) and instrument

For supporting the activity theory based learning design model, visual modelling language should involve the following parts; objects, subjects, activity (consisting of task, the user role and rules) and instrument

Results of the thesis A set of reusable graphical symbols was compiled for diagramming tool Omnigraffle Uploaded: http://graffletopia.com/stencils/360

A set of reusable graphical symbols was compiled for diagramming tool Omnigraffle

Uploaded: http://graffletopia.com/stencils/360

Future work The developed and described visual modelling language is recommended to use in a learning environment design process, where no massive course is involved. Its graphical representation does not allow use of multiple user roles on one graph, which makes it hard to be practiced on more complicated cases. Those shortages should be taken into account in the further development process of visual modelling language developed in this master thesis.

The developed and described visual modelling language is recommended to use in a learning environment design process, where no massive course is involved. Its graphical representation does not allow use of multiple user roles on one graph, which makes it hard to be practiced on more complicated cases. Those shortages should be taken into account in the further development process of visual modelling language developed in this master thesis.

Thank you!

Master thesis evaluation – Marlon Dumas: An analysis of alternative techniques is undertaken in section 2 leading to the conclusion that YAWL is a suitable basis for the purpose. However, this analysis does not consider one relevant alternative: BPMN. Maybe including BPMN in the analysis in section 2 would have led to a more critical disctussion?

An analysis of alternative techniques is undertaken in section 2 leading to the conclusion that YAWL is a suitable basis for the purpose. However, this analysis does not consider one relevant alternative: BPMN. Maybe including BPMN in the analysis in section 2 would have led to a more critical disctussion?