Extending the ARIADNE Web-Based Learning Environment.

One of the central notions of the ARIADNE learning platform is a share-and-reuse approach toward the development of digital course material. The ARIADNE infrastructure includes a distributed database called the Knowledge Pool System (KPS), which acts as a repository of pedagogical material, described with standardized IEEE LTSC Learning Object Metadata (LOM). Web-based tools enable content developers to describe their material, course builders to search for appropriate material to include in their courses, and course managers to develop, maintain, and distribute computer-supported courses. It is important that a learning platform such as ARIADNE is open to external components so that dedicated tools for the specific needs of a particular audience can be added to the generic toolset. This paper discusses several modules that have been added to the general ARIADNE infrastructure. These modules include template-based delivery of Web courses, a workspace application for sharing documents, a discussion platform for asynchronous communication, and an online questionnaire system. These components have been further refined, based on experiences with them, so that they can be applied more widely in the future. (Author/AEF)