Discovering patterns in learning technology systems

Abstract

The paper introduces the idea of using patterns in the architectures of learning technology systems. A recent analysis of a number of existing architectures of such systems has revealed that many designers and developers use their own solutions when faced with design problems that are common to different systems, models, and paradigms. However, a closer look into such solutions and their comparison often shows that different solutions and the contexts in which they apply also have much in common, just like the corresponding problems do. In all such cases we can talk of the existence of patterns. A pattern is a generalized solution of a typical problem within a typical context. The focus of the paper is on the process of discovering such patterns in the architectures of learning technology systems. Specifically the discovery of one such pattern is described, and the pattern itself is presented in detail. Discovering other such patterns can help establish general guiding principles of architectural design of learning technology systems.