A model of multitutor ontology-based learning environments

Abstract

The paper proposes the M-OBLIGE model for building multitutor ontology-based learning environments. The model is based on local ontologies, describing the domain of each individual tutor in the environment, and external ontologies, describing more general concepts. The ontologies are used by ontology processors to decide which tutors might benefit a student who needs to learn new concepts. The model allows domain expertise to be shared, and can be used as a framework for integrating multiple tutors on the web. We show how the model can be applied to tutors in the database domain. We also illustrate the process of developing the ontologies for an existing system.