A Very Quick Introduction to WHURLE

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A Very Quick Introduction to WHURLE
Craig Stewart
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WHURLE

• Web-based Hierarchical Universal Reactive
  Learning Environment
• XML-Based Adaptive Integrated Learning
  Environment
• Designed to fulfil these requirements
• Flexible test-bed for user modelling and adaptive
  hypertext

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Very simple Introduction to XML

• The new language of the web
• Important Features
• HTML - style tags
• User-defined tags
• Appearance and behaviour specified in stylesheets
• My be rendered into various human-readable
  formats (eg HTML)
• WHURLE Implementation
• Processing is all done on the server (Cocoon)
• HTML is delivered to browser

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Simplified server-side XML
Host
Client
XML Document
HTTP
Browser
HTML
Cocoon
Stylesheet
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The WHURLE Framework

• Content is stored as conceptually discrete
  Chunks of information (XML)
• Lessons are stored as hierarchical Lesson
  Plans (XML)
• Adaptation at chunk level based upon user model
  in a pluggable filter
• Navigational overlay creates the Virtual
  Document
• User interface defined in skin
• Links specified in a linkbase

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WHURLE Architecture
Chunks
Lesson Plan


User Model
Links
Adaptation Filter
Skin
Display Engine
Virtual Document
model
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Conceptual Model of WHURLE
User
User
Virtual Doc.
Virtual Doc.
Virtual Doc.
User
UP
UP
UP
UP
UP
UPUser Profile
DNDefault Narrative Lesson Plan LinkBase
DN
DN
DN
DN
DN
DN
DN
DN
Melange
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
Assemblage
C
C
C
C
C
C
C
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Visual vs Verbal
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Acknowledgements

• Design and Development Team
• Adam Moore
• Mohamed Ramzy Zakaria
• Duncan Martin
• Helen Ashman
• Kevin Caley
• Virtual School of Biodiversity
• University of Hong KongCenter for the
  Advancement of University TeachingDepartment of
  Ecology and Biodiversity
• CSiT Web Technology Group

• Craig Stewart
• Liz Brown
• Peter Davies
• Will Trewhella
• Ban Seng Choo