A History Visualization for Learning-by-Exploration in Hypermedia on WWW

In the context of exploring educational hypermedia on the World Wide Web, this paper presents a history visualization that helps learners reorganize explored contents to find what Web sites they should visit next. Learning-by-exploration is discussed as it relates to educational hypermedia, including the "Get Lost in Hyperspace" problem, learning support approaches, and current work on hypermedia exploration aids. A history visualization tool (HiVis) is presented. The HiVis user interface and three types of visualization that are not currently implemented in standard Web browsers are described: (1) time sequential representation with contextual information; (2) structural representation; and (3) superposition on an overview diagram. A preliminary evaluation of HiVis is summarized; results indicate that the history visualization is informative for learners. Figures present the HiVis interface, a time sequential representation, structural representation, and superposition representation. Contains 11 references. (Author/AEF) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** A History Visualization for Learning-by-Exploration in Hypermedia on WWW Akihiro Kashihara, Yoshitomo Satake, and Jun'ichi Toyoda The Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, JAPAN E-mail: kasihara @ ai. sanken.osaka-u .ac. jp Abstract: Educational hypermedia provide learners with hyperspace where they can explore with a learning purpose in a self-directed and constructive way. As the exploration progresses, however, what and why they explored so far often become unclear. They cannot finally find what to explore next. In order to resolve this situation, it is necessary to reflect on to what extent they learned and what is insufficient for achieving a learning purpose. This also requires them to think back to their history and to reorganize the contents they explored. In the context of exploring educational hypermedia provided on WWW, this paper presents a history visualization which helps learners reorganize the explored contents to find what they should visit next. This paper also describes a history visualization tool called HiVis, and its preliminary evaluation. The results indicate that the history visualization is informative for learners. Educational hypermedia provide learners with hyperspace where they can explore with a learning purpose in a self-directed and constructive way. As the exploration progresses, however, what and why they explored so far often become unclear. They cannot finally find what to explore next. In order to resolve this situation, it is necessary to reflect on to what extent they learned and what is insufficient for achieving a learning purpose. This also requires them to think back to their history and to reorganize the contents they explored. In the context of exploring educational hypermedia provided on WWW, this paper presents a history visualization which helps learners reorganize the explored contents to find what they should visit next. This paper also describes a history visualization tool called HiVis, and its preliminary evaluation. The results indicate that the history visualization is informative for learners.