Supporting some pedagogical issues in a Web-based distance learning environment

Development of new functionalities that can enable learning environment to enhance and promote learning is a major concern in the computer-assisted instructional area. Actually, one of the most important issues in this area is distance education. New technologies such as the Internet contribute to this issue. A distance learning environment called CYBERPHYSIQUE is presented in this paper. CYPERPHYSIQUE is an interactive computer-assisted environment that integrates an automatic generation kit for pedagogical activities. This environment is supported by a WWW client and is accessible through the Internet. CYBERPHYSIQUE offers some relevant functionalities, by taking into account the learner cognitive, affective and conative capabilities, by giving access to some metacognitive information during the learning process, by supporting automatic generation of learning activities, by supporting collaborative learning and by managing the feedback to be given to the learner. Physic sciences is the application domain. Key-words : Web-based learning environment, distance learning, pedagogical (learning) activities, knowledge representation, student modeling, learning style, educational hypermedia.