MapOnLearn: The Use of Maps in Online Learning Systems for Education Sustainability

Sannyuya Liu, Dongpo Guo, Jianwen Sun, Jie Yu and Dongbo Zhou
Additional contact information
Sannyuya Liu: National Engineering Research Center for E-learning, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Dongpo Guo: National Engineering Research Center for E-learning, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Jianwen Sun: National Engineering Laboratory for Educational Big Data, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
Jie Yu: Office of Scientific Research and Development, Wuhan University, Wuhan 490070, China
Dongbo Zhou: National Engineering Laboratory for Educational Big Data, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 17, 1-21

Abstract: Online learning and teaching have become the primary forms of education during the global pandemic, and online learning systems, which can provide fair educational opportunities for everyone, are increasingly important for sustainability in education. The amount of time a student spends on online learning systems affects the fairness and persistence of sustainability in education. To support personalized learning opportunities, interactive learning, and easy-to-access resources, we propose a map organization and visualization method called MapOnLearn for online learning systems. First, we converted tree-like hierarchical course units (HCUs) and knowledge points (KPs) into a fundamental two-dimensional (2D) map of hierarchically divided polygons and used the map to form containers to manage all learning resources. Then, we used the zoom feature of the map to express the hierarchical structures of knowledge and formulated corresponding rules for displaying information at different levels. Path analysis was applied to express the learning process, and topological processing was adapted to represent the relationships among HCUs and KPs. We developed maps for a high-level math course, a course on data structures, and an English course at a university in China and investigated 264 students and 27 teachers for a semester by using the technology acceptance model (TAM). We found that the map visualization and organization method had a positive impact on the way teachers and students use online learning systems and improved the online learning experience. To attract more students to spend more time on online learning, we hope our method can promote the sustainable development of education.

Keywords: education sustainability; online learning system; map usage; learning resource organization and visualization; higher education; TAM (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/17/7018/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/17/7018/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:17:p:7018-:d:405333

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().