Adding semantic retrieving concept model into the discussion board of learning community by using topic maps

The activities in learning community include posting easy questions or complex problems, sharing experiences and knowledge and pedagogical activities. Learners usually post questions when they have problems understanding some concepts. Information is usually accumulated at a rapid pace in learning communities. However, if information is not organized orderly and systematically, it will be difficult for community members and Webmasters to find relevant information to browse, to respond to, and to learn. This study proposes the semantic retrieving concept model (SRCM) which improves the efficiency of searching and learning tasks. When learners need information of certain topics, they simply enter conceptual keyword in the semantic conceptual search textbox. The content-based retrieval mechanism of SRCM will then retrieve the relevant discussion messages and e-contents from the content repositories.