Database support of Web course development with design patterns

Current distance learning is mostly based on Web technologies. However, course materials announced as Web documents do not have a normalized structure. It is difficult for students to realize where they are in a Web navigation graph. On the other hand, a text book has a fixed structure, such as the hierarchy of chapters and the index. A text book reader knows how to start searching for information with the common structure of books in his/her mind. If distance learning course materials are organized in one or two patterns, it would be easier for an individual student to follow. We investigate this approach, and propose a system for Web course designs with patterns. The system also serves as a front end module of a Web learning environment which provides automatic assessment of student performance