Ontology-Based Knowledge Retrieval

We deal with knowledge retrieval within the context of Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). A good VLE should deliver relevant learning materials to the learner at the most appropriate time to facilitate knowledge acquisition by Problem-Based Learning (PBL). In PBL, students should retrieve information about a problem by working in small groups with the guidance of a learning facilitator providing materials required through the problem solving process. The use of ontologies to represent domain knowledge improves the information management in a VLE because it enables automatic reasoning and facilitates the processes of knowledge searching and retrieving needed to promote the interest in problem solving. We propose an ontology-based for searching, discovering and publishing relevant learning materials as Learning Objects to help students in the PBL approach.