Relationships

Definition

Relationships describe functional, hierarchical, and didactical connections between learning contents. They describe the kind of relationship that exists between learning objects (macro structure) and between instructional elements in learning objects (micro structure). There are only a limited number of relationships available for instructional elements since instructional elements cannot have functional relationships with one another.

Relationships are used by the learning strategies to generate dynamic learning paths.

Note Note

We distinguish different types of relationships. If specific relationships exist for a relationship type, you should where possible select a specific relationship to describe the relationship between two objects (e.g. consists of rather than hierarchical ).

End of the note.

For more information, see Macro Strategy and Micro Strategy .

Structure

The Authoring Environment differentiates between the relationships between learning objects and the relationships between instructional elements.

Relationships Between Learning Objects

Hierarchical

References

Alternative

Didactic Relationships

Consists of

Determines

Belongs to

Generalizes

Context of

Before

Means of

Prerequisite of

Relationships Between Instructional Elements

  • Alternative

Didactic Relationships:

  • Belongs to

  • Before

  • Prerequisite of

Hierarchical

The purpose of hierarchical relationships is to create a super- and subordinate structure within the learning content similar to the system of structuring using chapters. Hierarchical relationships are used for navigation purposes in learning strategies.

Hierarchical relationships are used by the learning macro strategies from general to specific and from specific to general to set up a hierarchy of learning objects that is displayed in the learning path as a tree structure with super- and subordinate nodes .

Consists of

This relationship expresses a hierarchical relationship between two learning objects, the higher level object represents the whole, and the lower level object a part of the whole.

Example Example

Book Consists of Chapters

End of the example.
Generalizes

This relationship expresses a hierarchical relationship between two learning objects, where the higher level object stands for a generic term and the lower level object for a subordinate term. The generic term combines all characteristics that the subordinate term also contains. The subordinate term has an additional specifying characteristic.

Example Example

Book generalizes Non-fiction book

End of the example.
References

This relationship is subdivided into relationships that can be of descriptive, conceptual, or purpose character.

Referenced relationships are used by macro strategies to find learning objects in the learning path that are on the same hierarchical level as the learning object referencing them.

Determines

This relationship represents an explanatory or restrictive determination of learning content.

Example Example

Data Processing Trainer Determines Software courses

End of the example.
Context of

This relationship defines the concept of specific learning content. If learning object A is context of learning object B, A stands for the general meaning and B for the specific meaning of the content.

Example Example

Training course Context of Test

End of the example.
Means for

This relationship expresses a process-oriented determination of purpose.

Example Example

LCD Projector Means of Screen presentation

End of the example.
Alternative

You use this relationship if you want to offer the learner a selection of variants for the content.

Example Example

Example 1 Alternative Example 2

End of the example.
Belongs to

This relationship expresses an association of content.

The learning strategies offer content that is in a belongs to relationship. The content is offered sequentially but the sequence in which it is offered may vary depending upon the strategy used.

Example Example

Example 1 Belongs to Explanation 1

End of the example.
Before

This relationship expresses a time-specific connection between content. Its purpose is to specify the presentation sequence of learning content. The relationship can be used for learning units that build up on one another.

The learning strategies offer content that is in a before relationship. The content is presented in exactly this sequence.

Example Example

Screen presentation 1 before Screen presentation 2

End of the example.
Prerequisite of

This relationship is needed if the learner requires knowledge from another learning unit to understand the content of another. As with the before relationship, the content is presented in exactly this sequence.

Example Example

Explorer is a prerequisite for File management

End of the example.