Modeling And Verification Of The E-Textbook

Since the later20th century, scientific and technical revolution characterized by internet technology and information technology has been on the rise the worldwide, which is leading human society into a digital era. Time of "e-Textbooks" is approaching, along with the rapid development of personal digital terminal equipment as well as the trend of popularization of e-Reading in our social life. At present, the e-Textbook has attracted unprecedented attention of many governments. It has developed gradually from a hot study subject and a good technical innovation into a better tool, on the national level, to promote the development of popularization of education information and to improve the competitive capability of education. This giant qualitative leap, from traditional printed books to present e-Textbooks, embodies people’s great expectations of technology-enhanced learning, technology-promoted learning, and technology-powered learning. Hence, e-Textbooks are driving the change of the paradigms of human reading and learning in this digital era.The study first summarizes the current research comprehensively first of all. By analyzing the status quo, it sums up the current characteristics of e-Textbooks, i.e. application comes first, research lags behind, it lacks standard, and reveals the big problems in e-book application---Pluralistic understanding. The study rationalizes the related research on e-books and the e-Learning technology standards, and further analyzes the development mode of e-Learning resources from the theoretical perspective of learning objects.According to the understanding of e-Textbooks, this study, based on the in-depth analysis of the resources form, function features, technical standards in the domains of e-Reading and e-Learning, combined with EPUB(Electronic Publication, abbreviation EPUB), DC(Dublin Core Metadata, abbreviation DC), LOM(Learning Object Metadata, abbreviation LOM), SCORM(Sharable Content Object Reference Model, abbreviation SCORM), IMS-CC(IMS Common Cartridge, abbreviation CC), IMS-CP(IMS Content Packaging, abbreviation CP), MS-LD(IMS Learning Design, abbreviation LD) and so on, takes the functional mode of e-Bag system as origin of research on design level; takes the requirement analysis of e-Textbook as origin of research on application and practice level; characterizes the domain of e-Textbooks from three perspectives:resource, activity, and space; Thereby defines the three-states of e-Textbook domain and constructs an e-Textbook domain model.The three-states of e-Textbook domain can be described as resource state, activity state and microenvironment state. The resource state which reflects the structural characteristics of the e-Textbook covers such aspects as the conversion of content resources file format, the compatibility and packaging of content file, the evolution of the form of single document into the form of content objects. The activity state which reflects the characteristic of individualization of e-Textbooks brings the lightweight instructional design mechanism into e-Textbook, turning content-oriented textbooks into content based, activity-oriented e-Textbook. With the help of virtual learning tools, the microenvironment state fosters, through individualized content organization and knowledge construction process, e-Textbooks compiles to evolve from unified, standardized collections of content resources into a brand new e-Textbook form, characterized mainly by personal micro knowledge scope. The domain characteristic of e-Textbooks is specifically featured by the e-Textbook domain model which is composed of the three-state domain model of e-Textbooks, of the three-state evolution pattern, and of e-Textbook conceptual model.This study draws on the experience of UML (Unified Modeling Language) modeling concept, and experiencee three times abstraction processes, thus derives research on the e-Textbook system model from the e-Textbook domain model. The e-Textbook system model is made up of information model and e-Textbook content packaging model. The first abstraction process in this study is the evolution from two major research origins to the e-Textbook domain model, which clearly defines the domain characteristic of e-Textbooks. The second abstraction process is the transition of research from the e-Textbook domain model to the information model which characterizes by using semantic element to represent the content objects and functional features on logic level The third abstract process is the improvement on the research from the e-Textbook information model to the content packaging model, in which the content packing structure and metadata is designed. The e-Textbook information model is the core of the whole design, and it consists of content structure model, function structure model, learning map mechanism, and service frame. The e-Textbook content packaging design is a total solution to e-Textbook resource aggregation and content packaging, and it comprises e-Textbook content packaging model, content object packaging model, metadata model, and content packaging DRM (Digital Rights Management, abbreviation DRM) extension Solution.On the basis of the e-Textbook domain model, information model and content packaging model, this study not only designs but developes the e-Textbook demos of the lessons of English and Science of Nature, e-Textbook reader, learning map of Nature e-Textbook, and the e-Textbook system architecture and programming. In the e-Textbook modeling and prototype, this research verifies the feasibility of the e-Textbook model based on the design and development of a prototype of the English, Natural Science e-Textbooks.This study defines the domain characteristic of the e-Textbook, probes its evolution pattern, and constructs its system model. The study also designs a structured and individualized e-Textbook with features of lightweight learning design and personal micro knowledge scope, and to prompt demonstrative application of e-Textbooks and the development of products and formulation of related standards.The e-Textbook doesn’t gaine its popularity now. However, it is on the threshold of a breakthrough into the mainstream. The best way to predict the future is to invent it. The study aims at the process to creating future. At present, the e-Textbook demo is still under study in the laboratory, so it neither supports a large-scaled pilot experiment, nor promotes the industrial development. Nevertheless, the study believes that in the near future, e-Textbooks will enable children to throw away their heavy school bags, and to enjoy the convenience and individualized learning services brought about by digital Learning with relatively high cost performance. Nevertheless, the e-textbooks will bring about great changes in education and learning methods.