An Experimental Research On Web History Navigation In The Web-based Learning Environment

Information loss is one of the important influencing factors for E-learning efficiency and restricts the development of learning activities. After reviewing research status of information loss from the hypertext structure characteristics and hypertext navigation, the author discovers that navigation is the main solution to information loss. Rapid positioning the resource users need, namely path discovery, is the main purpose of navigation attention. Besides orientating function, the more important function of the navigation in E-learning is to assist learning. The author finds that web history navigation is good at knowledge exploration, which can help to solve information loss in E-learning. It has great significance to study history record in E-learning for learning introspection, also for teaching research.Based on hackling literature systematically and theoretical research, the author designs and develops a prototype of web history navigation tool, which also is used as the material and tool to test the utility of web record navigation by experiment 2. In the phase of prototype modification, the author analyzes and tests hyperlink styles, which is the key factor of navigation. On the basis of previous research and prediction test, the hyperlink styles factors that can influence user behavior are analyzed. Then the hyperlink styles factors are divided into two types, that is, expectation factor and highlighting factor. By experiment 1, the author demonstrates how great the influence of the two factors can be towards user behavior. The results show that expectation factor is the main influence on hypertext navigation behavior of users. Experiment 2, verifies the effect of web history navigation and its path length on information loss. The author examines the effectiveness of prototype and finds that web history navigation reduces the degree of information loss related to task backtracking.The results are as follows:â‘ Web history navigation can help to reduce information loss which results from task backtracking. The paper gives a new perspective on studying individual learner's e-learning behavior and information loss.â‘¡the paper designs and develops the prototype of web history navigation. It is a tool or strategy for navigating in hyper network. It also provides reference for user model design in e-learning system.Finally, the whole study process is reflected. In the experimental study on E-learning behavior, experimental psychology method is used for reference, but it is different from the general psychological experiment. Because experimental environment and the actual environment are very close, data from experiment method is reliable. The external validity in the experimental study is superior to the general psychological experiment and it has more application value. On the other hand, the experimental study on E-learning behavior is different from black box approach used in behavior research on E-learning, in which experimental group with interference is compared with controlled group without interference. The paper puts its emphasis on the inquiry of internal mechanism in E-learning behavior, on transforming research object and result into operable variables, and on analyzing the direct causation between pendent variables and dependent variables, so as to improve the internal validity in the experimental study on E-learning behavior. Furthermore, the author proposes the basic items in the experimental study of E-learning behavior, such as the transformation from research object to experiment variable, the development and application of experiment materials, and the experiment situation and experiment control, etc..