Electronic encyclopedias. What is an encyclopedia? Electronic encyclopedias online

The basis technologies of shared content units(TRACK) constitute a method for structuring knowledge of a subject area (application), methods for selecting structural elements and their ordering in the synthesis of specific teaching aids.

Creation of applied electronic encyclopedia preceded by the development of an application ontology. The problems arising in this case are reminiscent of similar problems of constructing information models in the form of applied STEP protocols in automated industrial systems, although managing semi-structured knowledge in a training system seems to be a more complex task than managing factual data about industrial products.

Structuring knowledge when developing an ontology consists of identifying concepts (entities) of the application. Many concepts form a thesaurus. The characteristics of concepts, their inherent properties and connections between concepts are described in articles called modules (objects, elements of educational resources or shared units of content). Modules constitute a subject knowledge base. Sets of concepts and modules, together with the corresponding knowledge base management system, form an applied electronic encyclopedia (EAE).

The development of a specific teaching aid begins with selecting a subset of modules from the subject knowledge base. The choice is determined by the given curriculum or the user’s information needs expressed in one form or another, taking into account the results of preliminary testing of his readiness to perceive the material. Next, a linear sequence is formed from the selected modules and the form of the material is adapted to the individual characteristics of the student. In the process of studying the material according to the generated manual, it should be possible to easily navigate through different parts of the knowledge base.

The first instrumental environment for creating versions of modular textbooks adapted to specific user needs was the CTS system, created in the early 90s of the last century at the Moscow Higher Technical School. N.E. Bauman. Subsequently, a number of ideas from the concept of modular textbooks and PEE were embodied in the SCORM document (Shareable Content Object Reference Model) by the ADL organization, created in 1997 by the US Department of Defense and the US Department of Science and Technology.

In parallel with the development of TRACK, the technology of collecting information on a corporate server and freely editing it by users, called wiki technology, is becoming widespread. On its basis, within the framework of the Wikipedia project on the Internet, the creation of encyclopedias in various fields of knowledge has already begun with the participation of everyone as authors and editors. This project has existed since January 2001. By the end of 2003, the Russian-language part of the Wikipedia encyclopedia already contained 1275 articles. Despite the fact that both TRACK and wiki technologies are aimed at creating knowledge bases in the form of encyclopedias, there are significant differences between them both in their intended purpose and in the approaches and methods of accumulating and using knowledge. The uncontrollably populated Wikipedia has no means and is not suitable for compiling tutorials from its articles.

An applied electronic encyclopedia can correspond to one academic discipline or a group of disciplines representing a larger application, and an educational module or SCO (Shareable Content Object) to a specific topic or concept (entity) discussed in this discipline or application. For example, a module may contain material corresponding to the content of one paragraph or part of a paragraph of a traditional textbook.

For each topic in the encyclopedia, it is desirable to have several alternative modules in order to ensure adaptation to specific learning conditions. Modules may differ in methodological features, detail and style of presentation of the material, links to certain examples, etc. A module may identify elementary pieces of content that correspond to a specific pedagogical goal or some aspect of the description. Examples of elements may be a brief definition of a concept, an informal description of an object or process, a formal description, evidence, examples, test exercises and assignments, reference material, historical information, etc.

Maintenance of the encyclopedia consists of developing and adding new modules, adjusting or eliminating outdated material. Maintenance is possible not only by a predetermined circle of authors, but also by users creating their own versions of the ES. Consequently, two types of authors appear - authors of modules and authors-compilers of specific versions of the ES.

The PEE management system is designed to support procedures for the synthesis of textbooks and manuals and perform functions for maintaining the thesaurus and the module database. Let us list the main functions of the PEE control system.

1. Finding and eliminating cycles. The PEE model is a directed graph, the vertices of which correspond to modules, and the edges correspond to the inputs and outputs of modules. The presence of a cycle in a graph indicates that the presentation of the material is illogical - ultimately, a certain concept is defined through itself. The control system must detect such cycles and provide recommendations for eliminating them.

2. Ordering modules. Once cycles are eliminated, ordering can be done by ranking the graph vertices and applying heuristic criteria in ambiguous situations.

3. Placing hyperlinks. This can be done, for example, by matching terms in the text to thesaurus terms.

4. Choice of synonyms and designations. The system automatically replaces synonyms and quantity designations with the main option offered in the thesaurus or with an option specified by the user.

5. Selecting a module if there are duplicates. The selection criteria can be module attributes such as author, type, last modified date.

6. User interface - navigation through the thesaurus, displaying a set of terms from the thesaurus selected by the user, etc.

7. Formation of supermodules, i.e. top-level modules, which are a typical application-specific combination of lower-level modules. Subsequently, metadata is generated for the supermodule and it can be used along with the original lower-level modules.

8. Managing textbook versions, maintaining dictionaries.

9. Harmonization of data formats, registration of modules, etc.

A module's interface (metadata) is a specification that includes interface and registration attributes. Interface attributes serve to coordinate this module with other modules in compiled versions of tutorials and include lists of terms used in the module. The terms corresponding to the concepts defined in the module are highlighted. Such terms are called outputs (module outputs). Terms used but not defined in a module are input terms (module inputs). Examples of registration attributes include names of module authors, dates of changes, module certification information, etc.

Let us note the main advantages of PEE:

1) significant simplification and acceleration of the development of new teaching aids that correspond to new advances in science and technology, changing demands of industry, the needs of new emerging disciplines, etc., since a significant part of the new manual can be covered by existing modules;

2) ease of maintenance of online textbooks, since local teachers can independently make changes, creating their own versions of manuals by replacing or adding modules, including modules of their own design;

3) expanding opportunities to optimize information support for the learning path chosen by students in open education systems.

To support PEE in its control system, it is necessary to have tools for automatically generating interfaces based on thesauruses and harmonizing modules within versions based on interface attributes.

The thesaurus expresses the developed ontology of the application. One thesaurus line corresponds to one concept (entity, term) of the application and includes the following data:

concept; brief definition; [list of synonyms];

list of URLs. (4.1)

The list of inputs contains references to concepts that are used to define a given concept. The URL list includes links to encyclopedia modules that define the concept. Lists of synonyms, abbreviations and designations are needed by the management system to harmonize modules developed by different authors when they are included in a compiled textbook. Square brackets in (4.1) indicate that the corresponding line element is optional.

It is necessary to distinguish between several versions of encyclopedias for the same application (Fig. 4.3). The basic version, together with the EI created on its basis, is under the control of some Center. In the branches of the Center, the basic version can be expanded and adjusted, forming local versions. Local versions are used to synthesize EI, adapted to the needs of a specific student population. Finally, end users can both use EI sent by branches and create their own versions (analogues of lecture notes).

Rice. 1. Versions of textbooks based on the electronic encyclopedia

Structuring knowledge and bases of educational materials in the form of PEE is the first, but very useful step towards further intellectualization of AOS. Future systems will be able to conduct a dialogue with a student in a virtual classroom environment, determine his current needs and automatically generate portions of educational material that satisfy these needs. The creation of the first PEE brings the emergence of intelligent AOS closer.

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Complete encyclopedia of the future first-grader.(15Mb).The book will help your child successfully prepare for school. The book presents exciting activities on various aspects of the development of a preschooler: speech development, learning to read and write, getting to know the outside world, developing logic, thinking, and other mathematical abilities. As well as familiarity with the English alphabet and some English words.

The encyclopedia teaches you not just to count and read, but also to think, reason logically, fantasize and enjoy the process of learning. But these qualities are the key to successful schooling. Children's encyclopedia free download

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To find out what a torrent is, who hipsters are and when Doctor's Day is celebrated, it is not at all necessary to turn to thick volumes of encyclopedias. All you need to do is go to the virtual resource and find out comprehensive information on your request in a few minutes.
Our today's Top 5 has collected largest Internet encyclopedias of Runet. Similar resources are available in all countries of the world. Thus, the largest are the Chinese Hudong.com, as well as the English and German sections of Wikipedia.

5. — Megaencyclopedia of Cyril and Methodius

The online encyclopedia contains 150 thousand articles and 60 thousand media objects. The resource has a universal theme and is intended primarily for students - schoolchildren and students. There are articles on biology, geography, history, technology and other areas of knowledge. Most of the articles contain illustrations and videos, which distinguishes the project from simply digitized paper encyclopedias.

4. – Academician

Academician is a huge collection of encyclopedias on a variety of topics: from the Great Soviet to the Encyclopedia of Medieval Weapons. The resource offers downloads of free applications for Android and iOS. In addition to encyclopedias, the site presents a great variety of dictionaries, both in Russian and in foreign languages. For example, a dictionary of military terms and an English-Russian legal dictionary.

3. – The world of encyclopedias

The resource does not contain the articles themselves, but links to the sites of a wide variety of universal and specialized encyclopedias. Before sending the user to the link, “World of Encyclopedias” will tell you how the search works on the specified site, how many articles and illustrations there are. On the page you can find links to general reference publications, resources on psychology, philosophy, mathematics, art and other areas of knowledge.

2. — Universal popular science encyclopedia “KRUGOSVET”

The resource has been operating since 2005. Today, the Krugosvet database contains more than 200 thousand articles on culture and art, geography, science and technology, etc. It is noteworthy that the articles contain not only classical information, but also information about modern trends and trends. The style of the published articles is very lively, popular science. At the same time, the compilers and editors of the project are authoritative figures of Russian science.

1. - Wikipedia

Wikipedia is a free encyclopedia, which means that articles for this comprehensive source are authored by visitors themselves. Therefore, information is updated very quickly, and articles on topical topics appear as quickly as possible. The Russian-language section of Wikipedia contains more than 800 thousand articles, and their number is constantly increasing. Main disadvantage the largest online encyclopedia– this is the subjectivity of some articles. Sometimes the reliability of information on Wikipedia causes criticism among experts. But still, this resource is the most popular, and not only on the Runet.

Classification of encyclopedias by structure and volume

The structure of E. differs between alphabetical (the material is arranged in the alphabet of terms) and systematic. Depending on the volume, books are conventionally divided into large (several dozen volumes), small (10–12 volumes), short (4–6 volumes), and 1–3 volumes, usually called encyclopedic dictionaries.

Source: Gudovshchikova I.V., Terekhov I.M. Encyclopedia // TSB. - 3rd ed. - M., 1978. - T. 30. - P. 206.

According to the structure, encyclopedias are divided into alphabetical, alphabetical-systematic, systematic, chronological, chronological-systematic. There is currently no generally accepted criterion for classification by volume.

Source: The world of encyclopedias.

Classification of encyclopedias according to the range of information included

There are universal (for all branches of knowledge and practical activities), sectoral, national, and regional E.

Source: Large encyclopedic dictionary: [A - Z]/ Ch. ed. A. M. Prokhorov. - 2nd ed., revised. and additional - M.: Bolshaya ros. encycl.; St. Petersburg: Norint, 1997. - P. 1408. - Cap. spine: BES.

Depending on the range of information included, there are universal(general), specialized(industry), regional(universal or specialized) encyclopedia.

Source: Standards for publishing / Compiled by: A. A. Dzhigo, S. Yu. Kalinin. - M.: Yurist, 1998. - P. 184. - (Book business). - Alpha-subject decree: pp. 318 - 374.

There are universal, sectoral, regional, special and personal encyclopedias.

Universal, contain systematized information on all industries and areas of knowledge (for example, “ Great Soviet Encyclopedia»).

Sectoral, contain systematized information on any specific branch of scientific knowledge (for example, “ Historical encyclopedia»).

Regional, contain systematized information on all (for example, “ Ryazan Encyclopedia") or some (for example, " Historical and cultural encyclopedia of the Samara region: Personalities") industries and areas of knowledge associated with any region, region or individual city, town, village, village, etc.: a regional encyclopedic publication can be either universal or special.

Special, contain systematized information on a special field of knowledge at any level - scientific, cultural, practical (for example, “ Aircraft Encyclopedia», « Population: Encyclopedic Dictionary»).

Personal, contain systematized information on all or some issues related to one person or group of persons. That is, a personal encyclopedic publication can be either universal (for example, “ Encyclopedic Dictionary Brockhaus and Efron: Biographies», « Lermontov Encyclopedia"), and special (for example, " Orenburg Shevchenko Encyclopedia: Prison. Soldierly. Link: Encycl. eleven years: 1847 - 1858»).