Systematic literature review of Semantic Web for distance learning

ABSTRACT

The study intends to identify the emerging themes of e-learning through the Semantic Web. To highlight the key challenges and explore the core benefits of this mesmerizing technology was another goal of the study. To get the set goals researchers systematically reviewed the literature in five leading databases, out of which one specialized database of education; ERIC and four general databases i.e Scopus, J-store, Science Direct & Google Scholar. The preferred reporting items were used for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The selected 22 research studies identified eight emergent themes within the body of research. In answer to the second part of the research study, the review shows that Semantic Web technology has opened new horizons for e-learning. On the other hand, data analysis of selected studies reflects the technological, socio-cultural and other challenges which may cause the hurdle for the realization of these goals in true sense. The overall result shows, interoperability, data security & privacy, ontology’s & crowd sourcing technology or automatic annotation as future research trends indicated by the identified studies to meet up these challenges. This SR may be beneficial for stakeholders to understand the e-learning scenario through Semantic Web technology.

KEYWORDS:

• Semantic Web
• distance learning
• E-learning
• linked open data
• ontologies
• systematic review

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Faiza Bashir

Faiza Bashir, is an energetic & ambitious young professional in the field of Library and Information Science. Currently she is working as Assistant Professor Library Science/ Head of Department at Government College for Women, Township, Lahore. She is doing Ph.D in Information Management from University of the Punjab, Lahore. She has completed her M.Phil from the Minhaj University, Lahore in 2014. She did her Masters in Library Science (2003) and History (2006) from University of the Punjab, Lahore. She has published her research work in well reputed International and National journals.

Nosheen Fatima Warraich

Nosheen Fatima Warraich is a self-motivated, passionate, and a committed professional in the discipline of information management. She joined the Department of Information Management as lecturer in 2008. She received her PhD from University of the Punjab (2005-2011) and has honor to be the first PhD of the department regular MPhil leading to PhD program. Her career is beautiful amalgamation of librarianship as well as teaching. She did her graduation from Lahore College for Women University Lahore in 1999 and masters from Department of Library & Information Science, University of the Punjab, Lahore in 2001. She is privileged to get Fulbright Fellowship to complete her Post Doctorate from State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany, USA in 2015-16. Dr. Warraich has more than 75 publications including Impact Factor and HEC recognized national and international refereed journals, conference proceedings, books and book chapters on her credit. She also supervised and have been supervising a number of research theses to Masters MPhil and PhD students. She regularly presents her research in the prestigious conferences of the field. Her research has been published in esteemed journals such as Electronic Library, Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Malaysian Journal of Library and Information Science, Library Hi Tech, Serial Librarian, Global Knowledge Memory and Communication, Information and Learning Science, Public Library Quarterly, Education for Information and Library Management etc. She has been serving on organizing committees of international conferences including ICIM&L, A-LIEP and ICADL. She served as Convener of Program Advisory Committee of the Centennial International Conference on Information Management and Libraries, 2015 and co-editor of conference published proceedings. She was the Secretary of 2nd International Conference on Information Management and Libraries, 2018. She is a vibrant professional and contributing in national and international professional organizations. Internationally, she is active in ASIS&T and serving in different capacities. She has the honor of winning Info-share award twice, for the years of 2010 and 2011. She was awarded ASIS&T New Leader Award 2017–19 and SIG/III (International Information Issues) International Paper Contest (IPC) award in 2017. She was the co-chair of ASIS&T SIG education 2017–18 and also elected officer of ASIS&T SIG Social Media twice in 2018–19 and 2019-20. She has been serving on IPC jury from 2018, 2019 and 2020. Nationally, she is Joint Secretary of Pakistan Library Automation Group and also worked as a co-ordinator to re-activate the department alumni association through election and with new name; Punjab University Information and Library Management Alumni Association (PUILMAA). Previously it was known as PULISAA (Punjab University Library and Information Science Association) and she served its secretary from 2012-2014. She has organized and participated as resource person in many seminars and workshops held for teachers, researchers as well as information professionals, with the assistance of Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, Punjab University Library, Department of Information Management, Institute of Administrative Sciences and Research Office of PU. She is convener of various committees of the DoIM, PU: Admission Committee, Purchase Committee, Scholarship Committee to name a few. She is member of Department Doctoral Program Committee, Board of Studies, Board of Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences and Price Vigilance Committee. She completed many research projects funded by University of the Punjab, Punjab Library Foundation and US State Department.