MapOnLearn: The Use of Maps in Online Learning Systems for Education Sustainability

Online learning and teaching have become the primary forms of education during the global pandemic, and online learning systems, which can provide fair educational opportunities for everyone, are increasingly important for sustainability in education. The amount of time a student spends on online learning systems affects the fairness and persistence of sustainability in education. To support personalized learning opportunities, interactive learning, and easy-to-access resources, we propose a map organization and visualization method called MapOnLearn for online learning systems. First, we converted tree-like hierarchical course units (HCUs) and knowledge points (KPs) into a fundamental two-dimensional (2D) map of hierarchically divided polygons and used the map to form containers to manage all learning resources. Then, we used the zoom feature of the map to express the hierarchical structures of knowledge and formulated corresponding rules for displaying information at different levels. Path analysis was applied to express the learning process, and topological processing was adapted to represent the relationships among HCUs and KPs. We developed maps for a high-level math course, a course on data structures, and an English course at a university in China and investigated 264 students and 27 teachers for a semester by using the technology acceptance model (TAM). We found that the map visualization and organization method had a positive impact on the way teachers and students use online learning systems and improved the online learning experience. To attract more students to spend more time on online learning, we hope our method can promote the sustainable development of education.