The Concept Space Interchange Protocol

The Concept Space Interchange Protocol supports the deployment of conceptual browsing interfaces in digital libraries. The protocol provides a programmatic interface to dynamically generate interactive visual components that enable users to navigate a concept space, request information about concepts, and request library resources aligned with concepts. The Concept Space Interchange Protocol has been implemented as part of the NSDL Strand Map Service, which enables digital library developers to create user interfaces and services based on nationally recognized K-12 science learning goals developed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The protocol, the principles underpinning its design, and the problem-centered design methodology used to create it are described.

1. Overview

The NSDL Strand Map Service (SMS) is based on Strand Maps published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science [3]. These maps depict K-12 learning goals, or benchmarks, and describe how benchmarks interrelate across the spectrum of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. This service provides a programmatic interface, the Concept Space Interchange Protocol (CSIP), which enables library developers to construct conceptual browsing interfaces based on the Strand Maps using dynamically generated interactive visual components. Developers can use CSIP to create user interfaces that enable educators to browse the Strand Map concept space, locate related learning resources in educational digital libraries, and view rich descriptions of benchmarks (e.g., about the benchmark, related educational research, student misconceptions, and strategies for checking student understanding).