International Journal of Research in Computer Science eISSN 2249-8265 Volume 2 Issue 6 (2012) pp. 1-6 www.ijorcs.org, A Unit of White Globe Publications doi: 10.7815/ijorcs. 26.2012.050 www.ijorcs.org A CONCEPTUAL MODEL FOR ONTOLOGY BASED LEARNING Touraj Banirostam 1 , Kamal Mirzaie 2 , Mehdi N. Fesharaki 3 1 Department of Computer Engineering, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, IRAN Email: banirostam@iautcb.ac.ir 2 Department of Computer Engineering, Maybod Branch, Islamic Azad University, IRAN Email: k.mirzaie@maybodiau.ac.ir 3 Department of Computer Engineering, Science and research Branch, Islamic Azad University, IRAN Email: fesharaki@mut.ac.ir Abstract: Utilizing learning features by many fields like education, artificial intelligence, and multi-agent systems, leads to generation of various definitions for this concept. In this article, these field’s significant definitions for learning will be presented, and their key concepts in each field will be described. Using the mentioned features in different learning definitions, ontology will get presented for the concept of learning. In the ontology, the main ontological concepts and their relations have been represented. Also a conceptual model for learning based on presented ontology will be proposed by means of model and modeling description. Then concepts of presented definitions are going to be shown in proposed model and after that, the model’s functionality will be discuss. Twelve main characteristics have been used to describe the proposed model’s functionality. Utilizing learning ontology to improve the proposed conceptual model can be used also as a guide to model learning and also can be useful in different learning models’ comparison. So that the key concepts which can be used for considered learning model will be determined. Furthermore, an example based on proposed ontology and definition features is explained. Keywords: Conceptual Model; Learning, Memory, Modeling, Ontology. I. INTRODUCTION Complex phenomena can be always represented simple through eliminating some details. Although during this process some effective parameters in the main phenomena might be ignored, but these simplifying results in a better understanding of concepts [1]. This process has been settled for a relatively broad range of natural phenomena to social systems like neural networks, stock market, and social changes. Different reasons can be found for eliminating a phenomenon details from which, some can be noticed as, failure to identify all the parameters involved in a problem, inability to represent all parameters and unknown factors in a phenomenon [2]. As a common cognitive phenomenon among all the organisms, learning has been always considered by different fields [3]. The lack of a common expression for learning in different sciences such as psychology, behavior, cognitive science, sociology, philosophy, education, and artificial intelligence has led many definitions and different concepts of learning to be provided [4]. Therefore, there are various models of learning. Focusing on represented descriptions, different aspects and various parameters of this phenomenon be recognized and as a result, a better understanding of relations between different components can be achieved [5]. This can lead to a comprehensive concept in this regard. This concept is to be efficient in representing a suitable model and it would also reduce the errors [6]. In the following sections, at first different learning concepts will be expressed and some of definitions will get represented and after that, efficient components within them will be described. Then different modeling methods will be considered and the significance of ontology in modeling will get clarified and consequently, learning ontology will be represented and ultimately the proposed model will be presented and described according to the represented ontology. Finally, an example based on mentioned features will be described. II. LEARNING CONCEPT Broad use of learning in different fields led to different definitions of learning. Based on the applications and needs, each definition focuses on different concepts as learning. So representing a common concept of learning seems to be difficult. Having a conceptual model of learning can be helpful in solving relative problems of learning effectively. To