Using database technologies in building learning community to improve knowledge exchange

We utilize Web and database technology to construct a journal based portfolios assessment system to realize a legitimate peripheral participation (LPP) (J. Lave et al., 1990) learning community. In the system, we divide system into three layers, the view layer presents data by the Oracle Portal Server, the data layer stores data by the Oracle Database Server and the operating control layer operates workflow by the Oracle Database trigger. Job data analysis and a questionnaire indicates that the Web Journal is effective to promote knowledge exchange. Students can improve learning performance and it can form a LPP structure. The purpose of using the journal approach [Roth, W.M. (1997)] is to emulate the forming of academic societies formed by journals. At the same time, the achievement of students in a course is based on their publications in journals and the positions they played in the journals. First, students submit their work such as homework, learning portfolios, reports of organizing contents in the discussion, learning problems, related Web sites. Each submitted article would be assessed by three peers. Then the reviewers will review the submitted works. The reviewers will give comments to students. The journal system will publish good articles. Articles published include submitted works and reviewer's comments hoping that students will contribute and exchange their knowledge.