ALA-Reader
ALA-Reader v1.01 (2005/04/01)
Developed by: Roy B. Clariana, College of Education, Penn State University
License: Free&Closed source
Web page : Tool homepage
Tool type : Application software
The last edition of this page was on: 2014/11/11
The Completion level of this page is : Low
The last edition of this page was on: 2014/11/11 The Completion level of this page is : Low
SHORT DESCRIPTION
[[has description::Quote from the software home page (11/2014): Here is a software tool that can translate written text summaries directly into proximity files (prx) that can be analyzed by Pathfinder KNOT. It also generates text proposition files that can be imported by CMAP Tools to automatically form concept maps from the text. It should be of use to researchers who want to visualize "text" for various instructional and research-related reasons. Also it should work with different languages.
ALA-Reader contains a rudimentary scoring system. Essentially, this tool converts the written summary into a cognitive map and then scores the cognitive map using an approach that we developed for scoring concept maps. The "score" produced is percent agreement with an expert referent. As I narrow down what algorithms work, then I plan to release updated versions periodically.]]
TOOL CHARACTERISTICS
Usability
Tool orientation
Data mining type
Manipulation type
IMPORT FORMAT :
EXPORT FORMAT :
| Tool objective(s) in the field of Learning Sciences | |
|
☑ Analysis & Visualisation of data |
☑ Providing feedback for supporting instructors: |
Tool can perform:
- Data extraction of type:
- Transformation of type:
- Data analysis of type:
- Data visualisation of type: (These visualisations can be interactive and updated in "real time")
ABOUT USERS
Tool is suitable for:
Required skills:
STATISTICS: Basic
PROGRAMMING: N/A
SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION: Basic
DATA MINING MODELS: Medium
FREE TEXT
| Tool version : ALA-Reader v1.01 2005/04/01 (blank line) Developed by : Roy B. Clariana, College of Education, Penn State University |
|
Contents
SHORT DESCRIPTION
Quote from the software home page (11/2014): Here is a software tool that can translate written text summaries directly into proximity files (prx) that can be analyzed by Pathfinder KNOT. It also generates text proposition files that can be imported by CMAP Tools to automatically form concept maps from the text. It should be of use to researchers who want to visualize "text" for various instructional and research-related reasons. Also it should work with different languages.
ALA-Reader contains a rudimentary scoring system. Essentially, this tool converts the written summary into a cognitive map and then scores the cognitive map using an approach that we developed for scoring concept maps. The "score" produced is percent agreement with an expert referent. As I narrow down what algorithms work, then I plan to release updated versions periodically.
TOOL CHARACTERISTICS
| Tool orientation | Data mining type | Usability |
|---|---|---|
| This tool is specially designed for learning sciences analysis. | This tool is designed for Text mining. | Authors of this page consider that this tool is somewhat difficult to use. |
| Data import format | Data export format |
|---|---|
| . | . |
| Tool objective(s) in the field of Learning Sciences | |
|
☑ Analysis & Visualisation of data |
☑ Providing feedback for supporting instructors: |
Can perform data extraction of type:
Can perform data transformation of type:
Can perform data analysis of type:
Can perform data visualisation of type:
(These visualisations can be interactive and updated in "real time")
ABOUT USER
| Tool is suitable for: | ||||
| Students/Learners/Consumers:☑ | Teachers/Tutors/Managers:☑ | Researchers:☑ | Organisations/Institutions/Firms:☑ | Others:☑ |
| Required skills: | |||
| Statistics: BASIC | Programming: | System administration: BASIC | Data mining models: MEDIUM |
OTHER TOOL INFORMATION
|
| ALA-Reader |
| Free&Closed source |
| Roy B. Clariana, College of Education, Penn State University |
| 2005/04/01 |
| v1.01 |
| http://www.personal.psu.edu/rbc4/score.htm |
| [[has description::Quote from the software home page (11/2014): Here is a software tool that can translate written text summaries directly into proximity files (prx) that can be analyzed by Pathfinder KNOT. It also generates text proposition files that can be imported by CMAP Tools to automatically form concept maps from the text. It should be of use to researchers who want to visualize "text" for various instructional and research-related reasons. Also it should work with different languages.
ALA-Reader contains a rudimentary scoring system. Essentially, this tool converts the written summary into a cognitive map and then scores the cognitive map using an approach that we developed for scoring concept maps. The "score" produced is percent agreement with an expert referent. As I narrow down what algorithms work, then I plan to release updated versions periodically.]] |
| Learning Sciences analysis |
| Analysis & Visualisation of data |
| Researchers |
| Basic |
| N/A |
| Basic |
| Medium |
| Application software |
| Text mining |
| Data analysis |
| somewhat difficult to use |
| Low |
Constraintings and limitations
This tool requires:
- A files that includes a structured definition of 30 terms (max).
- Writing 2 expert files
- Essay files can only include 30 sentences
Other tools
As explained in the introduction, this tool produces a proximity matrix and two other tools are needed for analysis:
- KNOT (Pathfinder KNOT). The Knowledge Network Organizing Tool (KNOT) is built around the Pathfinder network generation algorithm and includes several tools.
- CMAP Tools Concept mapping software.
Links
http://www.personal.psu.edu/rbc4/
Bibliography
The author of this package used this software for several studies, for example:
- Using Pathfinder Knot Analytic Tools For Comparing And Combining Concept Maps, by Roy Clariana, Ravinder Koul, and Kristen Albright
- Clariana, R.B., & Koul, R. (2004). A computer-based approach for translating text into concept map-like representations. In A.J.Canas, J.D.Novak, and F.M.Gonzales, Eds., Concept maps: theory, methodology, technology, vol. 2, in the Proceedings of the First International Conference on Concept Mapping, Pamplona, Spain, Sep 14-17, pp.131-134. See http://cmc.ihmc.us/papers/cmc2004-045.pdf.
- Clariana, R. B., Wallace, P. E., & Godshalk, V. M. (2009). Deriving and measuring group knowledge structure from essays: The effects of anaphoric reference. Educational Technology Research and Development, 57, 725–737.
- Clariana, R. B., & Taricani, E. M. (2010). The consequences of increasing the number of terms used to score open-ended concept maps. International Journal of Instructional Media, 37, 163–173.
- Roy B. Clariana, Michael B. Wolfe, Kyung Kim (2014). The influence of narrative and expository lesson text structures on knowledge structures: alternate measures of knowledge structure, Educational Technology Research and Development 62 (5), http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11423-014-9348-3
Other studies using the software:
- Draper, D. (2010). The instructional effects of knowledge-based community of practice learning environments on student achievement and knowledge convergence. Doctoral dissertation retrieved July 22, 2014, from https://etda.libraries.psu.edu/paper/10629/.
- Klois, S. S., Segers, E., Clariana, R. B., & Verhoeven, L. (2013). Effects of links in children’s digital text comprehension. A presentation with paper at the Twentieth Annual Meeting Society for the Scientific Study of Reading, Hong Kong (July).
About Pathfinder:
- Schvaneveldt, R. W. (Ed.). (1990). Pathfinder associative networks: Studies in knowledge organization. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.