Sharlok: An open group learning support system focusing on awareness

In this paper we describe Knowledge Awareness (KA), which supports the inspiration of collaborative learning in the open group learning support systems using networks, and its test system Sharlok (Sharing, Linking and Looking for Knowledge). Sharlock is an open learning environment where every learner connected to the network can store knowledge and discuss it. KA means knowledge awareness in which, using the past history of learners in the shared database, we become aware of the existence of the learners or the presence of knowledge that can be discussed. As KA inspires discussion, the learners learn eagerly and the shared database is refined and expanded. An evaluation of the test system proposed in this paper is described and the effectiveness of KA is demonstrated.