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Top1. Introduction
Knowledge Representation is central to the study of Cognitive Informatics (CI) (Wang, 2002a; Wang, 2007), as such it is integrated into the Cognitive Informatics through Object Attribute Relation OAR model and Concept Algebra (Wang, 2006), Real Time Process Algebra (Wang, 2002b) and its Concept Learning Enginge (Tian, Wang, Gavrilova, & Ruhe, 2011). In this work, a model for knowledge and skills representation, called Memory Map (MM) is presented. The model which has a precedent in the Episodic Memory Model of Ramirez and Cooley (Ramirez, Carlos, & Cooley, 1997), and presents similarities with the OAR model, mainly, both store the concepts acquired during a learning process in a structured and flexible way: however, our model proposes a more flexible alternative as to some of the components of the CI framework, but it keeps the same approach of personalisation derived from a unique perception as established in the fundamental theories of CI2. Pedagogical related research in CI focuses in personalisation as can be seen in (Ramirez & Valdes, 2010; Ramirez & Valdes, 2011; Ramirez & Sanchez, 2012; Reynoso, Sanchez, Rodriguez, & Alvarez, 2012; Reynoso, Romero, & Romero, 2012).
The MM was originally created having in mind the development of Virtual Learning Environment Technology able to advance the current educational practices of instruction. The problem with current educational practices is rooted in historical reasons: since the beginning of the industrialisation age till now, many voices have risen against the process of massive education without significant success, e.g. (Kilpatrick, 1925; Lave & Wenge, 1990; Piaget & Inhelder, 1958; Vygotsky, 1986). Most of today’s modern educational systems have significant deficiencies that hinder the natural development of concepts and skills, giving as a result the development of poor quality knowledge, focused mainly on concept memorisation. Evidence of this can be observed in average students that memorise concepts, but remain unable to perform efficiently in real life situations, because of poor development of the skills necessary to apply such concepts on different contexts. What is even worse, a large amount of memorised concepts will be forgotten shortly unless deeply understood and frequently used. It is therefore important to enrich the educational process, taking advantage of modern technological tools, to facilitate the acquisition of concepts and the development of skills.
It must be understood that learning is an individual process; as such, an educational model oriented to standardisation, i.e., teaching the same content with the same methods, and at the same rate to every student, is inadequate. An individual learning process denotes a unique way of perceiving reality or the concrete world, people learn differently because they perceive the world in different ways. Unique perception of the world by each individual is one of the cornerstones of modern thinking, which is stated in fields such as biology (Maturana & Varela, 1980), education (Harel & Papert, 1991), psychology (DeVries, 2002), cognitive sciences (Winograd & Flores, 1987) and cognitive informatics (Wang, 2007) among many others. By individual we do not mean without cooperation, indeed social constructivist theory explains how these two work together (Vygotsky, 1986).