What is the taxonomy?
The Serlo taxonomy is the technical structure of topic pages and curriculum pages which the display of Serlo's learning objects is based on. It is a tree-like, hierarchically structured system.
From the functional point of view, the tasks of Serlo's taxonomy are:
arranging the hierarchy of topic pages and curriculum pages
setting titles and descriptions of topic pages and curriculum pages
arranging the display and order of Serlo's learning objects
Where can you see the taxonomy?
a) Example from a user's point of view
screenshot
description
b) Example from a editor's point of view
screenshot
description
Which elements is the taxonomy built of?
subject taxonomy options: topic, locale, cirriculum content allowed: none
topic descriptions: topics are collective terms, they can be differentiated with more topics as children. The last topic in the hirachie has learning content taxonomy options: topic, content group content allowed: every content, only if there is no topic as child. Too many exercises should be combined in content groups
content group description: content groups combine many exercises, to give better overview on the topic level taxonomy options: none content allowed: only exercises
locale description: locales locate curricula for example regarding to a country and a school type. Locales can have further locales as children. In rare cases, you will start directly with "curriculum", because there isn't any level above. taxonomy options: locale, curriculum content allowed: none
curriculum description: there is only one curriculum level, it is the last level before topics of the subject start. Thereby it defines a unique cirruculum. taxonomy option: curriculum topic content allowed: none
curriculum topic description: curriculum topics work like topics but within a curriculum. They are reduced to the amount of content defined by the (official state) curriculum. taxonomy options: curriculum topics curriculum content group content allowed: every content, only if there is no curriculum topic as child. Too many exercises should be combined in curriculum content groups
curriculum content group description: like “content groups” curriculum content groups combine many exercises, to give better overview on the curriculum topic level taxonomy options: none content allowed: only exercises
Topic tree
Example
math (subject)
numbers and quantities (topic)
fractions and decimal fractions (topic)
multiplication and division of fractions (topic)
…
decimal fractions (topic) (content: 5 articles, 1 course)
exercises to compare decimal fractions (content group) (content: 10 exercises)
geometry (topic)
…
topics vs. content groups
Dive deeper into this probelm - work in progress
How to arrange topics
To build a good topic tree is not so much a technical matter, than a question of didactic and the structure of a subject. That's why, there are different rules and guidelines how to build the topic taxonomy for every subject on Serlo:
referal to further subject guidelines
referal to further subject guidelines
referal to further subject guidelines
Write and design good topic descriptions
The layout of a topic description has to be a single column. It contains an image and text below.
Regarding images
The image must be embedded in a full width layout.
The image resolution has to be 1:2.5, e.g. 1000x400px.
The minimum width is 1000px.
The name of the image is "topic, motif", e.g. "Stochastics, dice".
Images should not contain text or formulas.
Graphics have a white background and should be centered.
The images must be freely licensed.
E.g.: Zahlen und Größen, Geometrie
Regarding text
We don't have much expirience regarding text. Generally, it's only useful, if there is a good reason for it to be there.
It can be an orientation or a summary, but should not contain detailed information.
It should not just repeat the name of the topic or the headings of the content.
At the beginning you can ask some important questions, which will be answered in the topic, e.g.:
Why does the apple fall perpendicularry to the ground?
What is time?
Why does an airplane fly?
The text should contain about 200 characters and not more than 400.
Curriculum tree
Example
math (subject)
(topic tree …)
Germany (locale)
Bavaria (locale)
Grammar school (locale)
5th grade (curriculum)
…
6th grade (curriculum)
decimal fractions (curriculum topic) (content: 5 articles, 1 course)
exercises to compare (curriculum content group) (content: 10 exercises)
Berlin (locale)
…
What are curricula?
Renate got it! - work in progress
Consider that curriculum and locale are abstract concepts and do not necessarily represent an official curriculum. Moreover, the locale hierarchy is completely optional and there can be curriculum on the first level.
When to use curriculum
Dive deeper into this probelm - work in progress
curriculums are categorized in a locale hierarchy. This hierarchy may contain things such as nation, state and type of school. At the end of this hierarchy there are curriculums, each describing a single grade in this hierarchy. These curriculum contain the corresponding curriculum topics. On the other hand, a locale contains no content and a curriculum contains no further curriculum.
Write good curriculum descriptions
work in progress
How to edit the taxonomy
rights, who is allowed to edit the taxonomy
every taxonomy element has: title, description (optional)
edit vs. organize (vs. "update taxonomy")
create new element: screenshot etc.
explain tools (plus, pen, trash ..)
change order of taxonomy elements
change order of assigned content (wenn es auch helper dürfen, sollte es in die Anleitung zur Zuweisung von Inhalten. Hier steht dann nur ein Link)
