Publication:

The effectiveness of applying an ontology framework to a higher education course on dealing with computer viruses

Computer virus is an abstract term and students study the effectiveness of computer viruses in traditional

teaching methods which are poor. This study used an innovative interactive learning system, Network Security Course

with Ontology Framework (NSCOF), to enhance students’ knowledge and problem-solving skills when dealing with

computer viruses. A total of 86 junior students from a technical and vocational college in central Taiwan voluntarily

participated in the study. The study adopted a quasi-experimental approach with a two-group design. The findings were

as follows: 1) knowledge-learning achievement: the two groups performed similarly; and 2) problem-solving learning

achievement: the treatment group significantly outperformed the control group. The results show that the students

solved the problems caused by a computer virus more accurately and quickly after they had studied the teaching

material. Integrating this proposed knowledge - that is, the ontology of a computer virus - into the current pedagogy

could increase the effectiveness and efficiency of this field.