Taxonomy

Making topics visible: Taxonomies in categories

Use of taxonomies in categories

The structure of the Repository often maps the structure of the organization: Categories represent departments or faculties, courses of study, or fields of study. Users do not have an overview of the topics covered in such a structured Repository without personally exploring the tree.

With taxonomies, you can provide users with a structured overview of the topics and content in the Repository.

Taxonomies are classification schemes. They allow you to arrange objects in categories according to specific criteria.

The taxonomy is a hierarchical concept tree of upper and lower terms ("nodes"). With increasing branching, the knowledge assigned to the nodes (here: objects in categories) becomes more and more specific. Higher-level nodes, on the other hand, represent higher-level, more general domains.

Taxonomies are an excellent way to represent a subject area's semantics and technical structure.
Taxonomies are an additional way of presenting a confusing number of objects to users in an informative and multi-value way.

• Nodes can be nested within each other in any way. Create the concept tree you need this way.
• Assign objects to nodes. You can add the same object to multiple nodes.

The taxonomy is displayed in a small block on the right side of the Repository as a term tree and can be used for navigation. Placing objects in the term hierarchy is very helpful, especially for beginners.

Assigning objects to nodes

You want to assign an object in your category to a node in a taxonomy.  You can only assign objects that have a Metadata tab to a taxonomy. Objects such as learning modules, glossaries, files, tests, categories, courses, or groups can be assigned to taxonomy nodes.
Unfortunately, forums, exercises, or wikis cannot be assigned.

Prerequisites:

• You have already created a taxonomy
• The object you want to assign is under the category in which you created the taxonomy.

1. Open the object you want to assign to a node of your taxonomy.
2. Open the Metadata tab of the object.
3. At the bottom of the form, you will find the title of your taxonomy on the left.
4. Click on the Select link next to it.
5. ILIAS opens the taxonomy in a strip on the right.
6. Click on the node to which you want to assign the object. Open the tree by clicking on the small arrows.
7. Click on the Select button.
8. ILIAS displays the selected node in the form under Taxonomy.

Categorizing questions with taxonomies

Using taxonomies in the question pool for tests

Taxonomies are classification schemes. They allow questions in the question pool to be ordered according to specific criteria.

The taxonomy is a hierarchical concept tree of superordinate and subordinate terms ("nodes"). With increasing branching, the knowledge assigned to the nodes (here: questions in the question pool) becomes more and more specific. Higher-level nodes, on the other hand, represent higher-level, more general domains.

Taxonomies are an excellent way to represent a subject area's semantics and technical structure.
Taxonomies are an additional way of preparing objects from many individual parts, such as question pools, in an informative and multi-value way for users.

• Nodes can be nested within each other in any way. Create the concept tree you need this way.
• Assign pool questions to nodes. You can add the same question to multiple nodes.

The taxonomy is displayed on the left as a term tree and can be used for navigation. Placing the question in the term hierarchy is helpful, especially for beginners.

Note: For example, create a thematic taxonomy and then add child nodes "easy", "medium", and "difficult" to categorize questions by topic and difficulty.

Note: When a test is set in resubmission mode, learners will have an excellent time navigating the taxonomy.

How can questions be assigned to nodes?

If you have created taxonomies in the question pool settings, you can assign the created questions to the taxonomies and their associated nodes. In the questions' editing forms, an area appears at the bottom of each page where you can assign the question to the taxonomies and nodes.

Taxonomies in glossaries

Using taxonomies in glossaries

Taxonomies are classification schemes. They make it possible to order individual glossary entries according to specific criteria.

The taxonomy is a hierarchical tree of superordinate and subordinate terms ("nodes"). As you branch out, the knowledge assigned to the nodes (in this case, entries in the glossary) becomes increasingly specific. Higher-level nodes, on the other hand, represent higher-level, more general domains.

Taxonomies are an excellent way to represent a subject area's semantics and technical structure.
Taxonomies are an additional way of preparing objects from many individual parts, such as glossaries, in an informative and multi-value way for users.

• Nodes can be nested within each other in any way. Create the term tree you need this way.
• Assign glossary entries to nodes. You can add the same glossary entry to multiple nodes.

The taxonomy is displayed on the left as a term tree and can be used for navigation. Placing glossary entries in the term hierarchy is very helpful, especially for beginners.

Note: For example, create a thematic taxonomy and then add subordinate nodes "easy", "medium", and "difficult" to categorize glossary entries by topic and difficulty. In the glossary, terms can thus be assigned to different theoretical approaches, for example.

Using taxonomy for navigation in the glossary

You want to use the taxonomy for navigation in the glossary.

Prerequisite: You have already created a taxonomy and created nodes.

1. Open the glossary in the presentation view.
2. ILIAS shows the taxonomy as a tree with its nodes on the left and the existing glossary terms on the right.
3. Click on a taxonomy node on the left.
4. ILIAS displays the glossary term(s) tagged with the selected taxonomy node on the right.
5. Click on the glossary term you accessed via the selected taxonomy node: To do this, click on the title of the term.
6. ILIAS now shows you a detailed view of the term. The taxonomy tree remains on the left side, and the selected taxonomy node remains highlighted.

Assigning glossary entries to nodes

You want to assign a glossary entry to a node in a taxonomy.

Prerequisite: You have already created a taxonomy.

1. Open the edit view of the glossary.
2. At the end of the line of the term you want to assign to the taxonomy, click the Actions link and select the Edit entry.
3. ILIAS displays the form for [could not resolve link target: il_6127_git_43] .
4. At the Taxonomy section, click the Select link.
5. ILIAS opens the taxonomy in a strip on the right.
6. Click the node you want to assign the [could not resolve link target: il_6127_git_43]. Open the tree by clicking on the small arrows.
7. Click on the Select button.
8. ILIAS displays the selected node in the form under Taxonomy.

Create and delete taxonomies

Add taxonomy

You want to make your topic field accessible with headings and subheadings. To do this, create a taxonomy.

1. Open the Taxonomies tab.
2. Open the Taxonomy Definition sub-tab.
3. Click on the Add taxonomy button.
4. ILIAS opens a new page.
5. Enter a title for the taxonomy.
   Optional: Enter a description for the taxonomy in the text input field.
6. Click the Create Taxonomy button.
7. ILIAS shows you the same form as before with an additional drop-down menu, Sort Nodes.
8. Select how you want the nodes that are yet to be created to be sorted:
   Alphabetical: the nodes are sorted by their initial letters.
   Manually: You manually put the nodes into a professionally meaningful order.
9. Optional for question pools only: If you want the sorting of the assigned entries to be supported, activate the corresponding checkbox.
10. Click the Save button.
11. ILIAS creates a corresponding taxonomy.
12. Now create nodes for the taxonomy.

Create subheadings/nodes

You want to edit an already created taxonomy

1. Open the Taxonomies tab.
2. Open the Taxonomy Definition sub-tab.
3. Click on the Edit link at the end of the row of the taxonomy you want to edit.
4. ILIAS opens the Nodes tab.
5. Create the nodes there or edit existing nodes.
   Note: Switch to the Settings tab to edit or set the title of the taxonomy or the sorting of the nodes, or the sorting of the assigned entries.

Delete taxonomy

You want to delete a taxonomy.

1. Open the Taxonomies tab.
2. Open the Taxonomy Definition sub-tab.
3. Click on the Delete link at the end of the row of the taxonomy you want to delete.
4. ILIAS opens a new page and asks you to confirm the deletion.
5. Click on the Delete button.
6. ILIAS deletes the taxonomy.

Creating, sorting, moving, and deleting nodes

Creating nodes

You want to create nodes for a taxonomy.

Prerequisite: You have already created a taxonomy to which the nodes can be subordinated.

1. Open the Taxonomies tab.
2. Open the Taxonomy Definition sub-tab.
3. Click on the Edit link to the right of the desired taxonomy.
4. ILIAS opens the Nodes page.
5. Click the Create Node button.
6. ILIAS opens a new page.
7. Enter a title for the node.
   Optional: If you have set manual node sorting under Settings, enter a number (1, 2, 3,...n) under Order Number that marks where the node should be placed in the list of nodes.
8. Click on the Save button.
9. ILIAS creates the new node and takes you back to the overview page of nodes.

Sorting nodes manually

You want to sort nodes manually.

Prerequisite: You have set a manual sorting of the nodes in the taxonomy settings.

1. Open the Taxonomies tab.
2. Open the Taxonomy Definition sub-tab.
3. Click on the Edit link to the right of the desired taxonomy.
4. ILIAS opens the Nodes page.
5. Open the Settings tab and select the Manual menu item under Node Sorting.
6. Navigate back to the Nodes tab.
7. On the Nodes page, enter numbers in increments of ten (10, 20, 30,...n) in the input fields to the right of the nodes to sort the nodes accordingly.
8. Click on the Save button.
9. ILIAS will apply the sorting.

Move nodes

You want to move single nodes within the same taxonomy to another node, e.g. to subordinate it to this one.

1. Open the Taxonomies tab.
2. Open the Taxonomy Definition sub-tab.
3. Click on the Edit link to the right of the desired taxonomy.
4. ILIAS opens the Nodes page.
5. Select the checkbox next to the node you want to move.
6. Select Move from the drop-down menu above or below the node list.
7. Click on the Execute button.
8. ILIAS opens a new page with the tree structure of the taxonomy.
9. Select the node to which you want to move the selected node. If necessary, open sub-nodes using the gray arrows next to the nodes.
   Note: A node cannot be moved to a node that is subordinate to itself.
10. Click on the desired node.
11. ILIAS moves the node and opens the list view of the node.

Delete node

You want to delete a node.

1. Navigate to the desired node in the taxonomy tree structure.
2. Click the taxonomy or node that is parent to the node you want to delete.
3. ILIAS opens the list of nodes.
4. Select the checkbox next to the node you want to delete.
5. Select Delete from the drop-down menu above or below the list of nodes.
6. Click on the Execute button.
7. ILIAS opens a new page and asks for confirmation of the deletion process.
   Note: If the node has multiple child nodes, these will also be deleted.
8. Click on the Confirm button.
9. ILIAS deletes the node and its subnodes.

Edit taxonomy settings

Editing the taxonomy settings

You want to edit the taxonomy settings.

1. Open the Taxonomies tab.
2. Open the sub-tab Taxonomy Definition.
3. ILIAS opens a new page.
4. Click the Edit link at the end of the taxonomy row.
5. ILIAS opens the taxonomy.
6. Open the Settings tab.
7. Under Title, enter a name for the taxonomy or change the name.
   Optional: Enter a description of the taxonomy.
8. In the Selection menu Sorting of nodes, select whether the nodes should be sorted manually or alphabetically.
9. If you want to support the sorting of the assigned entries, select the corresponding checkbox.
10. Click on the Save button.
11. ILIAS will accept your entries.