摘要：Topic Maps represent a recent technology for structuring and retrieval of information, based on principles used in traditional indexes and thesauri, drawing inspiration from semantic networks. In the e-learning domain Topic Maps have a greater importance as a content management technology, but also because they fill in the gap between information and knowledge. Because many e-learning systems use a relational database for storing the learning content, this paper presents an original algorithm for automated building of a Topic Map starting from a relational database. The process is illustrated on a database used in TESYS e-learning system. The paper also presents a tool with two main functions: the Topic Map graphical view that allows learner navigation for studying the topics, and associations between them and Topic Map querying using tolog that facilitates the establishing of search criteria for learning resources filtering.
