Specifications and Reference Framework
The following specifications and implementations are of relevance to RELOAD:
ADL / SCORM - A high-level
framework from the US Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative (ADL).
It is used for content packaging and is endorsed by the US government
as a means to verify educational content and services. Various VLEs
and toolkits such as Microsoft LRN support SCORM. Both IMS Content
Packaging and Meta-Data are core elements, and are utilised in various
context ('application profiles') within SCORM.
http://www.adlnet.org/
IMS Meta-data
provides a structure of defined elements that describe, or catalogue,
the learning resource, along with requirements about how the elements
are to be used and represented.
http://www.imsproject.org/metadata/index.cfm
IMS
Content Packaging
provides the functionality to describe and
package learning materials, such as an individual course or a collection
of courses, into interoperable, distributable packages. Content
Packaging addresses the description, structure, and location of
online learning materials and the definition of some particular
content types.
http://www.imsproject.org/content/packaging/index.cfm
IMS
Simple Sequencing - The forthcoming release of SCORM (version
1.3) will integrate the IMS Simple Sequencing Specification which
describes the intended runtime behaviour of learning activities
in a learning environment. This includes the order in which learning
resources are delivered, and the rules for selecting and navigating
learning activities. Simple sequencing is suitable for the delivery
of learning resources in single-user environment, for example, learners
working separately with interactive digital content.
http://www.imsproject.org/simplesequencing/index.cfm
IMS Learning
Design
This specification integrates the EML with the existing
IMS specifications, notably Content Packaging, Meta-data and Simple
Sequencing. It can be considered as an integrative upper-layer to
these specifications. The main rationale of the specification is
to provide a framework that supports a wide range of pedagogical
approaches while promoting the exchange and interoperability of
e-learning materials. It therefore supports mixed mode delivery,
combining traditional approaches such as face-to-face teaching and
ICT-enabled learning in single-user and multiple-users environments.
With the specification, multiple pedagogical approaches can be expressed
within a single 'Unit of Learning' where different approaches may
be appropriate to different learning tasks. This allow the development
of a single engine, instead of multiple engines, each tied to a
specific approach.
http://www.cetis.ac.uk/content/20021008012855
IMS
Digital Repository Interoperability
The specification is being
developed by IMS in several phases (Phase 1 currently) to address
various interoperability problems relevant to the common functions
of distributed repositories. It has a diverse scope spanning standard
communicative approaches for content querying/retrieval, e-commerce
(payment) to digital rights (security and copyright) management.
Phase 1 of the development focuses on four core functions related
to content querying and retrieval. The specification recommends
and utilises technologies and protocols that are already exist within
the field of digital repositories.
http://www.imsproject.org/digitalrepositories/index.cfm
Educational Modelling Language - EML
Developed by the Open University of the Netherlands (OUNL),
the aim of EML is to make explicit the intrinsic values of pedagogy
and instructional designs. EML is a result of extensive examination
and analysis of a wide range of pedagogical approaches, and allows
users to encapsulate the pedagogic values of learning objects as
'units of study', by putting them in the context of single and multi-user
learning activities, which in turn can be specified with 'learning
objectives', 'prerequisites' etc. Each of the above specifications
is developed for diverse use contexts or use cases within
their domains. The project seeks to review and prioritise the use
cases that are of direct relevance to the UK HE/FE sector. This
will be accomplished through a consultative process during the early
stages of the project. The consultation is likely to be based on
refining an initial scope shown in the following figure. For instance,
the proposed resource discovery facility in the package
editor will implement part of the Search and Expose
use case from the IMS Digital Repository Interoperability Specification.
It will enable users to locate and identify resources from distributed
databases (pre-configured and plug-in) which implement the specification
and are based on Z39.50 (which is supported by the specification).
The tool will focus on client-side functions and 'exposing existing
resources; it will not cover repository development, access
management or content retrieval.
http://eml.ou.nl