Start date: 1 October 2002
End date: 31 July 2005
Funding programme: Exchange for Learning (X4L) programme
Project website:
http://www.reload.ac.uk
JISC theme(s): e-Learning
Introduction
The degree to which educational content can be reused and re-purposed depends on how it is stored, made available, and delivered to the academic user community. Existing learning technology interoperability standards are designed to ensure the reusability of educational content within different authoring environments, content repositories and delivery platforms such as virtual and managed learning environments (VLEs/MLEs). Emerging learning technology interoperability specifications underpin pedagogical frameworks which enable significantly more effective use of learning resources. These specifications are therefore relevant to the basis of the X4L Programme, which focuses on pedagogical outcomes (JISC X4L Circular, para 9).
Based on the interoperability specifications being developed by IMS, ADL and the OUNL, RELOAD focuses on the development of a suite of software tools for authoring and delivery standard-compliant learning objects: content package editor, runtime delivery system and Colloquia VLE, all incorporate comprehensive user guides and exemplar resources. These components will form an invaluable toolkit allowing colleagues across the FE/HE sector the freedom to quickly and easily create their own specification conformant learning objects from existing resources.
Aims and Objectives
The strategic aims of this project are:
- To facilitate the creation, sharing and reuse of learning objects and services
- To significantly enhance the range of pedagogical approaches realisable through the use of lesson plans
The aims will be achieved through the production of a set of open source tools and extending the Colloquia VLE, for learning objects packaging and delivery. The project also produces user guides and exemplars for disseminating and integrating the project tools into the JISC community.
The deliverables of the project are:
Content Package Editor (University of Strathclyde)
Deriving from the underlying technologies of two previous JISC-funded project (the IMS Content Packager and PackageIT!), the project aims to implement an improved version of content package editor intended for non-technical users. The tool will enable users to organise, aggregate and package learning objects in standard IMS and SCORM content packages tagged with meta-data, using various schemes and vocabularies, e.g. IMS, IEEE LOM, Dublin Core and Canadian Core. In addition, the project will implement a facility for editing ‘lesson plans’ that are based on the IMS Simple Sequencing (SCORM 1.3) and IMS Learning Design specifications.
Using elements of the IMS Digital Repositories Interoperability Specification, the project aims to evaluate and implement an additional function for ‘resource discovery’, to be included in the editor. The editor will also include a viewer using the derivatives of the runtime delivery system (see below), to enable authors to preview the various types of content packages and lesson plans.
Runtime Delivery System (Bolton Institute)
As the use of specification compliant learning objects increases, there will be a need for a browser-like tool that is capable of delivering learning objects in a user-friendly format consistent with pedagogic delivery requirements: sequencing and navigating learning objects, coordinating group learning and instantiating communication tools (chat, email). The project aims to implement a runtime system to address these requirements.
The runtime system will support IMS Learning Design Specification and the IMS Simple Sequencing Specification. Learning Design (specification) supports the interaction and co-ordination of multiple users, while Simple Sequencing is suitable for single-user environment, e.g. learner working in isolation with a computer. In multi-user environments, learners collaborate through shared services (e.g. chat or discussion groups) to which they have been jointly assigned. Both the individual and the shared activities have to be synchronised into ‘learnflows’, analogous to workflows. Two types of the runtime system will be implemented – one to accompany the package editor so that authors can preview content packages with lesson plans during the process of designing – the other the actual runtime system itself.
Colloquia VLE (Bolton Institute)
Colloquia is a free, open source VLE that supports group working based on setting up learning groups on specific topics (context). Each learning group can involve users of different roles (teachers and learners), the use of learning objects, group tasks and individual assignments. Users can use the resources to engage in group and personal "conversations" about the topic, carry out assignments, return them to tutors and have evaluations returned. Since Colloquia is a multi-user system, it has the infrastructure needed to support specifications such as EML and IMS Learning Design. RELOAD will augment Colloquia with the capabilities of the package editor and the runtime system as soon as they are realised throughout the project duration.
When the runtime system is integrated into Colloquia, the VLE can handle the tasks of instantiating ‘units of learning’ (lesson plans), enable learners to be assigned to the appropriate roles associated with appropriate content and learning pathways, as well as encapsulate the associated learning services, e.g. e-mail, chat, quiz and discussion services in generic formats. When these tasks are specified using Learning Design, they can be interoperable and exchange with other standard-compliant VLEs and content management systems.
User Guide and Exemplars
RELOAD is providing new functionality based on existing tools and an integrated runtime system. These are intended for use by people who are not technical. It is therefore essential to develop documentation in parallel with the software. All tools require some understanding of the ideas that underlie them; so higher-level guides such as tutorials and exemplars are required. The project will develop:
- overviews providing an understanding of the purposes of each tool and how they are intended to work
- comprehensive and modular user guide accompanying the project tools which contains walk-throughs of tool features
- a suite of learning objects samples to demonstrate best practice on the creation of new and re-purposed content. They can be used as samples for users to familiarise themselves with the tools
PLEASE SEE THE PROJECT WEBSITE FOR DETAILS ABOUT RELOAD AND TO DOWNLOAD THE LATEST VERSION OF THE TOOL.