Meet Me in RIO: Implementing Reusable Information Objects

1
Meet Me in RIOImplementing Reusable Information
Objects

• Kim E. Ruyle, PhD
• Deere Company
• Worldwide Learning Development
• RuyleKimE_at_JohnDeere.com
• 309-765-4192

Peder Jacobsen Chief Learning Officer LogicBay
Corp. PJacobsen_at_LogicBay.com 877-854-3413
2
Objectives

• Apply knowledge of RIOs/RLOs to improve web EPSS,
  eLearning, and knowledge management applications
• Make informed decisions about web-based
  publishing and content management technologies
• Consider effective strategies for implementing
  RIOs/RLOs in your organization
• Explain a real-world approach to
  creating/delivering RLOs

3
Our Problem

• Content creators duplicate effort
• Impractical to find content when required
• Content can not be displayed in multiple media
• Lack of development standards for multiple media

4
Possible Solution Architecture
5
Proposed Solution

• Develop standard processes for authoring and
  standard schema for structuring technical
  information
• DTDs, XSL style sheets, etc. for various
  applications (manuals, WBT, EPSS, etc.)
• XML-based and, to the extent possible, adhering
  to SCORM standards and leveraging our current
  SGML DTDs
• Objectbase (knowledge repository) consisting of
  media-independent, meta-tagged objects

6
Benefits Part 1

• Quality
• More valuable and highest quality content will be
  saved, distributed and enhanced
• Information in all formats will be more
  consistent and accurate
• Productivity
• Redundant work by technical writers and
  illustrators will be reduced
• Users of technical information will spend less
  time searching for technical content
• Expect to benefit from new authoring and content
  management tools based on XML

7
Benefits Part 2

• Timeliness
• Problems with logistics and printing/publishing
  will be reduced
• Content developers will have more control over
  distribution timeframes and find it easier to
  meet deadlines
• Improvements in content will change in all
  deliverable media simultaneously
• Cost
• Less duplication in effort means fewer
  development hours required
• Translation costs will be reduced as information
  blocks are shared
• Fewer paper-based documents will lead to savings
  in printing and distribution
• Leveraging existing SGML will reduce
  implementation costs

8
Job Aids vs. Training

• Job aids
• Technical manuals
• Electronic performance support systems (EPSS)
• Training
• Behavioral
• Guided Discovery

9
Reusable Information Objects (RIOs)

• Discrete chunks of shared, raw content
  information
• May be blocks of text or media objects
• Metadata tags are essential components
• Appropriate granularity and use of context
  wrappers allow RIOs to be used in a variety of
  applications

10
Reusable Learning Objects (RLOs)

• RLOs consist of an assembled set of RIOs with
  context wrapper and instructional elements
• An RLO serves an identified instructional
  objective
• RLOs can be sequenced and served up by a learning
  management system (LMS) or specialized
  application

11
Simple RLO Elements
Text - module overview
Objective - module enabling objective
Graphic - illustrate concept
RIOs
Text - review concept
Animation- demonstrate procedure
Raw media content objects
Text - explain procedure
Programmed agent objects
Multimedia - interactive simulation
Metadata
Multimedia - simulation wizard
Evaluation - knowledge check
Audio clip - feedback
Text - provide mnemonic
12
Simple RLO Instructional Strategy

• Gain attention
• Inform learner of objectives
• Stimulate recall of prior learning
• Provide stimulus material
• Provide learner guidance
• Elicit performance
• Provide feedback
• Assess performance
• Enhance retention and transfer
• (From Gagnes Events of Instruction)

Graphic - illustrate concept
Text - review concept
Animation- demonstrate procedure
Text - explain procedure
Multimedia - interactive simulation
Metadata
Multimedia - simulation wizard
Evaluation - knowledge check
Audio clip - feedback
Text - provide mnemonic
13
RLO Characteristics

• Valuable -- context and granularity
• Interoperable -- adhere to standards
• Accessible -- appropriately tagged

14
Design Cisco Systems Strategy

• RIOs
• Support the job task with knowledge
• Built with standardized templates
• Contain 7 2 building blocks
• RLOs
• Focused on a single job task
• Similar to a short lesson
• Contain 7 2 RIOs

15
Standards Bodies

• AICC
• ADL (SCORM)
• IMS
• ARIADNE
• Dublin Core

• IEEE (LTSC P1484)
• ANSI
• ISO
• W3C

16
Shareable Content Reference Model (SCORM)
SCO Course Structure Format (XML)
Assignment Hierarchy Block Root (Course)
Metadata
External Course Meta-data (XML record)
Block (Parent Node)
Metadata
Block (Parent Node)
Metadata
AU (Assignable Unit Leaf Node)
Metadata
(Points to)
Objectives
Department of Defense Advanced Distributed
Learning (ADL) Initiative Shareable Courseware
Object Reference Model (SCORM) Version 1.0. 31
Jan 2000. Available online at www.adlnet.org.
17
Shareable Content Reference Model (SCORM)
Shareable Content Object (SCO)
An operable, durable computer-based course or
component of a course packaged with sufficient
information (XML metadata) to be reusable and
accessible.
Department of Defense Advanced Distributed
Learning (ADL) Initiative Shareable Courseware
Object Reference Model (SCORM) Version 1.0. 31
Jan 2000. Available online at www.adlnet.org.
18
Shareable Courseware Reference Model (SCORM)
Assignable Unit (AU)

• Can be
• Any nested chunk of
• instruction with
• definable boundaries
• The smallest unit of
• instruction or testing
• managed by an LMS
• Any instructional unit
• that can be launched
• by an LMS
• Any set of instructional
• activities designed to
• be accomplished by
• the student in one
• sitting

Department of Defense Advanced Distributed
Learning (ADL) Initiative Shareable Courseware
Object Reference Model (SCORM) Version 1.0. 31
Jan 2000. Available online at www.adlnet.org.
19
Design Granularity

• Advantages of fine granularity
• Greater potential for reuse
• Greater variability for constructing applications
• Possibly easier to avoid context-contamination
• Disadvantages of fine granularity
• More objects to tag and manage
• More transitions and context wrappers to create

20
Implementation Issues

• Instructional/performance support strategies
• Learning taxonomy
• Design strategies
• Design templates
• Authoring tools
• LMS content management
• Data repositories
• Tagging standards
• Authoring and knowledge engineering processes
• Organizational implications

21
Resources 1
22
Resources 2
23
Conclusion

• Check out web resources
• Develop a learning/performance support strategy
• Develop authoring processes
• Incorporate the standards
• Keep us posted