Folie 1

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Authoring MathML and e-Learning Content with
SciWriter and SciLAS
Bernhard Keil
info_at_soft4science.com
http//www.soft4science.com
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soft4science
Products

• SciWriter
• Scientific xml-based authoring tool
• MathML .NET Control
• Equation editor component
• MathML Renderer
• MathML rendering engine

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Building an European Database of Mathematical
e-Learning ModulesdMath
dMath Project

• part of
• Leonardo da Vinci, Community Vocational Training
  Action Program 2000-2006.

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dMath Project
dMath consists of 2 parts
1.) Software Framework (SciLAS)

• Authoring Tool(s)
• LCMS
• Export Utilities
• ...

2.) e-Learning Content

• Mathematical e-Learning Modules

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dMath Project
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Architecture
dMath Project
SciLAS
SciWriter
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Agenda
XHTMLMathML Authoring Tool (SciWriter)
Scientific e-Learning Authoring Suite (SciLAS)
Overview
Design Architecture
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SciWriter
SciWriter is an XML-based editor for authoring
scientific articles and mathematical or technical
e-Learning content.
Why XML?
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XML Technology
Overview
n²
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XML Technology
Overview
Standardized Infrastructure
Standard for formatting Data
Standard for describing Data
n²
Standard for accessing Data
Standard for transforming data
Standard for exchanging data and process
integration
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XML Technology
Overview
Standardized Infrastructure
Standard for formatting Data
Standard for describing Data
n²
Standard for accessing Data
Standard for transforming data
Standard for exchanging data and process
integration
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SciWriter
SciWriter is a WYSIWYM (What You See Is What You
Mean) editor.
Why WYSIWYM and not WYSIWYG ?
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SciWriter
Single Source, Multiple Publishing Channels
LaTeX
Postscript
XML
PDF
XHTML MathML
DVI
HTML
Single Source
HTML Help
Multiple Publishing Channels
SCORM Package
e-Mail
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SciWriter
Document Format (XML Schema)

• The XML Schema used by SciWriter is a subset of
• XHTML 1.1 plus MathML 2.0

Why not a SciWriter specific XML Format?

• A SciWriter document can be viewed in a web
  browser as it is without transformation
• XHTML is not far away from HTML which is well
  known by most users (no learning curve)
• A specific XML schema would not be accepted by
  many potential users
• XHTML provides all basic elements needed to
  decribe a document, so why reinventing the wheel

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SciWriter
Document Format (XML Schema)

• A conten-driven approach can be reached by
  using class attributes for tagging the semantic
  meaning of elements

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SciWriter
Validation against XML Schema
SciWriter documents will be validated against the
XML Schema supported by SciWriter
SciWriter
Validating XML Parser
XML Schema
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SciWriter
Document Properties Window
User Interface
The Document Properties Window shows all
properties of the current selected document, like

• SciWriter Appearance
• Tagging Environments
• Margins
• MathML Stylesheet Ref.
• Font Family and Size
• LaTeX Preamble
• ...

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SciWriter
Document Properties Window
User Interface

• The Document Properties will be stored in ltmetagt
  elements in the header of the document
• SciWriter generates CSS style definition from the
  document properties and puts it in a ltstylegt
  element

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SciWriter
Web Publishing
SciWriter documents can be published on the web
as XHTML 1.1 plus MathML 2.0 or HTML with math
converted to graphics.
XHTML 1.1
SciWriter

MathML 2.0
HTML

Math converted to Jpeg graphics
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SciWriter
XHTML 1.1 MathML 2.0
Web Publishing
By using the XSLT Sylesheet for MathML (also
called Universal MathML Stylesheet) provided by
the W3C Math Working Group, SciWriter documents
containing MathML nodes can be viewed with the
following web browsers

• Internet Explorer MathPlayer plugin
• Internet Explorer Techexplorer plugin
• Mozilla
• Netscape

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SciWriter
HTML with Math Graphics
Web Publishing
If a SciWriter document will be saved as HTML
with math converted to graphics each MathML node
will be be converted to a Jpeg file. The MathML
content will hereby be stored in the comment
block of the Jpeg file. Therefore a MathML
equation saved as a Jpeg can be edited in
SciWriter in the same way as an ordinary MathML
node.
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SciWriter
LaTeX, PDF, Postscript
Print Publishing
SciWriter
LaTeX System (e.g. MikTeX)
XSLT Processor
XSLT SciWriter XML to LaTeX
SciWriter includes an XSLT Stylesheet that can be
processed to transform SciWriter documents to
LaTeX.
By utilizing a LaTeX system, like MikTeX,
documents can be published as PDF, Postscript or
DVI with high-quality layout.
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SciWriter
Document Structure Window
User Interface
The Document Structure Window makes it easy to
navigate through complex documents.
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SciWriter
Project Explorer Window
User Interface
The Project Explorer Window allows you to
organize documents in a structured project.
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SciWriter
Automatic Numbering
Typesetting
SciWriter supports automatic numbering of

• Section Headings
• Figures
• Tables
• Equations
• Theorem Environments
• Bibliographic Items

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SciWriter
Theorem Environments
Typesetting
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SciWriter
Cross References
Typesetting
Cross references can easily be created by using a
dialog showing all section headings, tables,
figures, equations and theorem environments.
Number labels of cross references will
automaticly be updated.
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SciWriter
Mathematical Operators
Math Typesetting
SciWriter supports over 1000 operators and
symbols that can be accessed by using keyboard
shortcuts or the toolbar.
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Agenda
XHTMLMathML Authoring Tool (SciWriter)
Scientific e-Learning Authoring Suite (SciLAS)
Overview
Design Architecture
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Scientific e-Learning Authoring Suite
Overview
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Reusable Learning Objects (RLO)
Overview
The main idea of Learning Objects is to break
educational content down into small chunks that
can be reused in various learning environments,
in the spirit of object-oriented programming.
David A. Wiley
RLOs are granular chunks of information that
teach one or more objectives and can be
meaningfully incorporated into multiple training
contexts.
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Reusable Learning Objects (RLO)
Overview
Characteristics of RLOs 

• Modularity
• Reusability
• Interoperability
• Accessibility

• RLOs are Self-contained. Each Learning Object can
  be taken independently 
• A single RLO may be used in multiple contexts for
  multiple purposes
• RLOs should be independent of both the delivery
  media and knowledge management systems
• A RLO should be tagged with metadata so that it
  can be stored and referenced in a database

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Reusable Learning Objects (RLO)
Overview

• With their granular structure, learning objects
  can be combined to form a hierarchy such as
  lessons, module, course, or curriculum

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Reusable Learning Objects (RLO)
Overview
Issues addressed by Standards

• Communication Interface or APIhow resources
• communicate with other systems
• Meta-datahow to describe eLearning resources in
  a
• consistent manner
• Packaginghow to gather resources/learning
  content
• into useful bundles

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SCORM
Overview
SCORM (Shareable Content Object Reference Model)
is a set of specifications published by ADL
(Advanced Distributed Learning).
SCORM was created in cooperation between
government, academia and industry and it
consolidates the work of AICC, IMS, ARIADNE and
IEEEs LTSC into one unified reference model for
learning design, packaging and delivery.
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SCORM
Overview
The two main blocks of SCORM Version 1.2 are
Content Aggregation Model (CAM) and Runtime
Environment (RTE).
Content Aggregation Model (CAM)

• Packaging

• Meta Data

Runtime Environment (RTE)

• RTE API

• RTE Data Model

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SCORM
CAM
Assets
Assets are e-Learning Content in its most basic
form. Assets are electronic representations of
media, text, images, sound and web pages.
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SCORM
CAM
Shareable Content Objects (SCO)
SCOs represent a collection of one or more assets
that include specific launchable asset that
utilizes the SCORM RTE to communicate with LMSs.
A SCO represents the lowest level of
granularity of content that is able to be tracked
by an LMS using the SCORM RTE.
SCO
Asset HTM Page
Asset Jpeg File
SCO
Asset XML Doc.
Asset GIF
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SCORM
CAM
Content Aggregation
Content Aggregation is the process of aggregating
resources (SCOs/Assets) into a defined structure
(content structure) for building a deliverable
SCORM Content Package.
Aggregation
SCO
SCO
Learning Resource
SCO
SCO
Aggregation
Learning Resource
Asset
Asset
Learning Resource
Learning Resource
Asset
Asset
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SCORM
CAM
SCORM Content Package
LMS
LCMS
SCORM Content Package
SCORM Content Package
RLO Repository
Authoring Tools
SCORM Content Package
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SCORM
RTE
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Agenda
XHTMLMathML Authoring Tool (SciWriter)
Scientific e-Learning Authoring Suite (SciLAS)
Overview
Design Architecture
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SciLAS
Overview
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SciLAS
Overview
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SciLAS
Architecture
LCMS Repository
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SciLAS
Architecture
Database
LCMS Repository

• MS SQL Server
• Windows 2003 Server

Database Schema covers

• Users, User Groups, Rights
• Metadata Storage
• Content Storage

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SciLAS
Architecture
Server Components
LCMS Repository

• .NET Framework 1.1

CMS Core Components cover

• User Management
• Metadata Management
• RLO Management
• Check-in/Check-out Objects
• Search Capabilities

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SciLAS
Architecture
Data Exchange Components
LCMS Repository

• XSLT Transformation
• SCORM Export
• Publish on CD
• Publish as Web Site
• ...

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SciLAS
Architecture
Web Service API
LCMS Repository

• SOAP standard compliant cross platform API
• Accessable from (nearly) any client appl.

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SciLAS
Architecture
Web Service API
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Glossary
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Glossary
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Glossary