The EduSpecs Program

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The EduSpecs Program A Brief Introduction to
e-Learning Specifications Standards

• Solvig Norman, Open Learning Agency EduSpecs
  Technical Liaison Office
• Mary Da Costa, EduSpecs Program, Industry Canada

Industry Forum March 24th 2003 Toronto
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Making Sense of e-Learning Specifications
Standards

• The phrase learning standards is one of the
  most powerful and most misunderstood aspects of
  the e-Learning revolution.

The MASIE Center, 2002
techno-mumbo-jumbo and engineering speak?
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Why e-Learning Standards Specifications?

• Huge amounts of money is being spent on
  e-learning initiatives and current trends show
  significant growth.
• Purchasers, developers, and service providers of
  content and systems need to maximize their return
  on investment (e.g., re-use, flexible)
• The new world of content development is focused
  on structured information.
• A need to work within a framework that supports
  pedagogical diversity promoting
  interoperability of e-learning materials (e.g.,
  a content structure).

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Piecing all the Concepts Together
Mark-Up Languages
Metadata
Learning Objects
Interoperability
Object oriented programming
Modular approach
Standards Specifications
Digital Repositories
Educational Modelling
Structured Approach
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Notion of Sharing

• Learning objects are not a recent innovation.
  However, the way in which educators create and
  categorize them is changing. (Tuiren et al.
  2002)

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Learning Objects Defined?
Retrievable over the Internet or linkable
Flexible enough to address a wide variety of
educational applications
Learning Objects
Indexed
Constructed so that it initiates or reinforces
learning
Well described through the use of standardized
language (metadata)
Standalone (independent of a specific context and
content)
Digital format
Based on British Columbia Ed Tech Users Group
discussion on Learning Objects January 2003
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Meta DataInformation about Information

• Administrative metadata
• Author
• Revision date
• Rights, . . .
• Technical metadata (medium-specific)
• Duration
• Digital format
• Platform requirements, . . .
• Subject classification
• Catalogue system
• Subject heading
• Keywords

• Map
• Text
• Interactive
• Image
• Video

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Learning Object Models

• Lego
• Small pieces
• Assemble in many ways
• All lego blocks fit together
• Anybody can put Lego together

• Atoms (D. Wiley)
• Small pieces
• Not every atom is combinable with every other
  atom
• Atoms can only be assembled in certain structures
  prescribed by their own internal structure
• Some training is required in order to assemble
  atoms

Ideal concept

• Definitions vary
• as small as a drop, as wide as the ocean
• the context of how learning objects are used
  is important
• need the glue to tie learning objects
  together to create a meaningful learning
  experience

A bit more reality-based concept
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Digital Repositories an Analogy

• Labeling Metadata
• Markets Organic Yogurt (title)
• 2 plain yogurt (description)
• 500 grams (size)

Container of yogurt learning object
Refrigerator Digital Repository

• A large storage area for objects
• Different shapes and sizes and content
• Metadata allows for search and retrieval

Janet Bartz 2002
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Educational Modelling
Open Learning Agency

• Semantic description of the teaching-learning
  environment
• Framework which captures core aspects of learning
  (e.g., activities, roles, assessment, resources,
  content)

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TOOLSWhat are SGML/XML?

• SGML Standard Generalized Markup Language
• International standard published in 1986(ISO
  88791986)
• Used for documentation with high tech and
  publishing industries
• XML eXtensible Markup Language
• SGML profile for the Web
• maximize information retrieval and ease of
  interchange

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XML/SGML EXAMPLE

• What is the contents structure?
• Presentation is applied later.

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History of StandardsRailway Tracks

• 1860s nine different train track gauges sizes
  were in use in North America.
• Why? Strictly used for local transportation or
  rival ambitions of the competition
• Standardization of gauge facilitates the
  exchange of rolling stock, enabling freight
  shipment and passenger traffic to pass over the
  track of multiple companies.
• Source Standardization of Track Gauge on North
  American Railways (2000) Journal of Economic
  History

Standards Interoperability
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WARNING Many acronyms ahead!
A World of Acronyms Evolution of Specifications
Tracking Monitoring CETIS EduSpecs Technical
Liaison Office PROMETEUS
Specification AICC EdNA GEM IMS OKI SIFW3C
Test Implementation CanCore SCORM USOeC
Standard CEN/ISSS IEEE/LTSC ISO
Short Video on Standards
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Profile of a Specification Organization IMS
Global Learning Consortium

• 54 contributing members from around the globe
  (e.g., UK, Canada, USA, Australia, Italy,
  Netherlands, Finland)
• Two key activities
• Define technical specifications for
  interoperability of applications and services in
  distributed learning.
• Support the incorporation of the IMS
  specifications intoproducts and services
  worldwide, promoting the widespread adoption of
  specifications that will allow distributed
  learning environments and content from multiple
  authors to work together (in technical parlance,
  "interoperate).
• Working on Specifications that include
• Learning Design, Metadata, Content Packaging,
  Learner Profile, Accessibility, to name a few
• http//www.imsglobal.org/

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Profile of a Test/Implementation Initiative
CanCore

• CanCore - the Canadian Core Learning Resource
  Metadata Protocol (CanCore) Protocol.
• A made in Canada recognized sub-set of the IMS
  Learning Resource Metadata Specification (36
  elements vs 70)
• Facilitates easier implementation of the IMS
  Metadata Specification
• Achieving recognition and adoption within Canada
  and internationally
• http//www.cancore.org

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Bringing it All Together

• Many different e-learning standards and
  specifications being developed
• So, what do each of these specifications
  standards actually do?

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Metadata
Bringing it All Together

• You want content to be marked with info so it
  can be browsed or searched in a consistent way.
• Specs IMS Metadata, Dublin Core
• Implementation SCORM, CanCore
• Standard IEEE LOM

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Content Packaging
Bringing it All Together

• You want content to be packaged in such a way it
  can be moved from one system to another in a
  consistent way.
• Specifications IMS Content Packaging
• Implementation SCORM

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Enterprise
Bringing it All Together

• You want a Learning Management System to be able
  to talk to a student record system(e.g., student
  info, grades etc.)
• Specifications IMS Enterprise

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Questions/Assessment
Bringing it All Together

• You want to be able to exchange question and
  test banks from one system to another and be able
  to track usage and results from these questions
  in a Learning Management System.
• Specifications IMS Question Testing

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Learning Design
Bringing it All Together..

• You want to design learning that captures
  pedagogical diverse experiences, while promoting
  interoperability of learning content.
• Specifications IMS Learning Design

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The Abilities of e-Learning Standards
Specifications

• Interoperability
• Does your system work with other systems within
  and between institutions or organizations?
• Re-usability
• Can learning objects or resources be easily used
  in different subject areas, learning settings,
  and for different learner profiles?
• Manageability
• Can a system track information about the learner
  and the content?
• Durability
• Will the technology evolve with the standards to
  avoid obsolescence? Future Proof!

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Open Learning Agency- A Case Study
Before
After

• Developed content in Word, QuarkXpress, HTML,
  other
• Cottage industry approach to course design
• Lack of management of content (resided on various
  computers/servers)
• Developed humongous print-based courses

• Developing in SGML/XML (single source)
• Implementing metadata standards
• Porting content into different Learning
  Management Systems
• Output to various media
• Developing learning objects

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Industry ShowcaseGTK Press

• Educational Publisher focusing on the K-12
  sector
• Developing an electronic Authoring Environment
  that will conform with the IMS Learning Design
  Specification and IEEE/Learning Object Metadata
  (LOM)
• Mix and match Learning Objects to support
  cross-jurisdictions subjects curriculums.
• Reduce content development effort and time
  substantially in the future.
• Users can adapt content

What
Why
Benefits Challenges
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Industry ShowcaseEtraffic Solutions

• International provider of online learning content
  applications for K-12 adult learning

What
Peer-to-peer application Sharing content Meta
data tool (CanCore and soon IEEE LOM and SCORM)
An interactive, multimedia language learning tool
for the delivery over the Web Learning Object
approach

• Learner controls their learning (learning
  objects)
• Clients deserve reusability and longevity

Why
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Industry ShowcaseOdyssey Learning Systems Inc.

• Integrated e-Learning products
• Learning Content Management Systems -NautikosTM
• NautikosTM Courseware
• NautikosTMVirtual Classroom
• Implemented CanCore Meta data application profile
• Able to import and export content, supporting
  independence of learning objects

What
Why
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Canadas Innovation Strategy

• Goals
• For Canada to become one of the most innovative
  countries in the world
• Improve Canadas innovation performance to secure
  competitiveness and a higher standard of living
• Priority areas
• knowledge performance, skills, innovation
  environment, and skills
• Both papers describe need to strengthen capacity
  for innovation and improve the levels of skills
  within the Canadian population

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E-Learning and SchoolNet

• Information Highway Applications Branch of
  Industry Canada has developed a number of
  programs that facilitate the integration of ICT
  into learning
• Network of Innovative Schools, GrassRoots
  (www.schoolnet.ca)
• Canadas Campus Connection (www.campusconnection.c
  a)
• Multimedia Learning Group, under the SchoolNet
  umbrella, supports applications, tools, models,
  and practices for e-learning
• which enable sharing of learning resources
  by education institutions, governments, and
  business
• Multimedia Learnware Fund

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What is EduSpecs ?

• Goal is to facilitate the creation and adoption
  of international e-learning specifications and
  standards for Canada
• 2001-established EduSpecs Technical Liaison
  Office currently being led by British Columbias
  Open Learning Agency
• Coordinates Canadian participation on Canadian
  international specifications bodies including
  IMS, IEEE/LTSC, ISO/IEC/JTC1SC36 to influence
  development of specs and standards that reflect
  Canadas unique linguistic and cultural interests
• Disseminates information on specifications and
  standards to Canadas e-learning community

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EduSpecs Activities

• Web Site
• Newly updated and interactive Web site to become
  primary Canadian vehicle for learners, educators,
  and practitioners to find practical information
  on the application and implementation of
  standards and specifications relating to on-line
  content development
• Detailed information about specifications,
  standards, learning objects, and learning object
  repositories
• Interactive e-learning communities for e-learning
  educators and practitioners to exchange
  information, share best practices, and add
  resources to the Web site

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http//eduspecs.ic.gc.ca
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EduSpecs Activities

• Pilot Projects
• Undertaking pilot projects to explore, evaluate,
  and test use of interoperability standards for
  on-line learning, digital learning objects, and
  learning object repositories in education
  community
• Participants Canadian Virtual University,
  Canadian Virtual College Consortium,
  Ottawa-Carleton Catholic District School Board,
  Telus Learning, and New Brunswick Distance
  Education Network
• Goals promote collaboration among K-12 schools
  and post-secondary institutions in the
  development of on-line content and improve access
  to quality on-line educational resources

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EduSpecs Activities

• Pilot Projects
• Coordinated three training sessions in
  collaboration with eduSource Canada in New
  Brunswick, Alberta, and Ontario to introduce
  pilot participants to learning objects and open
  source meta data tagging tools
• Facilitating and encouraging information sharing
  and exchange among pilot participants in the
  development and use of e-learning standards,
  digital learning objects, and LORs
• Evaluation framework being developed to assess
  pilot projects according to common set of
  indicators
• Exploring potential of similar pilot projects and
  training sessions with industry practitioners

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EduSpecs Next Steps

• Establish pan-Canadian network of experts and
  partners in the Canadian e-learning community
• Seek input and participation from all sectors
• Undertake further pilot projects to explore,
  evaluate, and test use of interoperability
  standards for on-line learning, digital learning
  objects, and learning object repositories among
  private sector firms and education organizations

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Resources

• EduSpecs Web Site
• http//eduspecs.ic.gc.ca
• MASIE Centre Report
• http//www.masie.com/standards/S3_Guide.pdf
• CETIS
• http//www.cetis.ac.uk/
• Learning Objects (David Wiley)
• http//reusability.org/read/
• Learning Object Pioneers (Tom Barron)
• http//www.learningcircuits.org/mar2000/barron.htm
  l

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Contacts

• Solvig Norman
• Open Learning Agency Team Leader for
• EduSpecs Technical Liaison Office
• [phone]
• solvign_at_ola.bc.ca

• Mary Da Costa
• Project Officer, EduSpecs Program
• Industry Canada
• [phone]
• DaCosta.Mary_at_ic.gc.ca