5.12.2008 / 1Online Educa Conference 2008, Berlin Learning Objects and Resources Mega Content Transformation with Open Source Educational Content Project

5.12.2008 / 1Online Educa Conference 2008, Berlin

Learning Objects and Resources

Mega Content Transformation with Open Source Educational Content Project

eLML: An introduction into the eLesson Markup Language (eLML)

Joël Fisler, University of Zurich

Online Educa Conference 2008, Berlin 5.12.2008 / 2

Who should consider using eLML?

eLML might be for you if you are...

• working in a team or group of authors

• looking for a content creation solution that is

independant of a learning management system

• In need of a sustainable solution that allows

separation of content and layout/presentation

• willing to work with open source XML software


Collaboration with oncampus

1. The structure of eLML did meet the requirements

of oncampus nearly perfect

2. Thanks to the collaboration with oncampus new

features have been implemented into eLML

3. Win-win situation for both the University of Zurich

and oncampus


eLML: The structure

• Lesson starts with an introduction (entry) and the learning objectives (goals)

• Lesson is made of units which contains learning obj.

• The didactical model ECLASS has been extended with elements like glossary, bibliography etc.

• This structure assures that authors create similiar looking lesson without forgetting important elements


eLML transformations: XHTML

• eLML generates valid XHTML

1.0 code

• Define your own template using

template builder tool

• Both SOCRM and IMS Content

Package is supported

• Transformation process can be

configured

• YAML CSS framwork

supported


eLML transformations: PDF

• eLML generates a PDF using

the XSL-FO technology

• Supports Open Source parser

Apache FOP and other parsers

• PDF output can be configured

using a configuration file


eLML transformations: LaTeX

• Although an old technology

LaTeX still widley used in

Universities worldwide

• Layout less configurable than

with XSL-FO but looks very

nice “out of the box”

• Problem with certain image

formats like GIF or with special

element nesting like table

within columns etc.


eLML transformations: ODF

• Open Document Format (ODF)

is an ISO standard and

compared to Microsoft OOXML

it really is open

• ODF documents can be

opened in many open source

office tools like open office etc.

but also in Microsot Office

using a converter

• Ideal for printing large scripts


eLML transformations: DocBook

• DocBook 5.0 supported

• Brand new: Available since

September 2008

• Created as a results of eLML

participation at the Google

Summer of Code program


eLML tools: Firedocs eLML Editor

First beta release in September 08!

Firefox Plugin

Download, manual etc.: eLML.crg

--> Demo


eLML tools: Template Builder

Also a Google Summer of Code project

First release in September 08

Creates XSLT templates for XHTML & PDF transformations


eLML tools & more information

• More tools and repository options for eLML can

be found on the eLML website www.elml.org

• Download, installation, mailinglists, news etc. all

available on the website www.elml.org

• Contact us at [email protected]

Thank you for your kind attention!

Documents

5.12.2008 / 1Online Educa Conference 2008, Berlin Learning Objects and Resources Mega Content Transformation with Open Source Educational Content Project