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 ForumMarch 24th 2003

Toronto

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?”“techno-mumbo-jumbo and engineering speak?”

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”).

Piecing all the Concepts Together…

InteroperabilityInteroperability

Standards & Specifications

Learning Objects Metadata

Digital Repositories Educational

Modelling

Object oriented programming

Modular approach

Mark-Up Languages

Structured Approach

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)

Learning Objects Defined?

Learning Objects

Learning Objects

Constructed so that it initiates or reinforces learning

Well described through the use of standardized language (metadata)

*Based on British Columbia Ed Tech User’s Group discussion on Learning Objects January 2003

Indexed

Retrievable over the Internet or linkable

Flexible enough to address a wide variety of educational applications

Standalone (independent of a specific context and content)

Digital format

Administrative metadata Author Revision date Rights, . . .

Technical metadata (medium-specific) Duration Digital format Platform requirements, . . .

Subject classification Catalogue system Subject heading Keywords

Meta Data:“Information about Information”

Map

Text

Interactive

Image

Video

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

“Ideal” concept

A bit more reality-based concept

A bit more reality-based 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

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

Digital Repositories… an Analogy

Container of yogurt = ‘learning object’

Labeling = “Metadata”• Market’s Organic Yogurt (title)• 2% plain yogurt (description)• 500 grams (size)

Labeling = “Metadata”• Market’s Organic Yogurt (title)• 2% plain yogurt (description)• 500 grams (size)

Janet Bartz 2002

Refrigerator = ‘Digital Repository’• A large storage area for objects• Different shapes and sizes and content• Metadata allows for search and retrieval

Educational Modelling

“Semantic description of the teaching-learning environment”

Framework which captures core aspects of learning (e.g., activities, roles, assessment, resources, content)

Learning outcomes (broad)

Course Module(s)

Section(s)

(Metadata)

Lesson(s)

(Metadata)

(Metadata)

Formal assessmentOpen Learning Agency

SGML – Standard Generalized Markup Language

International standard published in 1986(ISO 8879:1986)

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

TOOLS:What are SGML/XML?

XML/SGML EXAMPLE

What is the content’s structure?Presentation is applied later.

History of Standards

Railway Tracks 1860’s 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

Tracking & MonitoringCETIS

EduSpecs Technical Liaison OfficePROMETEUS

Tracking & MonitoringCETIS

EduSpecs Technical Liaison OfficePROMETEUS

SpecificationAICCEdNAGEMIMSOKISIF

W3C

SpecificationAICCEdNAGEMIMSOKISIF

W3C

Test & Implementation

CanCoreSCORMUSOeC

Test & Implementation

CanCoreSCORMUSOeC

StandardCEN/ISSSIEEE/LTSC

ISO

StandardCEN/ISSSIEEE/LTSC

ISO

A World of Acronyms:Evolution of Specifications

WARNINGMany acronyms

ahead!

WARNINGMany acronyms

ahead!

Short Video on Standards

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 into

products 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/

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

Bringing it All Together

Many different e-learning standards and specifications being developed

So, what do each of these specifications & standards actually do?

Metadata

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

Bringing it All Together…

Content Packaging

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

Bringing it All Together…

Enterprise

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

Bringing it All Together…

Questions/Assessment

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

Bringing it All Together…

Learning Design

You want to design learning that captures pedagogical diverse experiences, while promoting interoperability of learning content.

Specifications: IMS Learning Design

Bringing it All Together..

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!

Open Learning Agency- A Case Study

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

Before After

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

Industry ShowcaseEtraffic Solutions

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

Peer-to-peer applicationSharing contentMeta data tool (CanCore and soon IEEE LOM and SCORM)

Peer-to-peer applicationSharing contentMeta data tool (CanCore and soon IEEE LOM and SCORM)

An interactive, multimedia language learning tool for the delivery over the Web“Learning Object” approach

An interactive, multimedia language learning tool for the delivery over the Web“Learning Object” approach

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

Industry ShowcaseOdyssey LearningSystems 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

Canada’s Innovation Strategy Goals:Goals: For Canada to become one of the most innovative countries in For Canada to become one of the most innovative countries in

the worldthe world Improve Canada’s innovation performance to secure Improve Canada’s innovation performance to secure

competitiveness and a higher standard of livingcompetitiveness and a higher standard of living Priority areas:Priority areas: knowledge performance, skills, innovation environment, and knowledge performance, skills, innovation environment, and

skillsskills Both papers describe need to strengthen capacity for innovation Both papers describe need to strengthen capacity for innovation

and improve the levels of skills within the Canadian populationand improve the levels of skills within the Canadian population

E-Learning and SchoolNet Information Highway Applications Branch of Industry Canada Information Highway Applications Branch of Industry Canada

has developed a number of programs that facilitate the has developed a number of programs that facilitate the integration of ICT into learningintegration of ICT into learning

Network of Innovative Schools, GrassRoots (Network of Innovative Schools, GrassRoots (www.schoolnet.ca)) Canada’s Campus Connection (www.campusconnection.ca)Canada’s Campus Connection (www.campusconnection.ca) Multimedia Learning Group, under the SchoolNet umbrella, Multimedia Learning Group, under the SchoolNet umbrella,

supports applications, tools, models, and practices for e-learningsupports applications, tools, models, and practices for e-learning

which enable sharing of learning resources by education which enable sharing of learning resources by education institutions, governments, and businessinstitutions, governments, and business

Multimedia Learnware Fund Multimedia Learnware Fund

What is EduSpecs ? Goal is to facilitate the creation and adoption of international e-Goal is to facilitate the creation and adoption of international e-

learning specifications and standards for Canadalearning specifications and standards for Canada 2001-established EduSpecs Technical Liaison Office; currently 2001-established EduSpecs Technical Liaison Office; currently

being led by British Columbia’s Open Learning Agencybeing led by British Columbia’s Open Learning Agency Coordinates Canadian participation on Canadian international Coordinates Canadian participation on Canadian international

specifications bodies including IMS, IEEE/LTSC, specifications bodies including IMS, IEEE/LTSC, ISO/IEC/JTC1SC36 to influence development of specs and ISO/IEC/JTC1SC36 to influence development of specs and standards that reflect Canada’s unique linguistic and cultural standards that reflect Canada’s unique linguistic and cultural interestsinterests

Disseminates information on specifications and standards to Disseminates information on specifications and standards to Canada’s e-learning communityCanada’s e-learning community

EduSpecs Activities Web SiteWeb Site Newly updated and interactive Web site to become primary Newly updated and interactive Web site to become primary

Canadian vehicle for learners, educators, and practitioners to Canadian vehicle for learners, educators, and practitioners to find practical information on the application and implementation find practical information on the application and implementation of standards and specifications relating to on-line content of standards and specifications relating to on-line content developmentdevelopment

Detailed information about specifications, standards, learning Detailed information about specifications, standards, learning objects, and learning object repositories; objects, and learning object repositories;

Interactive e-learning communities for e-learning educators and Interactive e-learning communities for e-learning educators and practitioners to exchange information, share best practices, and practitioners to exchange information, share best practices, and add resources to the Web site;add resources to the Web site;

http://eduspecs.ic.gc.ca

EduSpecs Activities Pilot Projects Pilot Projects Undertaking pilot projects to explore, evaluate, and test use of Undertaking pilot projects to explore, evaluate, and test use of

interoperability standards for on-line learning, digital learning interoperability standards for on-line learning, digital learning objects, and learning object repositories in education communityobjects, and learning object repositories in education community

Participants: Canadian Virtual University, Canadian Virtual College Participants: Canadian Virtual University, Canadian Virtual College Consortium, Ottawa-Carleton Catholic District School Board, Telus Consortium, Ottawa-Carleton Catholic District School Board, Telus Learning, and New Brunswick Distance Education NetworkLearning, and New Brunswick Distance Education Network

Goals: promote collaboration among K-12 schools and post-Goals: promote collaboration among K-12 schools and post-secondary institutions in the development of on-line content and secondary institutions in the development of on-line content and improve access to quality on-line educational resourcesimprove access to quality on-line educational resources

EduSpecs Activities Pilot ProjectsPilot Projects Coordinated three training sessions in collaboration with Coordinated three training sessions in collaboration with

eduSource Canada in New Brunswick, Alberta, and Ontario to eduSource Canada in New Brunswick, Alberta, and Ontario to introduce pilot participants to learning objects and open source introduce pilot participants to learning objects and open source meta data tagging toolsmeta data tagging tools

Facilitating and encouraging information sharing and exchange Facilitating and encouraging information sharing and exchange among pilot participants in the development and use of e-learning among pilot participants in the development and use of e-learning standards, digital learning objects, and LOR’sstandards, digital learning objects, and LOR’s

Evaluation framework being developed to assess pilot projects Evaluation framework being developed to assess pilot projects according to common set of indicatorsaccording to common set of indicators

Exploring potential of similar pilot projects and training sessions Exploring potential of similar pilot projects and training sessions with industry practitionerswith industry practitioners

EduSpecs Next Steps

EstablishEstablish pan-Canadian network of experts and partners in the pan-Canadian network of experts and partners in the Canadian e-learning communityCanadian e-learning community

Seek input and participation from all sectors Seek input and participation from all sectors Undertake further pilot projects to explore, evaluate, and test Undertake further pilot projects to explore, evaluate, and test

use of interoperability standards for on-line learning, digital use of interoperability standards for on-line learning, digital learning objects, and learning object repositories among private learning objects, and learning object repositories among private sector firms and education organizationssector firms and education organizations

Resources

EduSpecs Web Sitehttp://eduspecs.ic.gc.ca

MASIE Centre Reporthttp://www.masie.com/standards/S3_Guide.pdf

CETIShttp://www.cetis.ac.uk/

Learning Objects (David Wiley)http://reusability.org/read/

Learning Object Pioneers (Tom Barron)http://www.learningcircuits.org/mar2000/barron.html

Contacts

Solvig NormanOpen Learning Agency &

Team Leader for

EduSpecs Technical Liaison Office

(250) 953 7413

solvign@ola.bc.ca

Mary Da CostaProject Officer, EduSpecs

Program

Industry Canada

(613) 954 0157

DaCosta.Mary@ic.gc.ca