Using Learning Objects Repositories

The eduSource Suite of Tools

Using Learning Objects Repositories

The eduSource Suite of Toolspar

Dr Gilbert Paquette

Centre de recherche CIRTA (LICEF)and Cogigraph Technologies

Télé-université, Montréal

eduSource Industrial Forum

Moncton - June 12 , 2003

http://licef.teluq.quebec.ca/gphttp://licef.teluq.quebec.ca/gp

Road MapRoad Map

Organizations– 1972 TELUQ–Québec’s Distance University– 1984 Canal Savoir – Broadcasting Consortium – 1992 LICEF – TELUQ’s Research Centre – 1999 Cogigraph – Transfer Company of LICEF– 2000 CIRTA – LICEF Based Research Network

R&D Projects

– 1992-1995 AGD and Telecom multimédia

– 1995-1998 HyperGuide. TL-NCE, Advisor Systems

– 1999-2001 Explor@-1 and ADISA

– 2001-2003 SavoirNet and Explor@-2

– 2002-2004 eduSource Canada

– 2003-2008 LORNET – NSERC Research Network Main Focus on Instructional Engineering Tech Transfert to Universities and Organizations

Positioning our Work

Instructional Engineering Methods and

Tools

MISA ADISA

Platform, LCMS, LMS, e-Learning

Systems

EXPLORA

Learning System (LS)

Instructional Engineering

LS Delivery

Learning System Model

Learning System

Materials

Learning System

Environments

EML IMS-LD

LOM SCORM

eduSource Deliverables

Management Committee

Software Development

HardwareIntegration

MetadataDevelop-

ment

Digital Rights

Management

RepositoryContent

DevelopmentFacilitation

Project Management, Coordination, Communica-

tions

Business & Management

Models

Community Building

Evaluation and Testing

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2

4 5

8

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Exciting MegatrendsExciting Megatrends

1.1. Third Wave, Semantic, Progammable WebThird Wave, Semantic, Progammable Web

2.2. Knowledge ManagementKnowledge Management

3.3. Object-based Learning EnvironmentsObject-based Learning Environments

4.4. Interoperability StandardsInteroperability Standards

New Potential To Renew Pedagogy ?New Potential To Renew Pedagogy ?What are the conditions ?What are the conditions ?

Internet’s Third Wave

First wave: STATIC TEXT and DATA EXCHANGEFirst wave: STATIC TEXT and DATA EXCHANGE– Primarily static HTML pages: text and data services Primarily static HTML pages: text and data services – E-mail, FTP, forum (asychronous communication)E-mail, FTP, forum (asychronous communication)

Second wave: DYNAMIC MULTIMEDIASecond wave: DYNAMIC MULTIMEDIA– Dynamic pages, ASP, JSPDynamic pages, ASP, JSP– Facilitated transfer of images, sound and videoFacilitated transfer of images, sound and video– Desktop audio/video conferenceDesktop audio/video conference

Third wave: SEMANTIC and PROGRAMMABLEThird wave: SEMANTIC and PROGRAMMABLE– Integration of applications, API enabled by web servicesIntegration of applications, API enabled by web services– Ex: Google Alerts, Amazon’s APIEx: Google Alerts, Amazon’s API– Distributed computing, P2P, and mobile networkingDistributed computing, P2P, and mobile networking– Semantic web and knowledege-based technologiesSemantic web and knowledege-based technologies– Open source, sharing of objects and applicationsOpen source, sharing of objects and applications– New generation of Distributed Learning EnvironmentsNew generation of Distributed Learning Environments

LegacyTools

Agents

Comp..

OTHERLCMS

/Agents

Portals

eduSource Canada Project

DigitizedResourceRepository

MetadataRepository

Based on IMS-DRI

WebServices

Based on IMS - LD

MetadataRepository

Services

eLearningMiddlewareServices

ResourceManage.Services

Communication Kernel

DRMservices

Use Cases

DesignerBuilder Provider

EduSourceUse Cases

Configurator Use the RIB

Users

Searcher

RepositoryIn-the-box

Use Cases

Configure a repository

User eduSource services registry

Select eduSource services

Publish Value-added servicein eduSource

Assemble Web servicesIn a User Interface

Integrte services to a platform Configuratorr

Integrate ECL Configure a platform

eduSource InfrastructureeduSource Infrastructure

Learning Objects: An Open Concept

““A learning object is any entity, digital or non-digital, A learning object is any entity, digital or non-digital, that can be used, re-used, or referenced during that can be used, re-used, or referenced during technology-supported learning”. (IEEE LTSC 2000)technology-supported learning”. (IEEE LTSC 2000)

Includes materials, tools, services, persons, eventsIncludes materials, tools, services, persons, events Not necessarily digitized, include printed, lab materialNot necessarily digitized, include printed, lab material Used not only by learners, but also other actorsUsed not only by learners, but also other actors Includes target and prerequisite competencies or Includes target and prerequisite competencies or

objectives, activity descriptions, instructional objectives, activity descriptions, instructional structure, learning or assistance scenarios, etc.structure, learning or assistance scenarios, etc.

Information Resources is better

Building LO Repositories

Referencing Learning Objects: describing properties and types

Searching for Objects

Use cases

Learners (or workers)Learners (or workers) use use LOsLOs in activites and/or in activites and/or

produce produce LOsLOs that are shared and/or assessed that are shared and/or assessed

Trainers (or managers)Trainers (or managers) point interesting point interesting LOsLOs to to

learners, follow or adapt designs and activities, use learners, follow or adapt designs and activities, use

LOsLOs to assist learners (workers), manage repositories to assist learners (workers), manage repositories

Content ExpertsContent Experts build build LOLO repositories and use them repositories and use them

to give advice, presentation or answer questionsto give advice, presentation or answer questions

Designers Designers build, find, select, store, reference and build, find, select, store, reference and

assemble assemble LOsLOs (including designs) in environments (including designs) in environments

(just like a campus professor)(just like a campus professor)

Knowledge Management and LOsKnowledge Management and LOs

Knowledge Management is more than « glorified » document management

It aims at knowledge sharing and dissemination in an organization

Increasing competencies instead of simple information access

Higher level knowledge Central role for knowledge-based Instructional

Engineering.

Information Knowledge

CognitiveEngineering

InstructionalEngineering

LOM: a step to the Semantic WebLOM: a step to the Semantic Web Knowledge Management: a process

where persons publish and use knowledge objects (resources) on the Web – learning is central

Knowledge Objects are grouped in « learning objects repository »

Knowledge Objects are described by their Metadata: properties and types of objects

Metadata are a basis for a Semantic Web description of object

Need to be completed by an Ontology: relations and axioms

To provide intelligent processing of content

Value-added Service: Aggregation

Learning Design Aggregation

Apprenant

Environment AggregationEnvironment Aggregation

Environment ConstructionEnvironment Construction

Obstacles and ChallengesObstacles and Challenges

Generic Software– Separated tools

– Integrated Suite

– Interoperability at the OS level

DL SystemDL System– Separated Tools

– LMS, LCMSLMS, LCMS

– Web services Web services interoperabilityinteroperability

Technical Challenges

Pedagogical ChallengesPedagogical Challenges

The object paradigm is economical, flexible and forces pedagogical re-evaluation

Attach more importance to communication and learning activities than medias, documents or content

Seperate content object from use scenarios and learning environments

Reusability must protect ne good quality learning scenarios

Reuse of learning models can bring more than just recycling content.

Cultural ObstaclesCultural Obstacles

Lecturing instead of facilitating learningLecturing instead of facilitating learning

The library « course »The library « course »

Lack of pedagogical training of the majority Lack of pedagogical training of the majority

of teachersof teachers

Reproduce the way we have been tauchtReproduce the way we have been taucht

IP vs Open SourceIP vs Open Source

Collaboration between content creator and Collaboration between content creator and

institutionsinstitutions

Using Learning Objects Repositories

The eduSource Suite of Tools

Using Learning Objects Repositories

The eduSource Suite of Toolspar

Dr Gilbert Paquette

Centre de recherche CIRTA (LICEF)and Cogigraph Technologies

Télé-université, Montréal

eduSource Industrial Forum

Moncton - June 12 , 2003

http://licef.teluq.quebec.ca/gphttp://licef.teluq.quebec.ca/gp