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Content Reusability in Learning Management Systems. Priit Mägi DAP01s. Contents. Reasons for migration Learning Management Systems WebCT and Moodle e-learning standards IMS Content Packaging SCORM Alternative schemas Migration Process. Reasons for migration. Cost
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Content Reusability in Learning Management Systems Priit Mägi DAP01s
Contents • Reasons for migration • Learning Management Systems • WebCT and Moodle • e-learning standards • IMS Content Packaging • SCORM • Alternative schemas • Migration Process
Reasons for migration • Cost • Licence fee increased annually • Latest price for the licence was 13 500 euros per year (limited to 6000 seats) • OVI-portal launch • Better control to customise LMS
Learning Management Systems • Definition:LMS is the platform which deploys and manages learning content. • LMS should support: • information distribution • management of learning material • offer of multiple communication facilities • class management
Learning Management Systems • WebCT (Web Course Tools) is one of most popular commercial Web-based Learning Management Systems available • History of WebCT reaches back to 1995, when Murray Goldberg from Computer Science Department of University of British Columbia started development of supportive system for web-based education • More than 5,8 million students around world using WebCT • Amongst countries who have most WebCT licences Finland is placed in fifth position • In EVTEK WebCT Campus Edition version 3.8 is currently used
Learning Management Systems • Moodle (Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) is a free open source learning management system originated by Martin Dougiamas • Project started in the 1990s at the Curtin University of Technology (Perth, Australia) • Motive for development: Dougiamas was “frustrated by the fact that he wasn’t allowed to tweak the proprietary software and link it up to other administrative systems.” • Moodle has a modular design that supports customisation and scalability
e-learning standards Institutions • The Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI) • The Aviation Industry CBT (Computer-Based Training) Committee (AICC) • The IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee (LTSC) • The Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative • The IMS Global Learning Consortium • ARIADNE (Alliance of Remote Instructional Authoring and Distribution Networks for Europe) Foundation.
e-learning standards Interrelationships of e-learning standards
IMS Content Packaging • Created by Global Learning Consortium, latest version 1.1.4 • Describes data structures, XML binding and best practices that are used to assure interoperability for Internet based content with content creation tools, learning management systems, and run time environments • Specification is focused on defining interoperability between systems that wish to import, export, aggregate, and disaggregate packages of content
IMS Content Packaging Package contains two main elements: • A manifest element, an XML document with stable name (imsmanifest.xml) that describes the encapsulated contents and their organization. • The actual educational contents, described in the manifest, such as media and text files, assessment objects or other data in file form.
SCORM • Sharable Content Object Reference Model latest version "SCORM 2004“ • Developed by Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative • Consolidates standards of different groups e-learning specifications into a single specification (includes also IMS Content Packaging)
SCORM Documentation contains four parts: • SCORM Overview: Covers the history and objectives of the ADL Initiative and SCORM, including the specifications and standards from which SCORM borrows. • SCORM Content Aggregation Model (CAM): Describes components used in a learning experience, how to package those components for exchange from system to system. • SCORM Run-Time Environment (RTE): Describes the Learning Management System (LMS) requirements for managing the run-time environment. • SCORM Sequencing and Navigation (SN): Describes how SCORM-conformant content may be sequenced through a set of learner-initiated or system-initiated navigation events.
Alternative schemas for content transfer • Using Moodle SCORM module • XML to MySQL transfer • XML to XML transform
Migration process • Mapping course units • Exporting data using WebCT’s IMS Content Migration Utility • Changing character encoding from IS0-8859-1 to UTF-8 • Parsing data to Moodle backup • Importing WebCT formatted quizzes • Manual refining of course contents
Summary and conclusions • about 150 courses were transfered during project • e-learning standards significantly improve the interoperability and content reusability between different learning management systems • using different built-in and third party tools learning content transferring between systems can be accomplished quite effectively