Use of Content Packaging to make Learning Management Systems Interact

1. Use of Content Packaging to make Learning Management Systems Interact Nikhil Wason

2. What is a Learning Management System (LMS)? • A software tool designed to manage learning environments • Provides • Course management • Learner Progress Tracking • Basic Collaboration: Discussion boards • Used by companies and educational institutes • Typically Web-based • E.g.: Courseworks

3. Current State of Affairs • Most organizations use different LMSs • Primarily developed in-house • Commercial LMSs are very expensive • Human resistance to migrate to a new system • Inter-LMS interoperability not possible • Difficult to reuse learning objects • Learning Objects: any reusable resource that aids learning • Initiatives like SCORM

4. Why Interoperability? • Lots of learning content can be reused • No need to recreate standard stuff • Learning content and methodology can be improved • Sharing knowledge helps improve productivity • Finding like-minded people to work with

5. IMS Content Packaging (CP) • Describes data structures for interoperability of LMSs • Helps exchange content in a standardized manner • Helps export learning content for reusability • Uses XML to describe manifest for data • Developed and standardized by IMS Global Learning Consortium

6. IMS CP: Conceptual Model

7. A Wrapper Web Service..

8. A Wrapper Web Service.. • Turn a basic Project Management Module into a Project Collaboration facility • Search for “users of interest” in other LMSs • Add users to existing teams • Share resources • Intra-LMS user collaboration!

9. Questions?

10. Use of Content Packaging to make Learning Management Systems Interact Nikhil Wason