Alaa Sadik, Ph.D.

1. From National Challenges to a Global Community: Establishing and Implementing a Low-Cost Learning Object Repository for Egyptian Teachers Alaa Sadik, Ph.D. South Valley University, Egyptalaasadik@hotmail.com | www.freewebs.com/alaasadik IODL 2006

2. Background Learning Object A digital resource that is designed to generate and support learning activities and enrich learners’ experiences. e.g., Photos, graphics, animations, audio clips, video clips, Word/PDF documents, HTML pages, Java applets and interactive exercises.

3. Background Learning Object Repository A file storage system that has a form of control over the quality of the learning objects to classify and store them using: • metadata, • a searchable database, • a mechanism for file management and sharing, and • an appropriate technical infrastructure.

4. Problem of the study No attention is paid to help teachers store, access and share quality digital learning objects, so that it can be reused. The need is emphasised to help Egyptian teachers to establish easy-to-use, accessible and cost-effective repository of learning objects. This system should be appropriate for teachers’ needs and skills.

5. Objectives of the study Provide an accessible on-line LOR to store and share accurate and quality learning objects appropriate for Egyptian curriculum and teachers and evaluate its effectiveness. Investigate the type of learning objects teachers use and the circumstances surrounding their use and the factors that are likely to motivate and inhibit the use of the proposed repository.

6. Questions of the study What are the features of the repository that facilitate locating and sharing learning objects? What are the factors that determine locating and using of learning objects within the repository? What are the factors that motivate sharing of learning objects within the repository? What is the quality of learning objects located and shared within the repository, as ranked by teachers and according to evaluation criteria?

7. Methodology Participants • 72 Egyptian public school and university teachers. • Range widely in their knowledge and use of computers and the Internet.

8. Methodology Procedures of implementation A three-stage methodology was adopted in this study • Orientation and discussion to identify issues and teachers’ needs. • Implementing the repository in reality. • Consolidating participants’ perceptions and examining their online activities throughout the repository.

9. Methodology Description of the repository (eStudio) A web-based collaborative system for project and document management and sharing that facilitates workflow and communication between workgroups. Does not require an IT department to maintain. Files in the WorkSpace are organised by a Windows Explorer type tree folder system. Each folder can be restricted so that only specified users can access and modify the contents of a folder.

10. Methodology Description of the repository (eStudio) Has an efficient and easy-to-sue search function for locating objects. Metadata can be attached to each file allowing others to review, comment on, approve or disapprove files. Administrator has full control over eStudio such as create, editing and deleting user groups, monitoring users’ logs and controlling user access to files.

11. Methodology Description of the repository

12. Methodology Evaluation of learning objects Convergent Participation with LORI (Nesbit, Belfer and Vargo, 2002)

13. Methodology Instruments • Learning Objects Review Instrument To help participants and the researcher to assess the quality of learning objects posted and shared by participants through the repository.

14. Methodology Instruments 2. Design and Functionality of the Repository Evaluation Questionnaire To investigate participants’ perspectives to the design and functionality of the proposed learning object repository

15. Results of the study Features of the repository that facilitate locating of learning objects • ease of use (32%) • well-designed navigation hierarchy (29%) • potentional file management system (23%) • powerful search function (23%) • ease of access anytime and anywhere (19%) • compatibility with Web browsers (17%) • user-friendly interface design (12%) • potential user-management services ( 9%)

16. Results of the study Features of the repository that facilitate sharing of learning objects • effective collaborative review functions (40%) • inclusion of interaction tools (25%) • standard metadata associated with each object (21%) • clear indication of user rights (15%)

17. Results of the study Factors that determine locating and using of learning objects within the repository The preferred search and use criteria in descending order of preference (N=65 )

18. Results of the study Factors that determine locating and using of learning objects within the repository The preferred information used for selection of learning objects in descending order of preference (N=65 )

19. Results of the study Factors that determine locating and using of learning objects within the repository Technical issues considered in the selection of learning objects (N=65 )

20. Results of the study Factors that motivate sharing of learning objects within the repository Factors determine sharing of learning objects (N=65)

21. Results of the study The quality of learning objects located and shared within the repository Ratings of learning objects (N=28)

22. Discussion & Conclusions The system is found to meet the basic criteria of instructional LORs and help Egyptian teachers to store, meta-tag, find, share and assure the quality of learning objects in a collaborative environment. The system provides easy-to-use tools, simple navigation hierarchy, efficient file management system, powerful search facility, flexible access to learning objects, simple user-interface design, efficient user management service, collaborative review and comment tools, integrated interaction tools, easy-to-use meta-tagging tools and clear user rights. It is important to discover factors influencing the actual level of use of the repository and to seek to implement strategies to maximise this level of use.

23. Thank You Alaa Sadik alaasadik@hotmail.com