Conformance Testing: the elixer within the chain for Learning Scenarios and Objects

1. Conformance Testing:the elixer within the chain for Learning Scenarios and Objects Rob Nadolski, Owen Oneill, Wim van der Vegt & Rob Koper Educational Technology Expertise Centre Open University of the Netherlands ICALT, 2006

2. Fostering/enabling (new) ways of learning ICALT, 2006

3. Fostering/enabling (new) ways of learning ICALT, 2006

4. Fostering/enabling (new) ways of learning ICALT, 2006

5. Fostering/enabling (new) ways of learning Optimally exploit technologies for cost-efficient, effective, and attractive e-learning experiences ICALT, 2006

6. Effective & attractive e-learning experiences New ways of learning • Collaborative • Competence-based • Problem-based Multi-user Learning Scenario’s (LS) Knowledge co-constructed by learners ICALT, 2006

7. Trends in cost-efficient e-learning experiences 1. Learning Technology specifications/standards • IEEE LOM, • IMS CP, • IMS QTI, • IMS LIP, • IMS LD • et cetera ICALT, 2006

8. Trends in cost-efficient e-learning experiences 2. Separate LS and LO (only supported by IMS LD) Learning Scenario (LS) • Roles • Learning activities • Support activities • Learning Environment - resources (eg learning objects) - services Learning Object (LO) Any digital, reproducible and addressable resource ICALT, 2006

9. Trends in cost-efficient e-learning experiences 3. Components-based systems - Web services - Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) Support a flexible and sustained approach to e-learning systems development Flexibility is urged by learners, educators, and educational institutes to enable personalized new ways of learning ICALT, 2006

10. Trends in cost-efficient e-learning experiences 4. Chain for LOs and LSs (includes 5 links) Superimposed on LT specifications/standardsAND Conformance Testing ICALT, 2006

11. Chain for LOs and LSs State of the art for tools supporting Link 1 • Development of LOs and LSs Wide range for LOs & well established specs (CP, MD) Lacking and partly insufficient for LSs & more immature specs ICALT, 2006

12. Chain for LOs and LSs State of the art for tools supporting Link 2 • Set available LOs and LSs Publishing in repositories is widely available, although there might be a problem for real portability of LOs/LSs (MERLOT, several LMSs) ICALT, 2006

13. Chain for LOs and LSs State of the art for tools supporting Link 3 • Make LOs and LSs searchable and reusable Federated searches through metadata for LOs widely available, but inadequate/lacking for LSs ICALT, 2006

14. Chain for LOs and LSs State of the art for tools supporting Link 4 • Arrange LOs and LSs into units of learning Fair range of tools but limited to reusing LOs and quite complex to use ICALT, 2006

15. Chain for LOs and LSs State of the art for tools supporting Link 5 • Use units of learning by learners and educators Quite a range of players but the stage of true personalized learning environments and seamless integration of componentsbased e-learning systems has not been reached yet ICALT, 2006

16. Chain for LOs and LSs State of the art for tools: Conclusion • several links in the chain are beneath optimal strength Solution: Better and more easy Conformance Testing to: Simplify software development -> Improve software development -> Increase confidence in software products ICALT, 2006

17. ICALT, 2006

18. Conformance Testing in chain for LOs and LSs Simplification • of testing process • of developing application & domain profiles(needed to address community-specific needs) Through - Telcert tools (EU 6th framework) ICALT, 2006

19. Conformance Testing in chain for LOs and LSs Telcert tools (specification certification) • Schemaprof • Schema Transformation Tool • Content Reengineering Tool • Telcert Test System ICALT, 2006

20. Conformance Testing in chain for LOs and LSs Telcert tools 1. Schemaprof • allows the creation of an Application Profile based on an XML schema file • reduces the incidence of human-error • modifications are written to an XML file ICALT, 2006

21. Conformance Testing in chain for LOs and LSs Telcert tools 2. Schema Transformation Tool • works as a plug-in for Schemaprof • combines base-specification schema with modifications made in Schemaprof • generates an XML Schema representation of an Application Profile ICALT, 2006

22. Conformance Testing in chain for LOs and LSs Telcert tools 3. Content Reengineering Tool • enables creation of “content” based on localised XML schemas • is based on the Reload editor • functionality has also been added to support Application Profiles ICALT, 2006

23. Conformance Testing in chain for LOs and LSs Telcert tools 4. Telcert Test System • tests against a particular e-learning specification • can be tested against: • the base specification (represented by XSD file) • an application profile (produced by Schemaprof) • generic specification-specific tests (derived from the specification documentation) • after running a test session, the system provides detailed information on the results of each test ICALT, 2006

24. Summary Conformance Testing: - is indispensable for creating a stronger more enduring chain - supports development and adoption of SOA-compatible software to facilitate new ways of learning - enables more portable LOs and LSs between different systems ICALT, 2006

25. BUT Conformance Testing could be left unexploited: - because there is no critical mass for using LT specifications within certain communities - development of effective, user-friendly SOA-compatible software components is not feasible - it will not be mature enough for comprehensive use in the e-learning industry (which tends to use/develop new specifications that need to be fully represented in a machine readable format (unambiguous documentation, eg. UML 2.x)) ICALT, 2006

26. Discussion & Questions Further details - Telcert project website: http://www.opengroup.org/telcert/ • E-mail: rob.nadolski@ou.nl ICALT, 2006