Universal Content Packaging for Open Learning

1. Beyond Content Packaging:LETSI’s Open Learning Architecture Avron Barrletsi.org 14 February 2010 Revised 19 February 2010 LETSI is an international non-profit federation committed to open standards for elearning systems. 1

2. Beyond Content Packaging Today Student Export Universal Content Package Import Universal Content Package AuthoringEnvironment LMS Universal RenderingEngine Tomorrow Student Management Applications AuthoringEnvironment Content-SpecificRenderingEngine • Why? • Universal engine reflects the lowest common denominator in elearning content. • Even so, it is a still a problem to render content consistently in each LMS. • Content publishers want to offer a variety of online learning activities and tools for teachers. • Authentication, entitlements, scheduling, performance reporting, record keeping, etc. can be handled through web services calls to local systems or web apps. • Some students don’t have an LMS. 2

3. Location of Rendering Engine Hosted byAuthoring System AuthoringEnvironment RenderingEngine Student LMS Student Embedded in LMS AuthoringEnvironment LMS RenderingEngine Stand Alone Website AuthoringEnvironment RenderingEngine Student LMS 3

4. Immersive Environments • Games, Sims, Virtual Worlds • Explore, rehearse, assess • Team scheduling • Collaboration, social learning • Problem-based learning • Intelligent Tutoring Systems • Incorporate domain expertise • Model human tutor/coach • Individualized instruction • Conventional Elearning • Student-driven • Multimedia • Quizzes, branching • Mobile Learning • iPhone Apps • Team activities • Augmented reality training and performance support Online Learning Activities Instrumented for interaction, observation, and performance reporting • Tools for Teachers, Tutors & Parents • Repositories, aggregators • Search, preview, tag, recommend • Lesson planning, student assignments • Authoring, sharing • Progress tracking, grade books • Realtime monitor/coach • Tools for Students • Identity management, enrollments • Session management • Team scheduling • Search, preview • Assignments • Collaboration, call back Tools for Designers, Publishers, Reviewers, Planners, Researchers, and Policy Makers • Competency Frameworks • Learning objectives • Content relevance, prerequisites • Curriculum norms • Job requirements Institutional Learning Management Systems • Content Management • Content import • Search, preview • Entitlements, subscriptions, billing • Student Records • Enrollments • Access control • Administration • Course usage, evaluation • Institutional & jurisdictional competency frameworks • Regulatory compliance • Purchasing, contract management • Session Management • Authentication • Access control, entitlement • Activity launch • Performance records • Observe/coach/participate • Student profile • Preferences • Active data 1 Local Content Players 4

5. Services - Student Learning Session • Session Management • Scheduling • Access Control, Authentication • Activity selection • Reporting to student & teacher records • Reporting to institutional records (usage, billing info, student ratings, ... • Student ID, Profile Data • Personal entitlements • URIs for institution(s), records • History, status • Learning objectives, Assignments • Learning style, preferences Student • Learning Activity Delivery • Activity selection, payment negotiation • Initialization • Interaction with student during session • Teacher observation • Terminate, resume • Instrumented to record educationally relevant data and report if required. • Account Authentication • Personal, institutional, or government accounts • Entitlements 5

6. Services - Teacher Lesson Planning • Teacher’s Profile • Personal preferences • File cabinet • URIs for institution(s), associations, aggregation sites • Class rosters, grade books • Session Initiation & Management • Access Control, Authentication • Activity selection • Payment negotiation Teacher • Activity Delivery • Initialization • Intra-activity interaction with teacher • Collaboration • Terminate, resume • Open, save, import, export of class lists, grade books, lesson plans, moodle sections, etc. • Account Authentication • Commercial, institutional, or government accounts • Entitlements • URIs for available resources, catalogs • URIs for competency frameworks, like state curriculum standards or job requirements 6

7. Next Steps • Identify an initial set of web services that constitute a working core. Prioritize based on use case priority. • Define an initial, focused project that exercises this initial core. The project must have implementer support. • Find existing open specs that can be adapted. • Develop new, learning-specific specs as needed. 14 February 2010 7

8. Content Delivery Engines LMS Content Delivery Engines Content Delivery Engines Hosted Learning Activities Login - Authentication Session Management Entitlement Management Grade BookRecord Keeping Hosted Learning Scenario Publisher’s Site Student Content Management Contract Management Added 19 February 2010 8

9. LMS Content Delivery Engines Content Delivery Engines Content Delivery Engines Hosted Learning Activities Login - Authentication Session Management Entitlement Management Grade BookRecord Keeping Hosted Learning Scenario Publisher’s Site Student Content Management Contract Management Academic Progress Learning Plan Jim Farmer, 21 February 2010 9

10. Editor’s note Prepared by Avron Barr • With contributions from many LETSI participants and other interested contributors. • This is a work in progress and changes should be expected as the conversation continues. Added 21 February 2010 by Jim Farmer