Eugenijus Kurilovas, Svetlana Kubilinskienė, ITC, LT

1. CREATION OF LITHUANIAN DIGITAL LIBRARY OF EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND SERVICES: HYPOTHESIS, CONTEMPORARY PRACTICE AND FUTURE OBJECTIVES Eugenijus Kurilovas, Svetlana Kubilinskienė, ITC, LT 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

2. DLE: Main Notions • Digital Library of Educational Resources and Services (DLE) - the aggregate of knowledge repositories and services organized as complex information system. • Learning Object (LO) – any digital resource that can be reused to support learning. • Unit of Learning (UoL) – a LO containing tasks and activities, their assignment to roles, and the flow of activities that constitute a course module or lesson. • Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) - a single piece of software, accessed via standard Web browser, which provides an integrated online learning environment. 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

3. DLE: Hypothesis: LRs reusability • The main goal is evaluation of possibility to create in principle pedagogically and organizationally flexible cost effective DLE model providing learning customisation possibilities for its users. • The main hypothesis is the idea that ultimate increase of the main DLE components’ (i.e. learning resources) reusability could ensure these DLE characteristics, and there is the possibility to warrant stable interoperable working of system’s components. 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

4. DLE: Hypothesis: LRs reusability The main factor is the idea of partition of learning resources to two separate parts (LOs and UoLs) which have clear different functions, and investigation of reusability and interoperability of these two separate parts within the system and DLE as a whole. • LOs here are considered to be reusable pedagogically decontextualised digital learning resources (so called ‚content‘) which are not directly interconnected with particular pedagogical methods / scenarios / designs, and therefore it’s possible to reuse the same LOs to implement different learning designs. • UoLs here are conversely considered to be digital learning resources containing learning designs reusable for different subjects and different LOs. 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

5. DLE: Hypothesis: LRs reusability • This kind of “reusable” DLE design seems to be one of the best possible e-learning solutions from technologic, educational, organizational and socioeconomic points of view. • It ensures system’s pedagogical and organizational flexibility as well as the better financial and economic efficiency indicators such as less investment into learning resources for one probable user, major financial benefit, less time to buy off, etc. 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

6. DLE: Hypothesis: LRs reusability In this case: • major reusability of main DLEs components is achieved; • more users can benefit from such system; • content and learning design creators have the possibility not to reinvent the wheel but use and improve already created resources; • better conditions are created for various content / design creators to improve the quality of existing resources by their permanent (collaborative) modification. 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

7. DLE: Hypothesis: LRs reusability The need for reusability of LR has at least three elements: • Interoperability:LR is interoperable and can be used in different platforms. • Flexibility in terms of pedagogic situations:LR (here LO) can fit into a variety of pedagogic situations. • Modifiability to suit a particular teacher’s or student’s needs:LR can be made more appropriate to a pedagogic situation by modifying it to suit a particular teacher’s or student’s needs. 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

8. DLE: Contemporary Practice • EUN LO metadata application profile (LOM AP) 2.0 was localised, http://www.emokykla.lt/lt.php/calibrate/1134 • LOM repository based on MySQL database management system, PHP software package and Java technology, as well as user–friendly interface to aggregate LOs metadata into LOM repository were created. • Metadata for more than 1000 Lithuanian learning resources was created by specially trained indexers in conformity with LOM AP and aggregated into LOM repository, http://lom.emokykla.lt/public/search.php • Several distance learning courses were disaggregated to LOs level and introduced as SCORM packages to reuse in different VLEs. • LOM repository was connected to European learning resource exchange (LRE) system via Simple Query Interface technology and Brokerage system. 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

9. DLE: Contemporary Practice Enrichment of LOM repository with additional services (open / informational part): • LO searching and finding by subject (area); key word (LOM AP 2.0 element 1.5). • Extended search by desirable elements. • Search by metadata creation period. • Search results’ production by pages (10 LOs); • Brief and extended (XML) metadata production for the users. • Users’ comments. • Statistics of LO downloads and repository users. • LO ranking possibility. • Automatic production of new LO metadata during the desirable period. • User’s guide. 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

10. DLE: Contemporary Practice Enrichment of LOM repository with additional services (closed / administrative part): • Metadata import in XML format. • Fixation of LOM AP version used. • Portrait of LOM AP versions’ comparison. • Classificators’ management by desirable elements. • Metadata elements creation using classificators. • Extended LO search. • Legal mark if LO could be exported to LRE. • Administrator’s guide. 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

11. DLE: Future Objectives Full implementation of: • LO metadata interoperability standards such as EUN LOM AP 3.0 and specifications such as IMS Content Package and Learning Design (LD). • Repository of IMS LD–compliant Units of Learning (UoLs) and tools (e.g. RELOAD, LAMS, EduSource, etc.) to create and reuse UoLs. • LOM repository containing LOs and UoLs metadata created in conformity with EUN LOM AP and thesaurus. • LOs digital right management (DRM) system. • CALIBRATE Topic – Goal – Learning Activities (TGA) ontology–based curriculum mapping in main subjects to search for LOs in the repositories and VLEs. 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

12. DLE: Design Framework Schools Services / Tools DRM TGA RELOAD LOM repository LAMS European LRE VLEs Thesauri LOs repositories UoL repositories LeMill ... 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

13. Expectations from EdReNe Policies and strategies**: • To identify challenges, issues, problems and solutions for those who design, develop, launch, manage, monitor and host LORs. • To develop, document, exchange and disseminate good practice in the solution of identified political and strategic challenges. • To be well informed about leading initiatives. 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

14. Expectations from EdReNe Repositories and resources*****: • Types of repositories: (1) Repositories of (only) metadata and/or data; (2) Networking with other repositories. • Structuring and organisation: (1) Repository architectures; (2) User/producer/public/private involvement; (3) Improving the understanding of the need of a well thought out infrastructure for storing, retrievingand moving digital resources. • Learning resources: (1) Types of learning resources; (2) Learning resources from e.g. the cultural sector (i.e. those not created specifically for education); (3) Which types are included and why (not); (4) Which LOs can be included in aneducational repository, and which not; (5) What is (not) a learning resource? (6) How can users collect their own mix of resources. • Quality criteria: Assuring quality and ethics. • Linking to multiple curricula: (1) Repository structures to allow users to search or browse for curriculum relevant educationalresources; (2) Supporting curriculum development through repositories. 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

15. Expectations from EdReNe Standards and interoperability*****: • Metadata (descriptions of learning resources): Application profiles of international standards / specifications (IEEE LOM, DCMI Education etc.) • Digital data (learning resources): Examples of improved benefit to users by using content standards / specifications (e.g. IMS Content Packaging, IMS Question and Test Interoperability, SCORM, LD). • Interoperability: Providing best-practice examples of standards-based data exchange/ federated searching, provision of webservices • Rights Management: Examples of use of Digital Rights Management, Identity Management, Creative Common licenses and other relevant schemes and strategies for dealing with intellectual property rights within the educational sector. 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

16. Expectations from EdReNe Engagement of producers and users**: • Agreements with producers and other repositories/databases • User feedback, reviews and evaluations. • Many LORs include user feed-back and/or links to reviews and evaluation of the registered titles. • There are many ways of arranging that, technically and organisational (who does the evaluations and using which criteria). • Stimulation actions. • How can repositories best bring content from producer to user and request from user to producer. • How does a repository get many – and the most important - titles and many users/subscribers. • What incentive schemes are necessary for professional producers, public institutions and teachers sharing materials for inspiration. 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

17. Expectations from EdReNe Rights issues***: • Protection of rights (e.g. DRM, Identity Management). • Guidelines for teachers/users/producers. • User rights (e.g. Creative Commons). • Screening, rights clearance practices. 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

18. Expectations from EdReNe The repository toolbox: Features and functionality*****: • Improving usability. • Browsing and searching. • Exchange and import of data among repositories, other collections, databases and LMSs/VLEs. • Push, harvest, extract data from repositories to other web services. • Personalization strategies. • Linking to booking and purchasing systems. • Web 2 technologies. 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples

19. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION ! Eugenijus.Kurilovas@itc.smm.lt Svetlana.Kubilinskiene@itc.smm.lt 11-13.06.2007 EdReNe Naples