Online Access to Educational Resources: e-Learning Ontario Julie Hannaford [email_address]

Definitions What is a Learning Object? “ a reusable digital educational resource” What is a Learning Object Repository? Stores educational resources and their associated metadata/catalogue records, so that they can be searched and found by end users

What is a Learning Object?

“ a reusable digital educational resource”

What is a Learning Object Repository?

Stores educational resources and their associated metadata/catalogue records, so that they can be searched and found by end users

The Provincial e-Learning Strategy Aim: Provide school boards with e-learning options, including e-learning courses and educational resources Objectives: Increase graduation rates Focus on literacy and numeracy skills Provide more flexible learning environments for students Provide more equitable access to resources for schools across the province

Aim:

Provide school boards with e-learning options, including e-learning courses and educational resources

Objectives:

Increase graduation rates

Focus on literacy and numeracy skills

Provide more flexible learning environments for students

Provide more equitable access to resources for schools across the province

Teachers and Students Need Educational Resources Creating a collection of educational resources is a key component of the e-Learning Ontario strategy Two parts: An online application that teachers can use to contribute resources that they have created (Contributor’s Gateway) A search interface so that teachers and students can find resources for their particular educational needs (Ontario Educational Resource Bank)

Creating a collection of educational resources is a

key component of the e-Learning Ontario strategy

Two parts:

An online application that teachers can use to contribute resources that they have created (Contributor’s Gateway)

A search interface so that teachers and students can find resources for their particular educational needs (Ontario Educational Resource Bank)

Modification of Resources In order to be most flexible, teachers need to have the ability to alter resources to meet their classroom needs The contributors’ release form clearly explains to teachers that in sharing their resources they are granting permission for their resources to be downloaded and potentially modified Teachers who alter resources are encouraged to contribute their modified versions into the Resource Bank

In order to be most flexible, teachers need to have the ability to alter resources to meet their classroom needs

The contributors’ release form clearly explains to teachers that in sharing their resources they are granting permission for their resources to be downloaded and potentially modified

Teachers who alter resources are encouraged to contribute their modified versions into the Resource Bank

Metadata Considerations What details are important to describe? Audience, resource type, curriculum information, subject What are other repositories using? If we use the same standard, we may be able to share records across organizations How efficient is the standard to use? Need a standard that allows an acceptable level of description, without being too complex Cancore ( http://www.cancore.ca ) selected as the most appropriate standard

What details are important to describe?

Audience, resource type, curriculum information, subject

What are other repositories using?

If we use the same standard, we may be able to share records across organizations

How efficient is the standard to use?

Need a standard that allows an acceptable level of description, without being too complex

Cancore ( http://www.cancore.ca ) selected as the most appropriate standard

Two Metadata Standards IEEE-LOM ( http://ltsc.ieee.org/wg12/ ) 76 elements – very detailed; also very complex Lack of interoperability for some elements Little documentation regarding element use CanCore ( http://www.cancore.ca ) 46 elements – extraction of LOM elements considered to be most interoperable/useful Extensive guidelines In use in a number of Canadian projects

IEEE-LOM ( http://ltsc.ieee.org/wg12/ )

76 elements – very detailed; also very complex

Lack of interoperability for some elements

Little documentation regarding element use

CanCore ( http://www.cancore.ca )

46 elements – extraction of LOM elements considered to be most interoperable/useful

Extensive guidelines

In use in a number of Canadian projects

Adaptation of CanCore Sometimes local adaptations to metadata schemes are necessary Use care not to make too many changes Need to maintain goal of interoperability Examples: Intended End User Role – controlled vocabulary expanded so could describe ‘parent’ Learning Resource Type – vocabulary expanded Added new fields to describe more detailed copyright information Added two new fields for more pedagogical information: Learning Style and Teacher Learner Strategy

Sometimes local adaptations to metadata schemes are necessary

Use care not to make too many changes

Need to maintain goal of interoperability

Examples:

Intended End User Role – controlled vocabulary

expanded so could describe ‘parent’

Learning Resource Type – vocabulary expanded

Added new fields to describe more detailed

copyright information

Added two new fields for more pedagogical

information: Learning Style and Teacher Learner

Strategy

Planning for the Repository Focus Groups Helped Determine Needs: Teachers and members of educational organizations were consulted What Did They Say They Wanted? Resources that were connected to the curriculum Interactive resources that would engage learners

Focus Groups Helped Determine Needs:

Teachers and members of educational organizations were consulted

What Did They Say They Wanted?

Resources that were connected to the curriculum

Interactive resources that would engage learners

General Planning Issues Workflow: Feedback sought from end users Interfaces and templates changed in response to feedback to ensure maximum user friendliness Training and End User Support: Preparation of online glossaries, user documentation & manuals Development of Captivate videos that demonstrate contributing the Gateway and searching the Resource Bank

Workflow:

Feedback sought from end users

Interfaces and templates changed in response to feedback to ensure maximum user friendliness

Training and End User Support:

Preparation of online glossaries, user documentation & manuals

Development of Captivate videos that demonstrate contributing the Gateway and searching the Resource Bank

Results to Date There are over 4000 educational resources in the resource bank for end user searching Resources are available in a variety of formats: PDF, Flash, PowerPoint, Have many lessons, activities and units, as well as stand-alone resources There are many interactive resources that engage students and encourage learning Ontario Educational Resource Bank announced by the Minister of Education: January 29, 2007

There are over 4000 educational resources in

the resource bank for end user searching

Resources are available in a variety of

formats: PDF, Flash, PowerPoint,

Have many lessons, activities and units, as

well as stand-alone resources

There are many interactive resources that

engage students and encourage learning

Ontario Educational Resource Bank

announced by the Minister of Education:

January 29, 2007

What Can You Do?