JISC

Overview

This project will investigate and surface open educational resources currently in use over a range of engineering and related subjects supporting the crucial issue of sustaining a low carbon economy. Resources covering a range of relevant issues will include technical and non-technical teaching materials as well as guidance on incorporating low carbon practice into existing teaching courses in academia and industry.

The work will be undertaken at Loughborough University, which has a world class reputation for excellence in Engineering, Materials Science and Environmental Engineering.

Aims and objectives

This project will create a collection incorporating a foundation of existing linked resources enhanced by a dynamic search system that by employing real-time data interchange techniques will allow the aggregation of related resources from online services, ensuring the collection remains up-to-date and connected to the broader community of practice.

Project Methodology

The project will be managed by Rob Pearce. Rob will oversee the formation of a collection of resources, advised by the project experts and a number of other academics who teach in the lo-carbon disciplines. Rob will also develop the website and any specialized software/algorithms etc. required.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

The creation of a collection on the web incorporating:

• a foundation of existing, expert-selected, linked resources
• a dynamic search system that by employing real-time data interchange techniques will allow the aggregation of related resources from online services
• other dynamic references to data aggregated relating to relevant news and events
• re-syndication services such as remote embedding of search facilities using established technologies such as RSS
• partnerships with resource hosts will be developed to enable, protect or enhance dynamic linkages

Technology / Standards used

XML, HTML, XHTML, CSS, Dublin Core , application profiles of the UK LOM Core, Creative Commons licencing, iCAL, PHP (programming language)