JISC

This project has now completed. See the project website and the final report available at the foot of this page.

Background / Context  

The project addresses difficulties that are faced by a practitioner who is considering using a Unit of Learning (UOL) defined in IMS Learning Design, relating to the discovery, adaptation and publishing of the UOL. The OpenDocument.net repository which is developed by RayCom BV within the Leonardo-funded OpenDock project, provides an infrastructure which has the potential to address a number of these difficulties. The project will link the repository to an IMS Learning Design editor (Reload), to enable the discovery and sharing of learning designs. The project will develop a module within Reload and adapt the OpenDocument.net system to allow a user to query the OpenDocument.net repository network to discover UOLs. The project will investigate the most useful metadata to allow practitioners to share educational materials. The project will also demonstrate the utility of the service oriented approach to linking tools implemented using disparate technologies (in this case PHP/Java).

Aims and Objectives

The project will develop a module within Reload and adapt the OpenDocument.net system to allow a user to query the OpenDocument.net repository network to discover IMS Learning Design units of learning. The project will investigate the most useful metadata to allow practitioners to share educational materials.

The specific objectives are to:

1. Provide a demonstration of the OpenDocument.net system in use by practitioners
2. Develop a plug-in for the Reload editor.
3. Adapt the OpenDocument.net APIs to connect to Reload.

Project Methodology

The DesignShare project links the repository infrastructure and an IMS LD authoring system, and will use this system with a user group of practitioners. The project will develop a module for the Reload IMS LD editor which will enable it to connect to installations of the OpenDocument.net system available on the web; this work will be carried out primarily by the Reload team at the University of Bolton. The project will work with RayCom and the OpenDock project to adapt the OpenDocument.net APIs to enable the repository to be linked to the Reload tool.  The revised software will be installed at LiverpoolHopeUniversity, where it will be used by practitioners developing IMS LD UOLs.

Implications/ Deliverables/ Stakeholders

The project will produce the following deliverables:

•  A demonstration of the OpenDocument.net system in use by practitioners. Associated outcomes for the JISC community will be:
• • Experience of using the system in real situations
  • Recommendations for improvement
  • Demonstrating the utility of the system
  • Demonstrating the utility of a service-oriented approach in a real situation

  Project Partners

  • University of Bolton
• A plug-in for the Reload editor