Metadata for learning materials: An overview of existing standards and current developments

This paper by Phil Barker and Lorna M. Campbell provides an overview of specifications and standards for metadata relating to learning materials. The paper is structured to present first the currently established metadata schemas in use today (specifically the IEEE LOM and Dublin Core metadata), then to examine current developments and activities before looking at what might be the future challenges. The examination of current (2010) developments and activities highlights the increasingly recognized importance of metadata schema that describe what have in the past been thought of as secondary aspects of learning materials (for example who uses them and what for), and the importance of alternative approaches to structured metadata for resource description. PDF = http://www.icbl.hw.ac.uk/publicationFiles/2010/TICLMetadata/TICLpaper.MetadataForEducation_postref.pdf

Source http://lreforschools.eun.org/web/guest/news  .

On a related issue, there is now a reconstituted Standards Australia Information Technology (IT-019) committee with wider representation which considers these and other standards issues. More news after the next committee meeting.

What has happened with e-learning standards and metadata in recent times, and where are we heading? This paper by HOEL and MASON 2011 [PDF 8pp] provides a very readable summary of the last two decades’ activity in metadata, especially in the learning, education and training area.

The role of standards bodies in metadata is mentioned, and please note that we now have a reconstituted Standards Australia Information Technology (IT-019) committee with wider representation which considers these and other standards issues.

Please contact Evan Bailey, Metadata and Standards Officer, Learning Services NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre. T: +61 2 9715 8130 E: evan.bailey@det.nsw.edu.au   www.clic.det.nsw.edu.au

There is a very good description of this process and summary of actions at:

http://www.spotlessinteractive.com/articles/accessibility/accessibility-for-project-managers.php  from a UK group, Spotless Interactive.

This is a major issue for developers of learning resources, and this summary provides many good points about planning for accessibility in projects. A subsequent article promises to look at the role of Information Architect in producing accessible websites.

Similar points about project management are made in the OptionKeys accessibility website at: http://www.cli.nsw.edu.au/optionkeys/ , especially under “Guidelines: Plan for accessibility” :

http://www.cli.nsw.edu.au/optionkeys/guidelines/plan.htm  .

Other accessibility information and reviews are also available at Andrew Downie’s Accessibility Blog: http://accessiblecli.wordpress.com/ .

Mobile Web Application Best Practices

This W3C site :  http://www.w3.org/TR/2010/REC-mwabp-20101214/  about mobile best practices assumes that  devices will have support for standard XHTML, JavaScript, and CSS capability. Specifically it focuses “on making use of advanced device capabilities to deliver the best possible experience on those devices that can support it” — as long as this still involves standards then it should be a valuable resource.

The W3C WAI has announced a Call for Review of updates to two supporting documents for Web Content Accessibility Guideline (WCAG) 2.0. Note that this is not an update to WCAG 2.0, which is a stable document, see: http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG20/ .

The supporting documents (W3C Notes) are very useful and practical documents which are updated periodically to reflect current practices and technologies. These draft updates include addition of techniques to help make PDFs more accessible.

The draft updates are available for review as Editors’ Drafts, and the changes are highlighted in tracked-changed versions at:

• Techniques for WCAG 2.0 Editors’ Draft : http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/2011/WD-WCAG20-TECHS-20110621/complete-diff.html

• Understanding WCAG 2.0 Editors’ Draft : http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/2011/WD-UNDERSTANDING-WCAG20-20110621/complete-diff.html

If you are interested in this topic see also an item about PDFs  on the Accessibility blog by Andrew Downie at: http://accessiblecli.wordpress.com/latest-news-2/#pdftechniques

This report Mobile Touch: a guide to implementing e-learning in your organisation  is available at http://trainingo2.net/eli/10164/SUQ%20Mobile%20Touch%20Case%20Study.pdf  .

It is aimed at Vocational Education trainers, but also has generic standards information. It includes best practice recommendations and technical considerations. Useful standards information includes HTML5, and its improved mobile video format (p16). Issues discussed include screen size for mobiles; various mobile browsers and operating systems.

The report appears to have been completed in late 2010, but content and links are still relevant.

Below is a link to a recent and very interesting presentation from Education Services Australia (ESA) on ‘The Digital Australian Curriculum’  at http://www.usq.edu.au/~/media/USQ/lia2011/ACARA%20Curriculum%20Connect%20LIA.ashx .

This presentation covers the National Digital Learning Resources Network, ACARA, Australian Curriculum Connect, and the ACC pilot.

A recent post http://radar.oreilly.com/2011/01/metadata-digital-publishing.html from the publishing area explains how creating ‘metadata isn’t a chore, it’s a necessity’. This is a timely reminder about the continuing value of creating relevant metadata to help enable people to find your digital resources.

On a similar topic Irvin Flack and Evan Bailey presented at ALIA Information Online 2011 Conference in Sydney on February 1  on ‘Metadata for the uninterested’. PowerPoint available  [5.7MB] on ALIA website.

This paper [PDF 5p] from Link Affiliates describes how ‘technical standards enable an education delivery scenario that would not have been possible a few years ago’. The paper provides examples of how Australian involvement in technical standards has been directly beneficial to Australian education initiatives. The paper comes from a DEEWR-funded ‘Technical Standards for Digital Education’ project which reported earlier in 2010. Irvin Flack and Evan Bailey were among the representatives from CLI.

URL = http://www.linkaffiliates.net.au/Activities/FGOutputs/Impact_of_Standards_Work_on_Australian_education.pdf

The Commonwealth Government’s Govt 2 task force produced a report, called Engage: Getting on with Government 2.0   http://www.finance.gov.au/publications/gov20taskforcereport/index.html , which was published by the Chairman, Nicholas Gruen, on 22 December 2009.

The recommendations on Accessibility could be read IMHO to water down the normal mandatory requirements to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.  
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