Reload Editor: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:25, 23 February 2012

This article or chapter is incomplete and its contents need further attention. Some information may be missing or may be wrong, spelling and grammar may have to be improved, use your judgment!

Definition

The Reload Editor tools are multi-standard IMS/SCORM editors.

(1) The content packaging editor

It allows to assemble contents (with different IMS Content Packaging versions, IMS/IEEE Metadata, and SCORM run-time instructions)
Most recent versions add support for IMS Learning Design (level A), IMS Simple Sequencing

It also can produce a a simple stand-alone HTML-based preview package that can be deployed on a simple web server.

See also the Telcert Content Re-Engineering Tool (dead project?) and Xerte which are spin-offs with more functionality. In particular, Xerte seems to be a good alternative. If you are looking for an easy e-learning content authoring tool, look at eXe

(2) The IMS Learning Design editor

Allows to edit IMS Learning Designs.

Tools and releases

Currently, (march 2007) there are two releases of the Metadata and content packaging editor and a release of the stand-alone Learning design editor.

Reload Metadata and Content Packaging Editor 2.0.2

This release includes support for

IMS or LOM Metadata
IMS Content Packaging 1.1.4
SCORM 1.2 Specific Elements (prerequisites, maxtimeallowed, timelimitaction, datafromlms, masteryscore)

Reload Editor 2.5.2 nov 2006

The 2.5.2 release of Reload editor (nov 2006) includes support for

IMS Metadata or IEEE LOM,
IMS MD 1.2.4,
IMS CP 1.1.4
SCORM 1.2
SCORM 2004 (3rd edition) and thus IMS Simple Sequencing and IMS QTI
IMS Learning Design (level A)

This latest version is only available as manual install (files to dezip and there is no manual (as of 21:30, 29 November 2006 (MET)), but since the interface is the same we suggest to install this version.

Screen dump of the "normal" Content Packaging View

Reload Editor Workspace in default mode

Screen dump of the Learning Design View

Reload Editor Workspace in Learning Design mode

Installation instructions for the 2.5x Reload Editor

Make sure that you have Java installed, e.g. open a console window and type "java". Else, get it from JAVA
Get Reload editor from here (as of march 2007, make sure you take the 2.5x manual install and not some older version).
Dezip the file somewhere
If clicking on the *.jar file doesn't work (likely because the *.jar extension is associated with another program, you can write a simple "bat" or "cmd* file (on windows) or shell script (on Unix). Contents of the Windows reload.bat file should be something like:

java -jar reload-editor.jar

Once it works make it rather like this (you won't see the dos command window anymore)

start javaw.exe -jar reload-editor.jar

Alternatively type the above command from a command (DOS) window. To find the DOS window application in your Windows: "Start menu -> execute" then type cmd

Reload Learning Design editor

This specialized Learning Design editor can do more than the 2.5.2 release of the "normal" Reload editor, i.e. it supports all levels of learning design.

Screendump of the Reload Learning Design editor

It has several tools:

Overview: Define title, objectives and prerequisites
Roles: Define roles (specialize the 2 default roles)
Properties
Activities: Definition of activities (simple and composite/structures)
Environments: Tools or Contents
Methods: Definition of the play
Files: File management (resources used in the Content Package)
Export: Creation of an IMS Content Package for distribution

Reload Editor how-to

Reload Editors are structure editors that require from authors some initial investment and a basic understanding of how content packaging works. In addition, according to what you plan to do, you need to understand principles of SCORM 1.2, SCORM 2004 (e.g. simple sequencing), or IMS Learning Design

See: Reload Editor Tutorial for IMS CP and SCORM 1.2

Comments

Defaults

Assembling a standard IMS content package is fairly simple if you stick to the defaults. At least with Reload Editor version 2.5.2 trying things like using IEEE LOM instead of IMS Learning Resources Metadata will cause you major headaches since the result will not validate (probably because LOM XSD files are missing but maybe for other reasons too.

SCORM

Assembling a SCORM 1.2 package that truly makes use of Content-LME communication is very difficult and needs programming experience. If all you need is just a SCORM-compatible content package, it's easy (i.e. you nearly get the same structure as in a simple IMS Content Package).

We rather suggest to use eXe to edit SCORM-compatible contents, or if you want to assemble existing materials use an LMS that provides support for editing and export.

Reload editors can not really handle SCORM 2004 (as of 12:40, 13 January 2007 (MET)), i.e. there is no way to define a simple sequence.

Links

Reload Tools page (editor and player, make sure to pick the correct tool, i.e. don't get the Learning design tools !. These tools need Java)

Reload 1.3 Manual - PDF) 2004, still useful !

Reload Editor Step by Step Guide, a 2-page quick guide (very useful)

Example Content Packages and Content

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Stub}}
+{{Incomplete}}
 == Definition ==
 The '''Reload Editor''' tools are multi-standard IMS/SCORM editors.
-; The [[IMS Content Packaging | content packaging]] editor
+(1) '''The [[IMS Content Packaging | content packaging]] editor'''
 * It allows to assemble contents (with different IMS Content Packaging versions, IMS/IEEE Metadata, and SCORM run-time instructions)
 * Most recent versions add support for [[IMS Learning Design]] (level A), [[IMS Simple Sequencing]]
-It also can produce a a simple stand-alone HTML-based preview package that can be deployed on a simple webserver.
+It also can produce a a simple stand-alone HTML-based preview package that can be deployed on a simple web server.
+See also the Telcert [[Content Re-Engineering Tool]] (dead project?) and [[Xerte]] which are spin-offs with more functionality. In particular, Xerte seems to be a good alternative. If you are looking for an easy e-learning content authoring tool, look at [[eXe]]
+(2) '''The [[IMS Learning Design]] editor'''
-; The [[IMS Learning Design]] editor
 * Allows to edit IMS Learning Designs.
-See also: [[IMS Global Learning Consortium]], [[SCORM]], [[Educational modelling language]]
+See also:
+* [[Reload Editor Tutorial]] (explains a bit how to use this)
+* [[IMS Content Packaging]] (package format structure used)
+* [[SCORM]] (extension of IMS Content Packaging)
+* [[Educational modelling language]] (other languages)
 == Tools and releases ==
@@ Line 25: / Line 33: @@
 * IMS or LOM Metadata
 * IMS Content Packaging 1.1.4
-* SCORM 1.2 Specific Elements (prerequisites, maxtimeallowed, timelimitaction, datafromlms, masteryscore)
+* [[SCORM 1.2]] Specific Elements (prerequisites, maxtimeallowed, timelimitaction, datafromlms, masteryscore)
 === Reload Editor 2.5.2 nov 2006 ===
@@ Line 33: / Line 41: @@
 * IMS MD 1.2.4,
 * IMS CP 1.1.4
+* [[SCORM 1.2]]
 * SCORM 2004 (3rd edition) and thus [[IMS Simple Sequencing]] and [[IMS QTI]]
 * [[IMS Learning Design]] (level A)
@@ Line 38: / Line 47: @@
 This latest version is only available as manual install (files to dezip and there is no manual (as of 21:30, 29 November 2006 (MET)), but since the interface is the same we suggest to install this version.
-; Screendump of the "normal" Content Packaging View
+; Screen dump of the "normal" Content Packaging View
 [[image:reloadworkspace.gif|frame|none|Reload Editor Workspace in default mode ]]
-; Screendump of the LD View
+; Screen dump of the Learning Design View
-[[image:reload-editor-ld-mode.png|frame|none|Reload Editor Workspace in LD mode ]]
+[[image:reload-editor-ld-mode.png|frame|none|Reload Editor Workspace in Learning Design mode ]]
-;Installation instructions
+;Installation instructions for the 2.5x Reload Editor
 * Make sure that you have Java installed, e.g. open a console window and type "java". Else, get it from [http://www.java.com/en/download/ JAVA]
+* Get Reload editor from [http://www.reload.ac.uk/editor.html here] (as of march 2007, make sure you take the 2.5x manual install and not some older version).
 * Dezip the file somewhere
-* If clicking on the *.jar file doesn't work (likely because the *.jar extension is associated with another program, you can write a simple "bat" or "cmd* file (on windows) or shell script (on Unix). Contents of the Windows reload.bat file should be something like:
+* If clicking on the *.jar file doesn't work (likely because the *.jar extension is associated with another program, you can write a simple "bat" or "cmd* file (on windows) or [[shell script]] (on Unix). Contents of the Windows reload.bat file should be something like:
   java -jar reload-editor.jar
-Alternatively type the above command from a command (DOS) window. To find the DOS window application in your Windows: "Start menu -> excute" then type ''cmd''
+Once it works make it rather like this (you won't see the dos command window anymore)
+ start javaw.exe -jar reload-editor.jar
+Alternatively type the above command from a command (DOS) window. To find the DOS window application in your Windows: "Start menu -> execute" then type ''cmd''
-=== Reload LD editor ===
+=== Reload Learning Design editor ===
-* This specialized LD editor can do more than the 2.5.2 release of the "normal" Reload editor, i.e. it supports all levels of learning design.
+* This specialized Learning Design editor can do more than the 2.5.2 release of the "normal" Reload editor, i.e. it supports all levels of learning design.
-[[image:reload-ld-editor.png|thumbnail|200px|right| Screendump of the Reload LD editor]]
+[[image:reload-ld-editor.png|thumbnail|200px|right| Screendump of the Reload Learning Design editor]]
 It has several tools:
-* Overview: Define title, objectives and prerequesites
+* Overview: Define title, objectives and prerequisites
 * Roles: Define roles (specialize the 2 default roles)
 * Properties
@@ Line 67: / Line 79: @@
 * Environments: Tools or Contents
 * Methods: Definition of the play
-* Files: File management (ressources used in the CP)
+* Files: File management (resources used in the Content Package)
-* Export: Creation of an IMS CP for distribution
+* Export: Creation of an IMS Content Package for distribution
 == Reload Editor how-to ==
-This is a short "how to" for the IMS CP/Scorm editor based on the 2-page [http://www.reload.ac.uk/ex/ReloadSSv1.pdf Reload Editor Step by Step Guide].
+Reload Editors are structure editors that require from authors some initial investment and a basic understanding of how [[IMS Content Packaging | content packaging]] works. In addition, according to what you plan to do, you need to understand principles of [[SCORM 1.2]], [[SCORM 2004]] (e.g. [[simple sequencing]]), or [[IMS Learning Design]]
-; Starting a content package
-# Put all the resources (e.g. HTML and picture files) you plan to use in a directory.
-#* You may use subdirectories.
-#* You later may add other materials, but it's more practical to start with this step
-# Open the Reload Editor Software
-#* See above for some installation hints.
-# Create a New IMS Content Package
-#* Select File, New, IMS Content Package. You will be asked to select a new folder to store your package in. Select the directory you create above.
-; Getting familiar with the panes and the three main elements of the manifest
-[[image:reload-workspace-small.png|frame|none|Reload Editor Workspace]]
-# Become familiar with functions of the three editing panes. The main Reload Editor window has three sections (look at the picture above :
-#* The '''Resource Pane''' ''on the left'' lists all the resources that will be distributed with your content package and that you can use to define a a learning organization (i.e. content structure that a learner will see).
-#* The '''manifest pane''' ''on the right'' will allow you define both meta data and a learning organization.
-#* The '''Attribute pane''' (right bottom) will allow you fine tune things. For starters you only will use it to change titles of items (see below).
-# Edit some metadata that will describe your package.
-#* Right-click on "Metadata" in the ''manifest pane".
-#* Keep it to a minimum for starters. You don't need to fill in anything if you don't want to...
-# Add an '''organization'''
-#* An organization will contain the learning sequence, i.e. it is '''here''' that you will define what contents learners will be exposed to !
-#* Right-click on the '''organizations''' element in the ''manifest'' pane and select ''Add Organization'' from the menu which appears.
-#* Usually, a content package will only contain a single organization (since most [[LMS]]s can't handle more than one).
-#* You may change it's title from ''organization'' to anything you like. To do so, change "organization" in the attribute pane below (but ''do not'' change attributes and values!)
-organization.
-#* All the content we add to our Content Package will be added to this Organization as Items (see below).
-# Do not worry about "Resources". For simple CP editing you ''will not need this! ''.
-; Adding contents to your organization
+See: [[Reload Editor Tutorial]] for IMS CP and SCORM 1.2
-#
 == Comments ==
@@ Line 108: / Line 92: @@
 === Defaults ===
-* Assembling a standard IMS content package is fairly simple '''if you stick to the defaults'''. At least with version 2.5.2 trying things like using IEEE [[LOM]] instead of IMS Learning Ressource Metadata will cause you major headaches since the result will not validate (probably because LOM XSD files are missing but maybe for other reasons too
+* Assembling a standard IMS content package is fairly simple '''if you stick to the defaults'''. At least with Reload Editor version 2.5.2 trying things like using IEEE [[Learning Object Metadata Standard|LOM]] instead of IMS Learning Resources Metadata will cause you major headaches since the result will not validate (probably because LOM XSD files are missing but maybe for other reasons too.
+=== SCORM ===
-=== Scorm ===
+* Assembling a [[SCORM 1.2]] package that truly makes use of Content-LME communication is very difficult and needs programming experience. If all you need is just a SCORM-compatible content package, it's easy (i.e. you nearly get the same structure as in a simple IMS Content Package).
-* Assembling a [[SCORM 1.2]] package that truly makes use of Content-LME communication is very difficult and needs programming experience. If all you need is just a SCORM-compatible content package, it's easy (i.e. you get nearly the same structure as in a simple IMS CP).
+* We rather suggest to use [[eXe]] to edit SCORM-compatible contents, or if you want to assemble existing materials use an [[LMS]] that provides support for editing and export.
 * Reload editors can not really handle SCORM 2004 (as of 12:40, 13 January 2007 (MET)), i.e. there is no way to define a simple sequence.
@@ Line 126: / Line 112: @@
 * [http://www.reload.ac.uk/ex/ Example Content Packages and Content]
-[[Category: Educational technologies]]
 [[Category: XML]]
 [[Category: E-learning tools]]
 [[Category: Authoring tools]]
-[[Category:E-learning tools]]
+[[Category: Educational modeling languages]]
 [[fr:Reload Editor]]