Learning object repository

Definition

• A learning object repository enables educators to share, manage and use educational resources. A more narrow definition would also require that repositories implement a metadata standard

• A Learning Object Repository is storing content/assets/resources as well as their metadata record. EdTechPost Glossary

See also: LCMS (learning management system with a builtin repository).

Standards

• Learning object repositories rely firstly on metadata standards such as Dublin core or the IMS/IEEE Learning Object Metadata Standard (LOM).

• Usually such repositories a programmed as web application (webserver, database and scripting language) such as the LAMP combo. There are also initiatives to standardize web services associated with a server.

Discussion

See also the learning object article. Basically there are two main problems:

• It is difficult to de-contextualize / re-contextualize knowledge. If the chunk is too big it can't be adapted to specialized / local needs, if it's too small it will not really be a reusable learning/teaching object on its own.
• People hate filling in repositories and the only way to get there is either pay someone or force everyone. But the situation can be eased with very good tools that "prefill" contents according to the profile of the person that made or uses a resource. See: Cancore's Learning Object Metadata Editors

Software to build your own

• [DSPACE] (actually a dublin-core based document repository, but can also be used for learning objects)

• Cancore's Learning Object Metadata Editors (editors for Metadata)

Links

Repositories with learning objects

• MERLOT] (specialized in microworlds)
• Educational Object Economy Lots of Java applets
• La main à la pate
• Commonwealth of learning's LearningObject Repository
• Ariadne

Meta repositories

(these list other repositories)

• EduResources Portal--a Gateway to Higher Education Instructional Resources (A Wiki including a variety of useful pointers)
• University of WisconsinMilwaukee LO Collections
• UNESCO Repositories list

Various links

(need sorting out ...)

• CanCore documents and prestations
• UNESCO Open Educational Resources
• LO Repositories
• LO Initiative
• LO information, Tools, Standards and Repositories
• LO Keyword Search Page
• LO Portal
• LO Introduction
• Finding LO
• LO
• Examples of Learning Objects and Learning Object Repositories
• elearnspace