Metatagging of Learning Objects and Apps

Formal Metatagging of Learning Objects and Apps

Formal metatagging of LOs and apps is achieved by using globally agreed-on metadata models. According to the National Information Standards Organization, metadata models are structured sets of metadata elements designed and agreed to describe a particular type of information resource. Metadata specifications are well-defined and widely accepted metadata models, usually developed and promoted by individual organizations or consortia of partners from industry or academia. When a specification is widely recognized and adopted by a standardization organization, it then becomes a metadata standard. Existing metadata standards for LOs include the following:

• The Dublin Core Metadata Element Set (DCMES), which has been developed by the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI) and is a standard for describing general information resources available online. Nevertheless, DCMES has also been used for describing LOs with metadata.
• The IEEE Learning Object Metadata (IEEE LOM), which has been developed by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Learning Technologies Standards Committee working group, titled “WG12—Learning Object Metadata.” IEEE LOM has been based on early versions of the metadata models of the Alliance of Remote Instructional Authoring and Distribution Network for Europe (ARIADNE) and IMS Global Learning Consortium Learning Resource Metadata. IEEE LOM has been the dominant metadata standard for describing LOs in a wide range of existing learning object repositories.
• The ISO/IEC 19788 Metadata Learning Resource (MLR), which is under development by a subcommittee of the Joint Technical Committee 1 of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The subcommittee working on MLR is the ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 36 Information Technology for Learning, Education and Training. MLR is based primarily on DCMES and IEEE LOM and supports two key principles: (a) modularity —the standard is structured in [Page 506]several parts, which allows users to group different metadata elements according to their nature, facilitating further growth of the standard with new parts; and (b) compatibility —this means that it opts for compatibility with DCMES and IEEE LOM.

Regarding learning apps, existing metadata specifications define metadata for apps that are developed in the form of widgets. According to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), a widget denotes a small portable Web-enabled application, often geared toward performing a single task. Metadata specifications of widgets include (a) the W3C Widget Configuration and Packaging Specification developed by W3C, (b) the OpenAjax Metadata 1.0 Specification developed by the OpenAjax Alliance, and (c) the OpenSocial Metadata Specification developed by the OpenSocial Foundation.

...