SURF X4L Project
Development Report
October 2003 – February 2004
Shrewsbury College
Richard Booth
David Shearan
Contents
Viewing Teknical authored packages in LRN
Page 3
Viewing Teknical authored packages in Reload
Page 4
Using the Teknical Delivery Environment
(Word authoring tool)
Page 5
Generating content package in Reload
Page 6
Evaluation
Pages 7-8
Copyright & IPR
Page 9
Staff awareness and activity
Page 9
Version 2.0 of the Xtensis repository
Pages 10-11
New Reload Content Packaging
and Metadata tool version 1.1.2
Page 12
Reload ADL SCORM 1.2 Runtime Player
Pages 12-14
Uploading Reload content packages to Virtual Campus
Pages 15 - 17
Uploading LRN3 content packages to Virtual Campus
Page 18
New Evaluation Developments (23/12/03)
Page 19
New Reload Content Packaging
and Metadata tool version 1.1.3a
Page 20
New Reload Tests
Page 21
New Evaluation Developments (09/01/04)
Pages 22- 23
Reload tests as Scorm package
Pages 24-25
Evaluation Report Progress (22/02/04)
Page 26
Creating content package with CourseGenie
Page 27 – 29
Uploading the CourseGenie Package into Virtual Campus
Page 30
Summary
Page 31
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Surf X4L Project Report
Developments October 2003 – Onwards
Viewing Teknical authored packages in LRN
A learning package using the Teknical word-authoring tool, re-purposed from
FENC materials displayed correctly in the Teknical delivery environment.
When viewed with the LRN 3.0 tool, it displayed the following error. It was not
supported. If you click on Yes to continue, eventually it will display the text,
but not the background or images.
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Viewing Teknical authored packages in Reload
In Reload it does display the text without the errors, but still will not display the
background or photography images or illustrations.
Viewing the package in the Delivery environment from Teknical (content
viewer)
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Using the Teknical Delivery Environment (Word authoring tool)
This is the tool developed for the word-authoring tool from Teknical.
As expected, the package displays correctly, with all the text and images in
the correct places. Navigation buttons are added within the tool for ease of
access to the different pages. You can also print a page or view the main
contents of the material.
If you want to upload this package
authored in the Teknical authoring
tool, the images, including the
backgrounds will not load. You
can only display the text as
viewable content!
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Generating content package in Reload
Reload has become a great tool for the aggregating and disaggregating
content into a learning package. The process has become easier as with
creating metadata needed to search and find the package / objects for later
use.
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Evaluation
The curriculum areas Shrewsbury College has chosen for evaluation are
Construction, Engineering and Media. These areas have been producing
good content and re-purposed learning materials. They have been aware of
the range of materials available (Fenc, NLN, Jisc collections) and have been
encouraged by the value of using such materials and the need to re-purpose
existing content to produce a tailor made course / learning package.
Two members of staff from Construction, two from Engineering and one tutor
from Media have been supported in producing learning content, which will be
delivered as a classroom exercise with their students. They have been
supported to use the word-authoring tool we have available from Teknical and
uploaded their materials to the Virtual Campus VLE system.
From this, a course structure has been devised and login accounts for all staff
and students taking part in the evaluation process. We have produced
separate evaluation forms for the staff and students to gather information and
comments of the ‘learning experience’.
The staff have a series of short multiple choice questions, followed by a
comments box to see what experience they had producing content and repurposing learning materials, using the tools available (if applicable) and
uploading materials to the VLE. From this, using such materials with students
in a classroom setting.
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The students have similar multiple-choice questions for feedback on their
learning experience with using such materials in an ‘e-learning’ environment
as oppose to the traditional classroom teaching which may have taken place
before.
From this we can gather information of what staff felt producing learning
packages from various sources and the student perspective of using materials
in an ‘e-learning’ environment and it’s importance.
The questionnaire /evaluation forms will be placed on the college intranet,
where the staff and students can access these and complete. The results and
data will be feed back into a database, where a report form of the findings will
be available. It will detail the number of answer responses to each question
and also list the comments from staff of personal experience of the process.
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Copyright & IPR
One important point to mention is the problem we have encountered with
Copyright and IPR. Sessions have been planned to raise awareness of the
copyright issue and producing /re-purposing learning materials. Many don’t
realise the importance of sourcing information and granting copyright
clearance or acknowledgement of using such materials.
I think the Internet has been the main repository for use of text; images and
content to develop new packages and some don’t question the fact that is
already ‘owned’ by another author and copyright is an issue.
Staff awareness and activity
One of the main problems I have encountered with the production of learning
content and re-purposed materials from each subject area of the college to
use within the X4L project is staff committing to producing materials.
Slowly it has begun to happen, but with staff already busy with teaching
commitments and advent of inspections, it has become increasingly difficult to
enthuse staff with taking on more work. Ultimately it will assist staff in the
development of such materials and learning packages for use in their lessons,
but time is an important factor in the process.
They understand the importance of enhancing the student learning
experience and the value of learning materials, virtual learning environments
and the share of quality materials, but learning new skills and ways of working
does take time and I feel with many it will take longer to develop. But with
small numbers of staff interested I believe it will have a ‘knock on‘ effect with
the rest of the staff, using ‘specific’ re-purposed learning materials and objects
in everyday lessons to improve the learners experience and work.
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Version 2.0 of the Xtensis repository
Received an email dated 5th November 2003, regarding the following
announcement:
JORUM+ team are pleased to announce that version 2.0 of the Xtensis
repository is now available. Both Xtensis and intraLibrary have been
developed further to address specific user requirements that were identified
by the X4L and 5/99 project teams. Version 2 of intraLibrary was previously
released on October 14th 2003.
New features now available through the Xtensis web portal:
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Sophisticated search facility - comprises simple, JORUM+ default and
advanced searching for Learning Objects.
The jorum team were keen for users to try out the new version of Xtensis and
feedback to us on their opinions of the changes that have been made. I
logged into the system with the Surf X4L username and password details.
This time I was able to log in to the Xtensis system. I had not previously been
able to do that with the last version of the system.
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Once into the homepage of Xtensis, I tried to ‘Browse Learning Objects’.
Nothing happens when you click on the link. None of the other links work at
the moment under the following areas:
The links to edit the user registration details do not work also. As the Jorum
team were requesting feedback from users I have replied with the points
raised above. (Email sent 5/11/03).
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New Reload Content Packaging and Metadata tool version 1.1.2
I have downloaded the new version of Reload and will test out the system by
generating a new Scorm compliant package.
Reload ADL SCORM 1.2 Runtime Player
Just downloaded the new Reload ADL SCORM 1.2 Runtime Player This tool
allows one to open an ADL SCORM 1.2 Content Package and "play" it in the
host browser. It also allows you to explore the contents of the package and
look "under the bonnet". Features include:
a. Full Implementation of CMI DataModel
a. Javascript Implementation of API Adaptor - no applets
a. Embedded Single User Java Web Server - just click "play"
a. Review current state of the CMI Datamodel as the player updates elements
a. Full Graphical "Scorm Manager" User Interface for browsing package
structure
a. Support for Multiple organizations, Choose which one to run and click
"play"
I have exported a Scorm package created in the previous version of reload.
Once in the player, you can
select the package you wish
to view and its organisations
to that package
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You can view the complete package in a new browser window with buttons to
navigate through the pages of the packages. Or you can click on the link in
the left-hand frame to go to a specific section.
The system seems quite easy to use and
to view the packages already created in
the reload content package system
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Once you have completed the running of your package, you have the option
to remove the Scorm package or save the runtime data to the specified
learning package. If you don’t save the data you will not be able to undo this
action.
You can then exit the system if you haven’t discarded the
runtime data to refer or run at a later date or transfer to a VLE or
repository.
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Uploading Reload content packages to Virtual Campus
I experimented uploading content packaged using Reload into the Virtual
Campus system.
I renamed the ‘index.htm’ page to ‘default’ as this is the page Teknical needs
to read the content package. I uploaded the package to a subject folder and
created the learning package from this to display the material.
Once attached to the main menu the package would not display.
I tried re-upload the package again, but placing the ‘default’ page outside of
the sub folder. This page displayed fine on the menu in Virtual Campus.
It would only display
subsequent pages if I add
a link to each page from
the index or ‘default’
page, but this would
defeat the object of using
reload to create a content
package.
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New Tests 22/12/03
The upload process was my fault! It was not an error with uploading reload
aggregated content to the Virtual Campus system.
Added subject folder and uploaded a new chapter as a reload content as an
IMS Object.
Add the specific zip file containing
the Reload package and it will then
be uploaded to the Virtual Campus
system.
The chapter will now be displayed in the subject folder. You can now move
the chapter to an existing package or create a new learning package folder.
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Once the package has been attached to the main menu, you can load the
chapter and the Reload package opens with no problem at all in the main
window.
You can open the
outline to view the
package as a page with
full navigation as in the
Reload.
You can open the outline to view the package as a page with full navigation
as in the Reload
If you hide the side menu, the menu
in the reload window will now
become part of the main window
structure for navigation to each page,
or you can use the forward and back
arrows at the bottom of the screen.
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Uploading LRN3 content packages to Virtual Campus
Began experimenting with creating a learning package using HTML pages
with images, tasks, information, etc.
Used the reload converted content package of Still Photography and open up
the manifest files in the LRN3 tool. From this, I checked that all the material
was in its correct place and saved it into a new folder.
As Teknical’s Virtual campus system reads the ‘index’ page as ‘default’, I
renamed the LRN viewer page as ‘default’. Once I had created the subject
folder and package in Virtual Campus and attached it to the main menu, it
displayed fine
The LRN viewer opened up in the main frame of the Virtual Campus system,
but within its own frame structure. To view it as it should be, you only need to
expand the view window using the arrows at the top of the screen and it can
be viewed, as you would expect just using the LRN 3 tool.
You can even close
the outline to just
view each page
without contents
links.
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New Evaluation Developments (23/12/03)
After several versions of the evaluation forms, we have agreed on a final set
of question sets for the X4L evaluation process. We are also to produce a
personal observation form that we can use for individual interviews with staff
and/or students.
The evaluation processes will commence at the end of January /February
2004.
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New Reload Content Packaging and Metadata tool version January 2004
Installed the new updated version of Reload metadata and content package
editor version 1.1.3a (5th January 2004).
Features:
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IMS Content Packaging, IMS Metadata, and ADL SCORM Editing
Full Graphical User Interface with Drag and Drop
Multi-Windows - edit more than one package at a time
Customisable User Profiles and Vocabularies
Plug-in Schema-awareness - use the latest IMS Schema - plug it in
and go!
Supports latest IMS specifications for Content Packaging, Metadata,
Learning Design, and ADL SCORM
Standalone and Content Package embedded Metadata Editor - add
Metadata to all valid nodes of a Package or create a standalone
Metadata file. Import and export Metadata as well.
Intelligent Resource parsing of HTML Pages - simply drag in a HTML
page and all file dependencies are automatically included and
referenced
Package aggregation and disaggregation (sub Manifests)
Intelligent Manifest Maker - auto-ID generation and referencing
Package to Zip file
Package Previewer - preview the contents of your Package as you
create it
Resources Pool - keep all your re-usable Resources together
Unlimited Undo/Redo
Cross-platform written in Java - works for PC and Mac (OS X)
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New Reload Tests 09/01/04
I have produced an Art & Design course introduction package in Reload and
uploaded it to the Virtual Campus VLE system.
Uploaded the zipped
package as an IMS
object into ‘Virtual
Campus’
Reload package now
visible on the VLE,
(opening, closing
outline to suit your
desired view)
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New Evaluation Developments 09/01/04
We have finalised the question sets for Staff and Student evaluation forms.
They comprise extra questions and areas for additional information from the
participants.
The evaluation processes will feedback on how staff found producing such
learning materials, and pedagogical factors with using resources and learning
materials, tools, packages, etc. It is crucial to determine the teaching and
learning outcomes from using / producing such materials. From a students
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point of view, it will be a very useful exercise to gain how they viewed the
materials, their use within the classroom and how useful they found the
materials / electronic resources to their course and new ways of learning.
The results will be collated back into a database for ease of producing the
results. The results from the multiple choice questions will give a point score.
The questions that the participant can give comments will be listed on a
separate form.
We would like staff to log onto the Colleges Intranet so that we have a name
to correspond with their comments and opinions. For students I don’t think
that it is so crucial and the fact that students do not have separate login to the
Academic Intranet.
The results of these evaluations will be documented in later reports.
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Reload tests as Scorm package
I have experimented with creating a content package within reload as an ADL
Scorm 1.2 package. From this I have tried to upload the Scorm package to
the ‘Virtual Campus’ Virtual Learning Environment.
First created a new content package and specified that I would like it to be an
ADL Scorm 1.2 package.
Uploaded Scorm package
as a subject chapter
Placed chapter in
Resources package
folder
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Once scorm package is attached to the relevant folder, it will automatically be
placed on the main menu of Virtual Campus as this folder has already been
attached to the menu structure. Any updates to the folder will automatically be
reflected.
The Still Photography Scorm package displays fine in the Virtual Campus
system.
Opening or closing the
outline of the reload
package or closing the
main menu of the Virtual
Campus menu view can
alter the view of the
material.
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Evaluation Report Progress 22/02/04
The final question sets to be used for staff / student evaluation was agreed at
the 11th Surf X4L Project Management meeting on 20/01/04.
Project partners at Scat and Stoke will include the evaluation forms on their
individual intranet systems so we have an on-line evaluation tool.
A set of interview / peer observation questions will be compiled so that we can
gain further in-depth assessment of the whole evaluation processes, with
particular reference to the pedagogical use of such materials, understanding
and implementation to teaching and learning. This will be aimed at both users
of materials:
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the staff that create the learning package materials and use in the
delivery of their lessons
the students who are the end user. Highlighting their new way of
learning, encompassing a wider learning experience.
We have had to account for a slight set back at Scat, as a member of staff in
construction who is involved with the evaluation process had his laptop stolen
with the materials he had produced to use with the students. We are hoping
that learning materials can be re-developed in the next few weeks. Another
member of staff in Media / Photography had damage to his computer and is
awaiting work completed on this machine, so that the photography materials
can be used for evaluation purposes.
I originally planned to commence first round evaluation processes by the end
of January 2004. This will now have to be re-scheduled to begin at the end of
February / March 2004.
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Creating content package with CourseGenie
I have experimented with creating a sample content package with the
CourseGenie online course creator tool. It was straightforward to use and had
many useful features to incorporate into an effective content package.
CourseGenie is a tool that will help you to take course material in Word format
and transform it into a dynamic online course. From this one word document
you can generate a set of web pages including navigation and interactive
features.
With special styles and dialog boxes, you can add interactive features such
as:
Navigation
Table of contents
Formatting
Hyperlinks
Popups
Includes
Definitions
Selftest Questions
Flash Movies
Streaming audio and video
IMS metadata
You can export the course in six different modes:
As a set of plain HTML pages
As a set of WebCT HTML pages
As a Blackboard Unpackage file
As a WebCT IMS package
As a LRN IMS package
As a SCORM 1.2 package
If you export in IMS format the resulting pages can be viewed and edited
as a collection of learning objects using LRN, or imported into an IMScompliant VLE or course management system.
In SCORM mode the set of generated HTML pages is packaged as a
single Sharable Content Object (SCO), which can be used with any
SCORM-compliant VLE or course management system.
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Creating the CourseGenie Package
Imported completed word document.
Highlighted the headings, which will form the table of content structure when
the package is converted. There are a number of different functions to use
within the CourseGenie tool:
Definition, Heading, Page Title, Panel Heading, Pop Up, Quote text, etc.
You can add metadata to your package material ready for uploading to a VLE
or repository system.
Once you have completed your
document / learning package, click
on the CourseGenie heading to
generate your course.
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Choose the output folder and the document will now be converted into an
HTML generated output, specifically as IMS or Scorm if requested.
A preview of the converted
package will be displayed as a
browser view.
A folder containing the HTML pages and IMS manifest and also a zipped
package can be found on the output folder area.
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Uploading the CourseGenie Package into Virtual Campus
I uploaded the zipped Scorm output as a learning package to the Teknical
‘Virtual Campus’ system. I added the package as a chapter into a subject
folder and as a new learning package.
Once attached to the main menu, the complete package could be viewed in
its various view formats as other converted packages in LRN 3 and Reload.
The CourseGenie tool is a very
user friendly and effective
authoring and content packaging
tool.
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Summary
We feel that progress to date has been encouraging and matches criteria that
we initially set out in the aims and objectives of the project plan. We have
produced a range of re-purposed materials and content packaged materials
with tools provided such as Reload, LRN and other tools. We have made use
of the repositories and migrated packages to various learning platforms with a
variety of results. Testing compliancy and using standards such as IMS and
Scorm have been an interesting factor and this will form an important part of
the project, which would affect learners transposing materials to their own
VLE systems in the future.
The work completed with the Surf X4L project shows a need for repurposing
learning materials to suit individuals teaching and learning on specific
courses, but also the need to share resources and minimise the need to
continually re-invent the wheel. The use of a wide range of tools to enhance
the experience by staff and student in the development, delivery and use of
learning materials can only be a positive enhancement in the complexity of
locating resources, developing materials and delivery currently employed by
staff today. The use of tools to effectively content package learning materials
can be used by staff from various areas and expertise of ILT and generate
packages easily with effective results.
It is the whole process of finding / locating resources, materials, re-purposing
content, using repositories and packaging content. It needs to be in a format
that can be adapted for use by all. It is a logical and positive step forward in a
new phase of teaching and learning, which is very much beneficial today and
for the future.
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