Content Reusability in Learning
Management Systems
Priit Mägi
DAP01s
Contents
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Reasons for migration
Learning Management Systems
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e-learning standards
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WebCT and Moodle
IMS Content Packaging
SCORM
Alternative schemas
Migration Process
Reasons for migration
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Cost
Licence fee increased annually
 Latest price for the licence was 13
500 euros per year (limited to 6000
seats)
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OVI-portal launch
 Better control to customise LMS
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Learning Management Systems
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Definition:LMS is the platform which
deploys and manages learning content.
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LMS should support:
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information distribution
management of learning material
offer of multiple communication facilities
class management
Learning Management Systems
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WebCT (Web Course Tools) is one of most popular commercial
Web-based Learning Management Systems available
History of WebCT reaches back to 1995, when Murray
Goldberg from Computer Science Department of University of
British Columbia started development of supportive system for
web-based education
More than 5,8 million students around world using WebCT
Amongst countries who have most WebCT licences Finland is
placed in fifth position
In EVTEK WebCT Campus Edition version 3.8 is currently used
Learning Management Systems
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Moodle (Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning
Environment) is a free open source learning management
system originated by Martin Dougiamas
Project started in the 1990s at the Curtin University of
Technology (Perth, Australia)
Motive for development: Dougiamas was “frustrated by the
fact that he wasn’t allowed to tweak the proprietary software
and link it up to other administrative systems.”
Moodle has a modular design that supports customisation and
scalability
e-learning standards
Institutions
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The Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI)
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The Aviation Industry CBT (Computer-Based Training)
Committee (AICC)
The IEEE Learning Technology Standards Committee (LTSC)
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The Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) Initiative
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The IMS Global Learning Consortium
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ARIADNE (Alliance of Remote Instructional Authoring and
Distribution Networks for Europe) Foundation.
e-learning standards
Interrelationships of e-learning standards
IMS Content Packaging
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Created by Global Learning Consortium, latest version 1.1.4
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Describes data structures, XML binding and best practices that
are used to assure interoperability for Internet based content
with content creation tools, learning management systems,
and run time environments
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Specification is focused on defining interoperability between
systems that wish to import, export, aggregate, and
disaggregate packages of content
IMS Content Packaging
Package contains two main elements:
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A manifest element, an XML document with stable name
(imsmanifest.xml) that describes the encapsulated contents
and their organization.
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The actual educational contents, described in the manifest,
such as media and text files, assessment objects or other data
in file form.
IMS Content Packaging
SCORM
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Sharable Content Object Reference Model
latest version "SCORM 2004“
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Developed by Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative
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Consolidates standards of different groups e-learning
specifications into a single specification (includes also IMS
Content Packaging)
SCORM
Documentation contains four parts:
 SCORM Overview: Covers the history and objectives of the
ADL Initiative and SCORM, including the specifications and
standards from which SCORM borrows.
 SCORM Content Aggregation Model (CAM): Describes
components used in a learning experience, how to package
those components for exchange from system to system.
 SCORM Run-Time Environment (RTE): Describes the Learning
Management System (LMS) requirements for managing the
run-time environment.
 SCORM Sequencing and Navigation (SN): Describes how
SCORM-conformant content may be sequenced through a set
of learner-initiated or system-initiated navigation events.
Alternative schemas for content
transfer
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Using Moodle SCORM module
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XML to MySQL transfer
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XML to XML transform
Migration process
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Mapping course units
Exporting data using WebCT’s IMS Content
Migration Utility
Changing character encoding from IS0-8859-1
to UTF-8
Parsing data to Moodle backup
Importing WebCT formatted quizzes
Manual refining of course contents
Migration process
Summary and conclusions
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about 150 courses were transfered during
project
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e-learning standards significantly improve the
interoperability and content reusability
between different learning management
systems
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using different built-in and third party tools
learning content transferring between systems
can be accomplished quite effectively