Table 1. Type 1 repositories storing content with very limited linking.
Name
URL
BioDiTRL Biological Digital Teaching http://bioditrl.sunsite.ualberta.ca/
Resource Library
http://cnx.org/
ConneXions
Curriki Global Education & Learning http://www.curriki.org/
Community
ESCOT: Educational Software
Components of Tomorrow
Exploratories
Exploratorium Digital Library
Explore Learning with Gismos
Fathom archive
Free-ed Net
General Physics Java Applets
Geometry Center U. of Minnesota
http://www.escot.org/
http://www.cs.brown.ed
u/exploratories/freeSoft
ware/home.html
http://www.exploratoriu
m.edu/educate/dl.html
http://www.explorelearn
ing.com/
http://www.fathom.com/
Level
Granularity
University
Components
Total
Content
Number Type
8 869
Images
University &
other
K12
Courses
+2000
Variety
Various
+750
Variety
Middle
School
University
Lessons
+40
Lessons
+60
All levels
Various
K12
University
http://www.freeComCollege
ed.net/free-ed/
http://www.surendranath University
.org/
http://www.geom.uiuc.e University
du/
MetaComments
data
taxonom Subscription r
ies
Simple
True repositor
XML
IEEE
Content repos
LOM
SUN Microsy
Simple
Problem solvi
Java
applets
Simple
Computer Gra
+100s
Variety
Simple
Arts & Scienc
Lessons
+100
gizmos
None
Math & Scien
Lessons
+100
Variety
Simple
No longer wor
Courses
+100
Variety
Simple
Lessons
+60
Java
None
Simulations
Lessons
+25
Java
Web
None
Simulations. N
usable
http://opencourse.org/Co
llaboratories/harveyproj
ect
http://www.iluminadlib.org/
http://interactiveu.berkel
ey.edu:8000/DLMIndex/
University
Lessons
+40
Flash,
Java
Simple
Reusable Lear
University
Various
?
Variety
University &
K12
Lessons
+100
Variety
MARC
NSDL
Simple
Chemistry, bio
math & compu
University rep
some links
LOLA Exchange: Wesleyan U
http://www.lolaexchang
e.org/
University
Lessons
+100
Variety
Univ develope
mainly for info
literacy
MLX: Maricopa Community College
Learning Exchange
MIT Open Courseware
http://www.mcli.dist.ma
ricopa.edu/mlx/
http://ocw.mit.edu/
ComCollege
Lessons
1477
Variety
Dublin
Core,
IMS,
CanCore
Simple
University
Courses
+500
Variety
Content repos
National Learning Network UK
Lessons
+60
VLE
National Repository of Online
Courses (Monterey Institute)
http://www.nln.ac.uk/M Upper
aterials/default.asp
Secondary
http://www.montereyinst All levels
itute.org/nroc/index.html
OAIPMH
IMS
Courses &
lessons
+30
Variety
Simple
Open Course Collaboratories
http://opencourse.org/
University
Lessons
+100
Variety
Simple
Open Learning Initiative (OLI)
Carnegie Mellon
http://www.cmu.edu/oli/
University
1st Yr.
Courses
+10
Variety
Simple
PBS Teacher Source
http://www.pbs.org/teac
hersource/
http://phet.colorado.edu/
web-pages/index.html
K12
Various
+3000
Variety
Simple
Available free
granting credi
access is free
Sign on requir
University
Lessons
+60
Flash
None
Physics
Harvey Project
Illumina: National Science Digital
Library
IU: The UC Berkeley Interactive University
Project
Physics Education & Technology
PhET U. of Colorado
College reposi
Sign on to VL
restricted
Closed to mem
courses. Stude
free
Includes Harv
SOFIA Sharing of Free Intellectual
Assets
Tufts Open Courseware
http://sofia.fhda.edu/
ComCollege
Courses
8
Variety
Simple
A few full cou
http://ocw.tufts.edu/
University
Various
+30
Variety
Simple
Life sciences i
Webcast UC Berkeley
http://webcast.berkeley.e University
du/
http://www.wiscComCollege
online.com
Lectures
+100
None
Time-limited
Lessons
2184
Webcast
s
Flash
Simple
Free for educa
needed
Wisconsin Online Resource Center
Table 2. Type 2 repositories that store no content and are made up of links (metadata repositories).
Name
URL
Level
Granul
arity
Various
Total
Content
Number Type
2040
Variety
Meta- Comments
data
Simple Dewey Decimal system;
sites rated
AT&T Blue Web’n
http://www.kn.sbc.com/wir
ed/bluewebn/
All levels
CAREO: Campus Alberta
Repository of Educational
Objects
CITIDEL: Computing and
http://careo.ucalgary.ca
University
& other
Various
4146
Variety
Simple No longer supported
http://www.citidel.org/
University
Various
488,279
Variety
Simple Assets only
http://www.dlese.org/dds/h
istogram.do?group=subject
All levels
Various
13138
Variety
Simple
+2000
Applets
University
Compon
ents
Various
+1000
Variety
K12
Various
+2000
Variety
Simple Java simulations; no
longer accessible
Simple ProLearn project many
languages
None
Links
All levels
+1000
Flash
None
University
Compon
ents
Lessons
+1000?
Variety
Simple Mainly K12
K12
Various
+45 000
Variety
Simple Stopped in 2005?
Information Technology
Interactive Digital
Educational Library
DLESE: Digital Library
for Earth System
Education
Educational object
economy (eoe)
EducaNext Portal
Educational Software
Directory
Flashchild
FLORE: French Learning
Object Repository for
Education
GEM Exchange Gateway to
http://www.natomagroup.c
om/eoe.html
http://www.educanext.org/
ubp
http://www.educationalsoftware-directory.net/
http://flashchild.com/allgames/
http://flore.uvic.ca/welcom
e.php
http://www.thegateway.org
Games
Educational Materials
/browse
http://www.intute.ac.uk/
LearningLanguages.net
http://www.learninglangua
ges.net/
All levels
Various
+1000
Variety
Simple Rated resources for
learning
Simple All levels
Learning and Skills Web
http://www.lsweb.ac.uk/
Variety
+1000
Variety
IMS
Learning about Learning
Objects
http://www.learningobjects.net/modules.php?n
ame=Web_Links
http://www.lrc3.unsw.edu.
au/
http://www.merlot.org/Ho
me.po
ComColle
ge
All levels
Various
+200
Variety
Simple Links not rated
University
Various
?
Variety
Simple Closed.
All levels
Various
16166
Variety
IEEE
LOM
?
Variety
IEEE
LOM
Variety
Simple Links to MIT, Utah State
Japanese Univs etc.
INTUTE UK
LRC3: U21 Consortium
MERLOT
University
Various
114 893
Variety
Needs Digital Library
http://www.needs.org/need
s/
University
Various
NIME GLAD: Gateway to
Learning for Ability
Development
ScienceNet Links
http://nimeglad.nime.ac.jp/
University
Various
http://www.sciencenetlinks
.com/resource_index.htm
http://www.smete.org/smet
e/
K12
Various
+500
Variety
None
All levels
Various
+6000
Variety
IEEE
LOM
SMETE
Sign on requested; Links
Peer review; some
copyright issues fair use
ok
University
K12
Table 3. Type 3 repositories with both content and a significant number of links
Name
URL
Level
Granularity
ARIADNE - European Knowledge
Pool System
Commonwealth of Learning LOR
University
Various
University
Various
?
Variety
ConneXions
http://www.ariadneeu.org/
http://www.collor.org/co
l/
http://cnx.org/
Total
Content
Number Type
?
Variety
http://www.scriptorium.
columbia.edu/
http://www.edna.edu.au/
edna/go
Modules
Courses
Components
+4000
Digital Scriptorium Columbia
University
edna: Educational Network of
Australia
University &
other
University
K12 & other
Various
HEAL: Health Education Assets
Library
http://www.healcentral.o
rg/index.jsp
University
IDEAS: Interactive Dialogue with Educators
http://ideas.wisconsin.ed
u/
ILife Apple Learning Interchange
Internet Mathematics Library: Math
Forum@Drexel
NSDL National Science Digital
Library
Problem Based Learning Clearing
House
SchoolNet Canada
Across the State
Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social
Comments
Variety
Metadata
IEEE
LOM
IEEE
LOM
Simple
Images
Simple
Columbia Uni
+16000
Variety
Simple
Review all site
Lessons
+10000
Variety
High quality
K12
Lessons
Variety
http://ali.apple.com/ali/resour
ces.shtml
K12
Lessons
+2000
est.
+2 000
OAIPMH &
IMS
Simple
Variety
Simple
Primarily link
http://mathforum.org/lib
rary/
http://nsdl.org/search/
All levels
Various
+1000s
Variety
Simple
Many multime
All levels
Various
Variety
Simple
https://chico.nss.udel.ed
u/Pbl/
http://www.schoolnet.ca
/
http://www.sieswe.org/
PBS only
University
+1.5
million
Lessons
Science orient
permissions m
Simple
K12
Lessons
Modules
?
+7 000
Variety
Simple
?
?
?
University
Variety
English, Frenc
German
Federated sear
204 full cours
Teachers’ shar
Selected by ed
French
Defunct
Work Education
World Lecture Hall U. of Texas
http://web.austin.utexas.
edu/wlh/
University
Courses
+2000
Variety
Simple
Comprehensiv
Table 4. Generic learning object repositories
Type
Name
URL
Level
3
ARIADNE - European Knowledge
Pool System
AT&T Blue Web’n
http://www.ariadneeu.org/
http://www.kn.sbc.com/
wired/bluewebn/
University
2
CAREO: Campus Alberta Repository
of Educational Objects
http://careo.ucalgary.ca
University &
other
3
Commonwealth of Learning LOR
University
Various
?
Variety
1
ConneXions
http://www.collor.org/co
l/
http://cnx.org/
Courses
+2000
Variety
?
COSTP: California Open Source
Textbook Project
http://www.opensourcet
ext.org/
University &
other
K12
IEEE
LOM
Simple
Components
?
Books
Simple
1
Curriki Global Education & Learning http://www.curriki.org/
Community
http://www.edna.edu.au/
edna: Educational Network of
edna/go
Australia
K12
Various
+750
Variety
K12 & other
Various
+16000
Variety
IEEE
LOM
Simple
Conte
SUN
Revie
Components
+2000
Applets
Simple
Java s
acces
Various
+1000
Variety
Simple
ProLe
langu
2
3
2
Educational object economy (eoe)
http://www.natomagrou
p.com/eoe.html
2
EducaNext Portal
http://www.educanext.or
g/ubp
Various
University
Granularity
Various
Total
Content
Number Type
Metadata
Comm
?
Variety
2040
Variety
IEEE
LOM
Simple
Engli
Germ
Dewe
rated
4146
No lo
Feder
True
XML
Startu
not co
2
Educational Software Directory
http://www.educationalsoftware-directory.net/
K12
Various
+2000
Variety
None
Links
1
Fathom archive
http://www.fathom.com/
University
Lessons
+100
Variety
Simple
No lo
Perso
1
Free-ed Net
http://www.freeed.net/free-ed/
ComCollege
Courses
+100
Variety
None
2
GEM Exchange Gateway to Educational
http://www.thegateway.
org/browse
K12
Various
+45000
Variety
Simple
http://ideas.wisconsin.ed
u/
K12
Lessons
Variety
Simple
Variety
Simple
Prima
Materials
3
IDEAS: Interactive Dialogue with Educators
Across the State
3
ILife Apple Learning Interchange
1
IU: The UC Berkeley Interactive University
Project
2
2
INTUTE UK
LRC3: U21 Consortium
2
Learning and Skills Web
2
Learning Objects.net
Stopp
Primarily
K12
http://interactiveu.berkel University &
ey.edu:8000/DLMIndex/ K12
Lessons
+2000
est.
+2 000
Lessons
+100
Variety
Simple
Conte
http://www.intute.ac.uk/
http://www.lrc3.unsw.ed
u.au/
http://www.lsweb.ac.uk/
University
University
Various
Various
114893
?
Variety
Variety
Simple
Simple
Rated
Close
ComCollege
Variety
+1000
Variety
IMS
Sign o
http://www.learningobjects.net/modules.php
?name=Web_Links
Diverse
Various
+200
Variety
Simple
Links
http://ali.apple.com/ali/resour
ces.shtml
1
LOLA Exchange: Wesleyan U
http://www.lolaexchang
e.org/
1
2
MLX: Maricopa Community College
Learning Exchange
MERLOT
1
MIT Open Courseware
1
Lessons
+100
Variety
http://www.mcli.dist.ma ComCollege
ricopa.edu/mlx/
http://www.merlot.org/H All levels
ome.po
http://ocw.mit.edu/
University
Lessons
1476
Variety
Various
16166
Variety
Courses
+500
Variety
National Learning Network UK
http://www.nln.ac.uk/M
aterials/default.asp
Upper
Secondary
Lessons
+60
VLE
OAIPMH
IMS
2
NIME GLAD: Gateway to Learning
for Ability Development
http://nimeglad.nime.ac.jp/
University
Various
Variety
Simple
Links
Japan
1
National Repository of Online
Courses (Monterey Institute)
http://www.montereyinst All levels
itute.org/nroc/index.html
Courses &
lessons
+30
Variety
Simple
3
NSDL National Science Digital
Library
Open Course Collaboratories
http://nsdl.org/search/
All levels
Various
Variety
Simple
http://opencourse.org/
University
Lessons
+1.5
million
+100
Variety
Simple
Close
cours
free
Scien
permi
Includ
1
Open Learning Initiative (OLI)
Carnegie Mellon
http://www.cmu.edu/oli/
University
1st Yr.
Courses
+10
Variety
Simple
Avail
granti
acces
1
PBS Teacher Source
K12
Various
+3000
Variety
Simple
Sign o
3
SchoolNet Canada
http://www.pbs.org/teac
hersource/
http://www.schoolnet.ca
K12
Lessons
+7 000
Variety
Simple
Selec
1
University
Dublin
Univ
Core,
IMS,
CanCore
Simple
Colle
Peer r
issues
Conte
Sign o
/
Modules
Frenc
1
SOFIA Sharing of Free Intellectual
Assets
http://sofia.fhda.edu/
ComCollege
Courses
8
Variety
Simple
1
Webcast UC Berkeley
Lectures
+100
Wisconsin Online Resource Center
Lessons
2184
Webcast
s
Flash
None
1
1
World Lecture Hall U. of Texas
http://webcast.berkeley.e University
du/
http://www.wiscComCollege
online.com
http://web.austin.utexas. University
edu/wlh/
Courses
+2000
Variety
Simple
Simple
Time
Can’t
Free f
neede
Table 5. Targeted learning object repositories
T
y
p
e
Name
URL
Subject(s)
Level
Granularity
Total
Cont
Number Type
1
BioDiTRL Biological Digital Teaching
Resource Library
CITIDEL: Computing and ITInteractive
http://bio-ditrl.sunsite.ualberta.ca/
Biology
University
Components
+10 000
Image
http://www.citidel.org/
Computer
Science
Earth
Science
Medieval
Manuscripts
Math.
University
Various
488,279
Varie
All levels
Various
13138
Varie
University
Components
Middle
School
University
Lessons
+40
Lessons
+60
All levels
Various
+100s
Java
apple
Varie
K12
Lessons
+100
gizmo
University
Lessons
+1000?
Varie
2
Digital Educational Library
2
http://www.dlese.org/dds/histogram
.do?group=subject
http://www.scriptorium.columbia.e
du/
http://www.escot.org/
1
DLESE: Digital Library for Earth
System Education
Digital Scriptorium Columbia
University
ESCOT: Educational Software
Components of Tomorrow
Exploratories
1
Exploratorium Digital Library
1
Explore Learning with Gismos
2
http://flore.uvic.ca/welcome.php
1
FLORE: French Learning Object
Repository for Education
General Physics Java Applets
Computer
Graphics
Arts &
Science
Math &
Science
French
http://www.surendranath.org/
Physics
University
Lessons
+60
Java
1
Geometry Center U. of Minnesota
http://www.geom.uiuc.edu/
Geometry
University
Lessons
+25
3
GROW Geotechnical Rock and Water
Resources Library
http://www.grow.arizona.edu/
Geology &
Water
University
Lessons
1039
Java
Web
Varie
1
1
http://www.cs.brown.edu/explorator
ies/freeSoftware/home.html
http://www.exploratorium.edu/educ
ate/dl.html
http://www.explorelearning.com/
Image
http://opencourse.org/Collaboratori
es/harveyproject
http://www.healcentral.org/index.js
p
Human
Physiology
Health
Sciences
University
Lessons
+40
University
Lessons
+10000
Flash
Java
Varie
http://www.ilumina-dlib.org/
Math, Biol,
CS, Ch&Ph,
Math
University
Various
?
Varie
All levels
Various
+1000s
Varie
2
Illumina: National Science Digital
Library
Internet Mathematics Library: Math
Forum@Drexel
LearningLanguages.net
All levels
Various
+1000
Varie
2
Needs Digital Library
http://www.needs.org/needs/
French
Japanese
Spanish
Engineering
University
Various
?
Varie
1
Physics Education & Technology PhET
U. of Colorado
Problem Based Learning Clearing
House
ScienceNet Links
http://phet.colorado.edu/webpages/index.html
https://chico.nss.udel.edu/Pbl/
Physics
University
Lessons
+60
Flash
PBS only
University
Lessons
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/res
ource_index.htm
http://www.sieswe.org/
Science
K12
Various
+500
Varie
Social Work
University
?
?
?
1
Harvey Project
3
HEAL: Health Education Assets
Library
1
3
3
2
http://mathforum.org/library/
http://www.learninglanguages.net/
Varie
3
Scottish Institute for Excellence in Social Work
Education
2
SMETE
http://www.smete.org/smete/
Science, Math,
Eng., Tech&Ed
All levels
Various
+6000
Varie
1
Tufts Open Courseware
http://ocw.tufts.edu/
Life Sciences
International
University
Various
+30
Varie
1
University Channel Princeton
University
Zona Land Science & Mathematics
http://uc.princeton.edu/main/
Public & affairs
University
Lectures
+100
http://id.mind.net/~zona/
Science &
Math
University
Lessons
+50
Video
podca
VRM
1
Table 6. Full Course Repositories
Name
URL
Level
Granularity
Courses
Total
Number
+204
Content
Type
Variety
Metadata
Simple
ConneXions
http://cnx.org/
Free-ed Net
MIT Open Courseware
http://www.freeed.net/free-ed/
http://ocw.mit.edu/
University &
other
ComCollege
University
National Repository of Online Courses
(Monterey Institute)
Comm
Courses
+100
Variety
None
Courses
+500
Variety
Conten
http://www.montereyinstit All levels
ute.org/nroc/index.html
Courses &
lessons
+30
Variety
OAIPMH
Simple
Open Learning Initiative (OLI)
Carnegie Mellon
http://www.cmu.edu/oli/
University 1st
Yr.
Courses
+10
Variety
Simple
Availab
grantin
is free
SOFIA Sharing of Free Intellectual
Assets
World Lecture Hall U. of Texas
http://sofia.fhda.edu/
ComCollege
Courses
8
Variety
Simple
http://web.austin.utexas.e
du/wlh/
University
Courses
+2000
Variety
Simple
+3800
Closed
courses
Table 7. Membership required to enter repository.
Type
Name
URL
Level
Granularity
$
Annenberg Media Learner.org
http://www.learner.org/index.
html
K12 &
University
1
BioDiTRL Biological Digital Teaching http://bioditrl.sunsite.ualberta.ca/
Resource Library
http://webct.com/content/vie
Blackboard CE & Vista Epacks
$
wpage?name=content_showc
ase
Metadata
Simple
Comm
Courses
Total
Content
Number Type
+50
TV
University
Components
+10 000
Images
ComCollege
& University
Modules
+1000
Multime
dia
Taxono
mies
Simple
Biolo
reque
Close
Close
conso
repos
Sign i
Close
free s
3
CLOE:Cooperative Learning Object
Exchange
http://cloe.on.ca/
University
Lessons
?
Variety
Simple
2
FLORE: French Learning Object
Repository for Education
Learn Alberta
http://flore.uvic.ca/welc University
ome.php
http://www.learnalberta. K12
ca/
http://www.montereyinst All levels
itute.org/nroc/index.html
Lessons
+1000
Variety
Simple
Various
+2000
est
+30
Variety
Simple
Variety
Simple
http://www.nln.ac.uk/M
aterials/default.asp
http://www.pbs.org/teac
hersource/
https://chico.nss.udel.ed
u/Pbl/
http://solr.bccampus.ca/i
ntro/
Upper
Secondary
K12
Lessons
+60
VLE
IMS
Partia
with l
Close
cours
free
Sign o
Various
+3000
Variety
Simple
Sign o
University
Lessons
???
Variety
Variety
Simp
ComCollege
& University
Various
+ 300
Variety
Simple
BC li
mater
3
1
National Repository of Online
Courses (Monterey Institute)
1
National Learning Network UK
1
PBS Teacher Source
1
Problem Based Learning Clearing
House
SOLR Shareable Online Learning
Resources BC Campus
1
Courses &
lessons
Table 8. Open archives of information objects (examples)
Name
URL
Level
Granularity
Bartleby.com
Harvard University Library
Open Collections Program
National Academies Press
Open Video Project
http://www.bartleby.com/
http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/
All levels
University
Books
Concepts
http://www.nap.edu/
http://www.openvideo.org/index.php
http://www.thinkquest.org/libr
ary/index.html
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki
/Main_Page
http://www.varsitynotes.com/
University
All Levels
Oracle ThinkQuest Library
Project Gutenberg
Varsity Notes
Content
Type
Ebooks
Images
documents
Ebooks
Videos
Metadata
Simple
DC
Books
Concept
Total
Number
+3000
+100
000
+3000
+1000
University
Various
+1000
Variety
None
All levels
Books
+10 000
eBooks
Simple
University
Lectures
+600
Notes
None
Simple
Simple
Table 7. Higg”s criteria for learning object repositories.
4. Maintain
5. Retrieve
Metadata
6. Subscribe to
submit
7. Store
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
L
Y
L
L
Y
L
Y
Y
Y
Y
L
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
L
N
Y
L
L
Y
N
Y
L
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
S
N
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
L
N
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
Y
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
9.Publish
3. Request
Search All
2. Quality
ARIADNE
AT&T Blue Web’n
BioDiTRL
CAREO
CITIDEL
COL LOR
ConneXions
Curriki
DLESE
Digital Scriptorium
edna:
EducaNext Portal
Educational Software
ESCOT
Exploratories
Exploratorium
Explore Gizmos
Fathom archive
Flashchild
FLORE French
8. Gather
1. Search
Browse
3
2
1
2
2
3
1
1
2
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
Name
Y
N
Y
N
L
N
L
Y
L
N
N
N
L
N
Y
Y
Y
N
L
L
1
2
1
1
1
3
3
3
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
3
1
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
Free-ed Net
GEM
General Physics Java
Geometry Center
Harvey Project
HEAL Health
IDEAS
ILife Apple
Illumina: NSDL
IU: Berkeley
INTUTE UK
LRC3: U21 Consortium
Learning Languages
Learning Objects
Learning & Skills Web
LOLA Wesleyan
MathForum@Drexel
MLX
MERLOT
MIT Open Courseware
NLN UK
Needs Digital Library
NIME GLAD
NSDL
NROC Monterey Institute
Open Course Collaboratories
OLI Carnegie Mellon
PBS Teacher Source
PhET
Problem based Learning
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
L
Y
Y
Y
Y
L
Y
Y
L
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
L
N
N
L
L
L
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
Y
Y
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
N
Y
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
P
P
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
Y
N
Y
N
Y
Y
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
Y
N
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
L
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
L
L
L
L
L
Y
L
Y
L
Y
N
L
L
N
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
2
3
2
1
1
1
1
3
Science Net
SchoolNet Canada
SMETE
SOFIA
Tufts Open Courseware
Webcast UC Berkeley
Wisconsin ORC
World Lecture Hall U. Texas
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
Y
N
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
Y
N
N
N
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
Y
N
N
N
N
Y
L
L
L
Y
Y
N
Y
L
The LORs investigated in this study all have, to varying degrees, the ability to search/find objects. However some have no browse or
“surf” feature making it difficult for users to survey and serendipitously access different objects. This is analogous to libraries that
allow browsing the stacks and those where you must order the books to be delivered by library staff.
Y = Yes
N= No
L= Limited
Search: (Browse) Can you surf through the objects?
Quality: Is there quality control
Request: (Search All) Can you search the whole repository or just in sections or limited areas?
Maintaining the LOs and updating versions appropriately is a major task for LOR managers. For the most part there LORs do not have
continuous versioning and maintenance. Some LORs have none at all.
Retrieving metadata on a LO is more robust in those that house the content on site.
Submitting LOs by non-member is possible for many LORs. Most exercise some form of quality control and some require opening a
subscription first.
Storing with unique identifiers is possible in the content repositories. Those that depend on links often find that the objects can
disappear into the ether as their URLs are dropped or they are moved by their owners.
Gathering of metadata about other objects is conducted by the LORs that link to LOs at other web sites. These LORs are aggregators
and often do not store LOs themselves.
Publishing of metadata to other LORs is allowed, but copying and storing of the LOs is often not permitted. They permit use but do
not permit copying.