José María Gutiérrez

Complete metadata records in learning object repositories: some evidence and requirements

Completeness of e-learning objects metadata records becomes a key requirement for learning object repositories, since these repositories are called to play a central role in automated approaches to e-learning. Nonetheless, metadata creation is a time-consuming and laborious process. These two factors may eventually result in incomplete and poorly structured metadata. In this paper, the completeness of learning object metadata of samples obtained from the MERLOT and CAREO repositories is analysed from that viewpoint, using the IEEE LOM standard as a reference framework. The paper concludes with a proposal for the specification of completeness levels as compliancy requirements for learning-related services or processes.

A System for Adaptation of Educational Contents to Learners and their Mobile Device

In this paper we propose a system that allows to adapt educational contents to learners, based on the knowledge of a learner who is conducting the training through his mobile device, contents will also be tailored to the features of the device and to the context where the learner is at the present moment.

Evaluating Simple Query Interface Compliance in Public Repositories

Standards and specifications widely accepted and used lay the foundations to enable and facilitate the interoperability among systems, and the software maintenance and reuse, especially within the scope of learning objects’ search systems. One of these standards is the SQI (Standard Query Interface) specification by the European Committee for Standardization in which many search systems, including public ones, are based. This paper analyzes the degree of compliance with this specification by a significant number of learning objects repositories.

Assessment design: A step towards interoperability

The assessment in e‐learning systems is a basic element to successfully complete any formative action. In this article we present a generic, flexible, interoperable and reusable language for design assessments, and its implementation in the EDVI Learning Management System. This language is based on XML and we have used XML Schema technology. We also describe the language attributes required to set the assessment plan based on our practical experience in e‐learning courses. The main purpose of this language is to make the assessment design interoperable among systems in a simple and efficient way. An adequate implementation will also reduce the time required to configure assessment activities, simplifying and automating them.

Automatic E-learning contents composition by using gap analysis techniques

A goal of e-learning is to increase efficiency by precisely identifying the training a student needs, and providing that training in the context of day to day activities of the students [1]. This paper describes how the use of IA algorithms can be utilized to automatically generate customized learning contents on elearning environments. On top of that, we also propose the inclusion in the whole process of digital rights, as in our opinion, its a way to make up for contents creators and to encourage them to create better, more useful materials.

An interoperable assessment language proposal

The activities related to the assessment process are essential in any learning action. We propose an XML-based language for the design of an assessment plan. The main purpose of this language is to make the assessment design interoperable among systems in a simple and efficient way. An adequate implementation will also reduce the time required to configure assessment activities, simplifying and automating them.

The integration of SQI in a reusable learning objects system: advantages and disadvantages

Current e-learning applications should provide universal access to educational information, regardless of the standards, protocols or programming languages used. This would maximize the reuse of learning objects and help this technology to gain its place as a fundamental and, in some cases only, support tool for present day educational systems. To achieve this, it is necessary that standards are adopted that guarantee, both the development of learning objects and the search systems that provide access to the repositories that contain them; this being the only way to guarantee universal access. In this article the effects produced by one of the standards attempting to guarantee universal access are studied. The main features of the principal systems that execute it are identified, as well as its more notable advantages and disadvantages. The integration of the SQI (Simple Query Interface) standard in a reusable learning objects system, previously developed by the authors, is put forward, describing the conclusions of the process.

Usability Issues Confronting Mobile Devices as Internet Interfaces for General Purpose Navigation

Mobile devices are the newest Internet Clients but they are quickly achieving an important position due to the use of great number of these devices around the world. Companies which grant access to Internet, the net of nets, to this new kind of net, are pushing hardly, but they do it in order to get more and more profit. We suspect that in this fast evolution the main subject has been forgotten, that is the user interest. A lot of emphasis has been done in marketing and technology but, does the user get all the things companies promise?. In this paper we analyze the interfaces provided to the users and how them affect the usability of Internet through these devices, from our experience in different related fields, Mobile Devices Programming, Web Interfaces Adaptability or Internet Basics.

LONS: Learning Object Negotiation System

This system comes up as a result of the increase of e-learning systems. It manages all relevant modules in this context, such as the association of digital rights with the contents (courses), management and payment processing on rights. There are three blocks:

Tool for Generation IMS-QTI v2.1 Files with Java Server Faces

This paper presents a web tool that uses Java Server Faces to design questions graphically, to test the outcome in a learning environment and to export them using the QTI v2.1 specification in order to ensure interoperability between different learning systems.