Matthias Palmér

EDUTELLA: a P2P networking infrastructure based on RDF

Metadata for the World Wide Web is important, but metadata for Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks is absolutely crucial. In this paper we discuss the open source project Edutella which builds upon metadata standards defined for the WWW and aims to provide an RDF-based metadata infrastructure for P2P applications, building on the recently announced JXTA Framework. We describe the goals and main services this infrastructure will provide and the architecture to connect Edutella Peers based on exchange of RDF metadata. As the query service is one of the core services of Edutella, upon which other services are built, we specify in detail the Edutella Common Data Model (ECDM) as basis for the Edutella query exchange language (RDF-QEL-i) and format implementing distributed queries over the Edutella network. Finally, we shortly discuss registration and mediation services, and introduce the prototype and application scenario for our current Edutella aware peers.

Learning Object Annotation for Agricultural Learning Repositories

This paper introduces a Web-based tool that has been developed to facilitate learning object annotation in agricultural learning repositories with IEEE LOM-compliant metadata. More specifically, it presents how an application profile of the IEEE LOM standard has been developed for the description of learning objects on organic agriculture and agroecology. Then, it describes the design and prototype development of the Organic.Edunet repository tool: a Web-based for annotating learning objects on organic agriculture and agroecology, organizing them in using a portfolio-like user interface in a learning repository, and then federating this repository with a network of agricultural learning repositories.

The SCAM Framework: Helping Semantic Web Applications to Store and Access Metadata

In this paper we discuss the design of the SCAM framework, which aims to simplify the storage and access of metadata for a variety of different applications that can be built on top of it. A basic design principle of SCAM is the aggregation of metadata into two kinds of sets of different granularity (SCAM records and SCAM contexts). These sets correspond to the typical access needs of an application with regard to metadata, and they constitute the foundation upon which access control is provided.

From LMS to PLE: a step forward through opensocial apps in moodle

Bringing flexibility and extensibility into Learning Management Systems) is crucial because it gives teachers and students a free choice of technologies and educational materials they want to use for their courses. The paper presents a solution via enabling widgets (OpenSocial apps) within Moodle. Our first Moodle plug-in allows teachers to freely choose a set of tools they want to use in their courses though students can not change widgets proposed by teachers. This environment was evaluated with students within several courses. Even though the environment was perceived as useful by students, they still lacked their own personalization. We describe how the future plug-in tackles this problem.

Collaborative Development of a PLE for Language Learning

This paper provides a report on the experimental collaborative and distributed development of a prototypic Widget-based PLE. The development process is described and detailed taking into account the requirements of a language learning scenario. First results are presented, and developer experiences are discussed critically with a focus on the development process as well as problems with current Widget technologies and interoperability

Conzilla — a conceptual interface to the semantic web

This paper describes our approach to managing the complexity of semantic web-based information by creating conceptual information landscapes (context-maps) and connecting them into a structure called a knowledge patch. The aim is to support the creation of overview and clarity by providing mechanisms for presenting and hiding information in flexible ways. Moreover, we present our concept browser Conzilla as a knowledge management tool for navigating and editing knowledge patches, and we show how it provides a way to link the human-semantic and the machine-semantic perspectives.

A Semantic Infrastructure to Support a Federation of Agricultural Learning Repositories

This paper outlines how Semantic Web technologies are being adopted, specialized, and put in practice in order to set up a technical infrastructure that will facilitate sharing and reusing of learning resources. The case study is a federation of learning repositories with learning resources on agricultural topics, which is being developed in the context of the Organic.Edunet European initiative.

Towards PLEs through Widget Spaces in Moodle

Bringing flexibility and extensibility into Learning Management Systems is crucial because it gives teachers and students a free choice of technologies and educational materials they want to use for their courses. This paper presents a solution by enabling widgets (OpenSocial apps) within Mood le. Our first Moodle plugin allows teachers to freely choose a set of tools they want to use in their courses, although students cannot change widgets proposed by teachers. Additionally, the plugin enables the flexible interaction interfaces inside Mood le and improves the interoperability of Mood le with other Web platforms. The environment was evaluated with students within several courses. Even though the environment was perceived as useful by students, they lacked their own personalization. The second Mood le plugin described tackles this problem.

An RDF modification protocol, based on the needs of editing Tools

The use of RDF on the web is increasing, unfortunately the amount of editing tools suitable for end users without knowledge of technicalities of the language are not so common. We believe that a vi ...

CoCoFlash: Conzilla, Confolio, and FlashMeeting Integration for Enhanced Professonal Learning

This paper describes the integration of the Conzilla concept browser and the Confolio portfolio management system with the FlashMeeting videoconferencing tool. The result of this integration is expected to produce a combined tool, CoCoFlash, which can support a powerful e-learning model