Simplifying the Process

1
Simplifying the Process

• Michael Debenham
• Electronic Resources Manager
• Keele University Library

2
Original vision

• Making it as easy as possible for academics to
  deposit learning objects
• Making it as easy as possible to find these
  learning objects from the VLE
• Enabling sharing and reuse of learning objects

3
Original model

• Two ways of depositing material
• Uploading from within repository
• Depositing materials to a filestore

4
Issues with original system

• Uploading from within repository too complicated
  for some users
• Depositing in filestore - no immediate access to
  learning objects from VLE

5
What we have now

• Introduction of SWORD client to desktops
• Drag and drop learning objects directly into the
  repository, along with brief metadata
• Learning objects are published immediately upon
  deposit
• Therefore learning objects are immediately
  available and findable from VLE

6
Sword client

• Installed on the users desktop (available to
  download from university staff pages)
• Uses the users University log-on to access their
  account within the repository
• Drag and drop items onto the client and it
  prompts for username and password

7
Workflow

• Workflow ensures that items are published upon
  deposit
• Means that users do not need to access the
  repository directly at any stage

8
Metadata templates

• Metadata template created to ensure that upon
  deposit the file title is translated to the title
  field in the LOM form
• Ensures the file can be searched for via the
  powerlink within the VLE

9
Drawbacks

• Lack of any metadata aside from the title limits
  findability and therefore reusability
• Lack of engagement with the repository means
  several users are overlooking potentially useful
  functionality

10
Future developments

• Improvement of the Java client to allow further
  metadata to be entered upon deposit
• Addition of a second desktop client to deposit
  materials in different collections within the
  repository