A Primer on Metadata Standards

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A Primer on Metadata Standards

• From Dublin Core to IEEE LOM

Rory McGreal Julia Innes Toni Roberts TeleEducatio
n NB
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How did standards develop?
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What is METADATA?
I never met a meta metadata I ever really liked.
(Dorman, 1999)
Like any early inception of any standard, just
understanding the landscape is difficult.
(Luh, 1999)
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What is METADATA?
data about data
Metadata standards are agreed-on criteria for
describing data to support interoperability
Example January 31, 2001 31 janvier
2001 2001-01-31 01-31-2000 31012000
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What is METADATA?
Author Banathy,B.H. Year 1973 Title
Developing a Systems View of Education The
Systems-Model Approach Publisher Lear Siegleer,
Inc./Fearon Publishers
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What is METADATA?
Objective
Factual information e. g. author, subject,
cost, code
Subjective
Attributes opinions e. g. evaluation of a
module varied variable information
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Learning objects
any entities, digital or non-digital, which can
be used or referenced in technology-supported
learning.

Modular
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Learning objects
Adaptable Affordable Assessable Accessible Discove
rable Durable Interchangeable Interoperable Manage
able Re-usable Reliable
-ABLES
Scorm
Scorm
Scorm
Scorm
Adapted from Parmentier, 1999
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Learning objects
Programme
Module
Lesson
Component
Course
granularity
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Why learning objects?
From custom-made to Mass production
to Mass-customization

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Why learning objects?

FROM TO
One size fits all Tailored Generic
Focused Just-in-case Just-in-time
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Why learning objects?

• COST 1000s of colleges have common course
  topics
• large numbers of courses are going online
• World does not need 1000s of similar learning
  topics
• World needs only about a dozen
• Expensive to develop so sharing is essential
• (From Downes, 2000)

Design courses as a collection of learning
objects NOT HTML
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Who inputs METADATA?

• Two Camps
• Internal referenced - Users input their own
  metadata
• External referenced Professionals input
  metadata

• number of electronic objects is growing rapidly
• metadata required is too much for third-party
  indexers

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METADATA characteristics

• a data dictionary of commonly defined elements
• a method for manipulating and communicating
  elements electronically
• rules for identifying and extracting content
• an official standards body
• tools for creating, transmitting, and storing.
• Ahronheim (1998)

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METADATA conditions

• Mandatory fields (small subset)
• Optional fields
• Extensible
• International interoperability
• Adapted from Griffin and Wason (1997)

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METADATA challenges
Too much concern with FIELDS NOT enough with
TERMS

• Fields need a common terminology
• Described by a content expert BUT
• TERMS must fit into a universe of knowledge
• AND
• Not be only useful to content experts
• Cross-searching requires compatible
  vocabularies

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What is RDF? (Resource Description Framework)
An infrastructure enabling the encoding,
exchange, and reuse of structured metadata
(Bearman et al., 1999)
RDF is syntax independent, and can be expressed
in both XML and HTML. -- World Wide Web
Consortium
http//www.w3.org/TR/REC-rdf-syntax/
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What is RDF? (Resource Description Framework)

• Uses a refined XML vocabulary
• Consists of nodes with attached pairs
• Nesting is used

RDF Author name R. McGreal
email rory_at_telecampus.edu phone
506444-4230
http//www.w3.org/TR/REC-rdf-syntax/
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What is XML? (eXtended Markup Language)
Standard General Markup Language

• Extends HTML without complexities of SGML
• XML is the underlying syntax for the transport
  of information for exchanging structured data

SGML
XML
HTML
http//www.w3.org/XML/
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What is XML?

• any level of complexity
• functions without the server
• vendor independent
• user extensible
• validation human readability

Warning possible Pandora's box of incompatible
metatags
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Why XML?

• standardized
• uses schemas
• machine-readable
• two entities can use the same data

hrefhttp//www
Rory McGreal
rory_at_telecampus.edu
5064444230

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Metadata and RDF/XML
XML syntax
RDF structure
Metadata semantics resources
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METADATA standards

• Dublin Core
• IMS
• ARIADNE
• IEEE LTSC LOM
• ADL SCORM
• ISO 11179

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METADATA standards 2

• AICC
• ALIC (Japan)
• CEN
• Cisco RLO
• MARC 21 (MARBI OAI)
• Msoft LRN
• Warwick Framework
• Z39.5
• EML

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METADATA standards agreement
December 6, 2000
"Ready access to comprehensive repositories of
metadata is the critical factor at the inflection
point of the next generation of learning and
knowledge creation. However, this will require
that metadata be highly interoperable and
reusable worldwide. This agreement marks a major
step toward realizing this vision." -- Wayne
Hodgins, Chair of the IEEE LTSC LOM Working
Group
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Dublin Core
. . . the HTML of Web metadata (Bearman et al.,
1999) . . . lingua franca for metadata, . . .
at a basic level (Milstead Feldman, 1999) . .
. the most broadly based consensus on resource
description on the Web" (Weibel, 1999)
http//purl.oclc.org/dc/
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Dublin Core

• coexists with other metadata sets
• all elements are optional
• all elements are syntax-independent
• tagged in HTML, raw XML, or RDF/XML

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Dublin Core Fields

Title Creator Subject Description Publisher Co
ntributor Date Type Format Identifier Source
Language Relation Coverage Rights
All fields are optional, none are mandatory
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IMS
Educause Instructional Management System??
MANDATE

• catalyst for development of instructional
  software
• creation of an online management infrastructure
  for learning
• facilitation of collaborative learning activities
• certification

Partners ARIADNE (Europe), NIST LOM,
Members Apple, Cisco,ETS, IBM, Indust.Canada,
Microsoft, Oracle, Sun, US Defense,etc.
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IMS Metadata Schema
NOT just a metadata schema

• incorporates extends Dublin Core
• mandatory fields
• simple controlled vocabulary
• sets dictionary values
• reference schemas
• domain-specific taxonomies
• RDF/XML

http//imsproject.com
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ARIADNE
Alliance of Remote Instructional Authoring and
Distribution Networks for Europe

• fosters the sharing and reuse of electronic
  pedagogical material, by universities and
  corporations.
• a Europe-wide repository for pedagogical
  documents (Knowledge Pool System)
• co-author of IMS Metadata structure

http//ariadne.unil.ch/
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IEEE LTSC LOM P1484.12
Institute for Electrical and Electronics
Engineers Learning Technologies Standards
Committee Learning Object Management Protocol
MANDATE

• To enable learners or instructors to search,
  evaluate, acquire, and use Learning Objects
• focus on the minimal set of properties needed

http//ltsc.ieee.org/index.html
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ADL SCORM
Advanced Distributed Learning Network Sharable
Courseware Object Reference Model

• a set of interrelated technical specifications
  built upon the work of the AICC, IMS and IEEE to
  create one unified content model
• It incorporates XML
• supported by US Dept. of Defense

Roger St-Pierre Grandfather
http//www.adlnet.org/Scorm/
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CLEO Lab
Customized Learning Experiences Online

• one-year research collaboration between
  corporations
• ADL SCORM
• focused, applied research on technical and
  pedagogical issues

Cisco Systems, Click2Learn, IBM Mindspan
Solutions, Microsoft and NETg
http//www.cleolab.org/
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ISO/IEC JTC1 SC36 International Standards
Organization Information Technology for
Learning, Education, Training

• standardization in IT for learning
• support individuals, groups, or organizations
• enable interoperability reusability of
  resources tools

• External Liaisons
• IEEE/LTSC (Learning Technology Standards
  Committee)
• CEN/ISSS/LTWS (Learning Technology Workshop)

http//jtc1sc36.org/terms_of_reference
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AICC
Aviation Industry CBT (Computer-Based Training)
Committee
Provides guidelines for interoperability for
systems to share data online

http//aicc.org/
AICC Guidelines Recommendations (AGR)
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ALIC Advanced Learning Infrastructure Committee
(Japan)

• works with other international standards bodies
  for metadata
• facilitates interoperability

http//www.alic.gr.jp/
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CEN/ISSS E U R O P E A N   C O M M I T T E E 
F O R  S T A N D A R D I Z A T I O N Information
Society Standardization System

• formal and informal standardization
• full standards to best-practice agreements 
• employs an open, transparent consensus mechanism
  
• direct industry participation consumer
  interests
• not pushing a particular solution or technology
• a wide constituency of interested parties
• flexible methods of working and flexible
  deliverables

http//www.cenorm.be/isss/
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Cisco Systems RLO/RIO
Re-usable Learning Objects/ Re-usable
Information Objects

• 7 ( or 2) chunked reusable information
  objects
• forms a complete lesson
• incorporates metadata

http//www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/ibs/solutions
/learning/whitepapers/
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Microsoft LRN
Learning Resource INterchange

• Implementation IMS content packaging
  specification v1.0
• more than a metadata implementation that
  incorporates IMS metadata

http//www.microsoft.com/elearn/support.asp
LRN Toolkit v. 2.0
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OAI
Open Archives Initiative

• develops and promotes interoperability standards
  that aim to facilitate the efficient
  dissemination of content as a means of increasing
  the availability of scholarly communication
• Digital Library Federation and the Coalition for
  Networked Information

http//www.openarchives.org/
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Warwick Framework

• a higher-level context for the Dublin Core
• nests components (packages) in containers
• facilitates interoperability
• permits selective access manipulation of data

WARNING It can create complexity that is not
needed. (Lagoze, 1996)
http//www.dlib.org/dlib/july96/lagoze/07lagoze.ht
ml
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Learning Object Repositories

• GEM
• JA-SIG
• MERLOT

TeleCampus
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EML Educational Modeling Language

• Notational system codifying units of study (e.g.
  courses, components, programmes)
• Describes roles, relations, interactions
  activities
• Expressed in XML
• Supports IMS, SCORM, more comprehensive

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GEM
Gateway to Educational Materials

• The Gateway, a an example repository or catalog
• set of metadata standards and technical
  mechanisms
• "one-stop, any-stop" access to uncatalogued
  educational materials
• consortium of 200 orgs. individuals
• a project of the U.S. Dept. of Education, ERIC

http//www.geminfo.org/
http//www.thegateway.org/
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JA-SIG
Java in Administration Special Interest Group

• like Merlot a collection interactive online
  learning materials
• an example of a learning object repository
• does not adhere to universal metadata standards

http//www.mis2.udel.edu/ja-sig/
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Merlot
Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and
Online Teaching California State University
systems Distributed Learning and Teaching
Initiative Multimedia Repository Initiative

• a collection of high quality interactive online
  learning materials people
• an example of a learning object repository
• does not adhere to universal metadata standards

http//www.merlot.org
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TeleCampus
Online Course Directory

• A metadata repository
• Conforms to international metadata standards.
• Houses only the metadata
• Does NOT house actual lessons, modules, or
  courses
• Links to the institutions that own the courses

• 45 000 online courses
• 30 countries, 12 languages
• 3 500 free courses

http//telecampus.edu
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Canadian Core Fields and Vocabulary

• a metadata protocol
• an interpretation and simplification of the 86
  elements of the IMS Model
• FULL compatibility with IEEE LOM

http//www.careo.org/cancore http//teleeducation
.nb.ca/CanCore
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International Metadata Standard for Learning
Objects
IEEE LOM P1484.12
IMS/ARIADNE/SCORM
Dublin Core
vocabulary
Expressed through RDF XML/SGML
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Metadata and RDF implementation
XML or AICC
RDF structure
Metadata semantics resources
Cancore delimited fields vocabulary
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POOL
Portal for Objects Oriented to Learning

• A customizable, intelligent, learning content
  management system
• A learning object repository

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POOL
Repository
Repository
Repository

Metadata Directory
Repository
Repository
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Programme
POOL
Metadata
Repository
Course
Metadata

Lesson
Metadata
Learning Object
Metadata
Concept
Concepts
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POOL
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POOL Metadata Project
New Brunswick Distance Education Network
Inc. University of New Brunswick Electronic Text
Centre

• Specifications for applying IMS to POOL learning
  objects including
• A base schema schemas for describing video,
  audio, and still images at different levels of
  granularity
• Application of schema to the TeleCampus online
  course database

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Applications
Integreator
Designers Edge
Knowledge Mechanics
http//www.knowledgemechanics.com http//www.integ
reator.com/ http//www.mentergy.com/products/autho
ring_design/designer/
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Machine-Readable Bibliographic Information
Committee (MARBI)
MARC 21
MAchine-Readable Cataloging record

• library standards for the representation and
  communication of bibliographic and related
  information in machine-readable form
• three elements the record structure, the
  content designation, and the data content of the
  record

http//lcweb.loc.gov/marc/
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Z39.50

• an information retrieval protocol that supports
  communication among different information systems
• works with MARC records
• used by librarians

http//www.loc.gov/z3950/agency/
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The End
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What is RSS?
RDF Site Summary

• a generalised format for online resources
• expresses all vocabularies with one model and
  syntax
• schema can work in XML

Warning RDF does not solve interoperability
problems with legacy metadata AND a variety of
RDF description schemas are possible
http//groups.yahoo.com/group/rss-dev/files/namesp
ace.html