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NWI "Generic Framework for LET Offers"
Draft: Version 1.0 Author: Christian Stracke Last update: 2007-07-05
Introduction
This document is the first draft towards a Generic Framework for all kinds of Learning, Education and Training (LET) offers.
We have learned in the discussions at the first CEN/TC meeting in Milan 2007-05-10 and after this meeting that ...
- a lot of work on courses and learning offers has been done and is going on
- all different standardization initiatives should be reviewed
- all these initiatives should be combined and referenced or integrated
- there are many meanings of the terms "course" and "educational offers"
Therefore the term "LET offers" is used here to avoid the misunderstandings that were raised by using the terms "course" or "educational offers".
Please note: This document is only a proposal for the discussion at the CEN/TC 353 meeting in Athens 2007-10-23!
NWI Generic Framework
We are proposing to start the work within the new CEN/TC 353 with the:
NWI "Generic Framework" as a multi-part standard.
The overall objective and scope of the NWI would be the definition and description of any metadata standards (within one multi-part standard) that are relevant for all kinds of Learning, Education, and Traning (LET) offers. We are using the term LET offers to avoid the ambiguity of the terms "course" and "educational offer".
Definition of "LET offers":
All kinds of offers (including products and services) for learning, education, and training purposes that are offered to a learner by a provider (internal or external). This means that LET offers are covering Face-to-face, Distance, and E-Learning:
Definition of "Generic Framework":
A generic framework consists of some parts with defined relations. This means that any relations are well defined without redundancy (e.g. by referencing). Each part consist of categories with some elements (criteria) that can be adapted to the given specific situation and organization.
The proposed Generic Framework will be based on existing standards and specifications.
Amongst others there has been identified as first candidates: CDM and PAS 1068.
These two specifications are described within the annex.
The following two pages are presenting a first proposal for a NWI "Generic Framework" of the CEN/TC 353:
the first draft of the different parts of the framework (page 5)
the first draft of the roadmap for the development of the framework (page 6)
We have decided to write such a proposal first and not to provide an official NWI proposal: This procedure gives us enough time for preparation and allows us to start a common discussion and consensus process.
We are looking forward to discussing this proposal with all National Bodies during our next CEN/TC 353 meeting in Athens!
NWI "Generic Framework for LET offers"
Part 1: "Framework Overview"
Scope: Definition of the other parts of this multi-part standard by their names and by defining theirs scopes and relationships in detail.
Part 2: "Minimum information for LET offers"
Scope: Definition of the minimum set of mandatory metadata for all kinds of LET offers ("ingredients list").
All metadata should be optionally mandatory: That means that all metadata are mandatory if applicable for the given LET offer.
Part 3: "Description Metadata for LET offers?"
Scope: Full set of metadata for all kinds of LET offers??? (based on Part 1, CDM, XRCI, and other specifications).
...
Part x: "???"
Scope: ???
Roadmap for the NWI "Generic Framework for LET offers"
Step 1: First draft of the planned NWI proposal
Objective: Information of all National Bodies to allow preparation for the next CEN/TC 353 Meeting in Athens
Timing: from now until the next CEN/TC 353 Meeting in Athens
Step 2: Discussion of the first draft of the planned NWI proposal
Objective: Consensus building during our common CEN/TC 353 Meeting in Athens
Timing: During the next CEN/TC 353 Meeting in Athens (2007-10-23)
Step 3: Preparation of the official NWI proposal
Objective: Development of the official NWI proposal for CEN/TC 353 based on the consensus built during our common CEN/TC 353 Meeting in Athens
Timing: After the next CEN/TC 353 Meeting in Athens until December 2007
Step 4: Voting on the official NWI proposal
Objective: Start of the planned NWI as a (first) standardization project within CEN/TC 353
Timing: Started by the CEN Secretariat after receiving the official NWI proposal
Annex:
The following text describes the differences between these two specifications and a proposal how these two specifications could be combined and interlinked.
CDM:
Course Description Metadata (from Norway):
CDM is about discovering and marketing of courses, any type of courses or educational offerings, on all educational levels.
For a student in Europe to find the best educational offer, all educational offers need to be described in a standardised way, the CDM project is about identifying this description.
For the CDM model to work in Europe it need to facilitate all different needs, and to achieve that the model need to be developed with flexible modules. And a simple set of core elements identifying this as CDM. The aim of the CDM model is to facilitate discovery and the decision making process of what course to take in Europe. The "first level" type of information.
The model must also be designed with services in mind.
To make the model work - it is also important to define the boundaries of what type and to what level of details the description cover.
Information about specific areas within the learning domain, and information that could be regarded as "added value" to CDM or information that could be regarded as "second" level of information, that is information you would like to have - when you have made up your mind, or when you have decided to take the course; should not be a part of the CDM model, but the CDM model should have a pointer to where to find more information.
Example of such "second level" information is "on-line educational offerings" where necessary information specific for the on-line environment is described. That could username/password form of payment, type of credits, how assessment is done, type of distribution (IMS-CC, IMS-CP etc.), information of on-line environment (wiki, blog, discussion groups, email-reflectors, etc.)
Other examples of such information is what to do when you starts at an institution, where to meet the first day, what to bring, other necessary information when taking a course etc.
PAS 1068:
Guideline for the description of educational offers (from Germany)
The PAS 1068 is applicable to all processes in Learning, Education, and Training (LET) and includes especially the consideration of e-Learning.
The PAS 1068 is a recommendation for provider of LET offers and specifies the minimum set of data that has to be provided for users.
The PAS 1068 contains recommendations to all kinds of LET offers and supports organisations that are producing LET offers for their users as well as organisations that are realising learning, education, and training.
There are a lot of LET offers available on the market. The information about these LET offers is different in the extent and the manner. To achieve the information comparably for users and learners generic criteria for the description of LET offers are given.
The PAS 1068 provides a description scheme that allows the providers to describe their LET offers in terms of a "leaflet". The minimum set of data is specified to standardise the description of LET offers and to enable their comparison. Users and learners can make a well-grounded decision in favour or against an LET offer based on the standardised information. This is a valuable contribution towards the transparency of these offers.
The description scheme is based on the reference process model of International Standard ISO/IEC 19796-1 "Information technology - Learning, education and training - Quality management, assurance and metrics - Part 1: General approach". This PAS refers to completed products.
The PAS 1068 is also based on the specifications IEEE 1484.12.1 "Learning Object Metadata (LOM)" and PAS 1045. The relations to these specifications were also developed and are shown as a detailed mapping within this description scheme.