MMiSS Workshop, Bremen 2004 © FIM-NeuesLernen 2003Seite 1 The document type XLML and its LMS integration Fred Neumann [email protected]

MMiSS Workshop, Bremen 2004

© FIM-NeuesLernen 2003 Seite 1

The document type XLML and its LMS integration

Fred [email protected]

FIM-NeuesLernenwww.fim.uni-erlangen.de



FIM-NewLearningInstitution of the University Erlangen

Founded 1975

to establish an Open Learning System in Psychology

Since 1992 eLearning projects for different target groups

applied research; development, evaluation

Today: appr. 45 EmployeesInterdisciplinary team

Currently about 20 projects



The project eL3

AimDevelopment and testing of an eLearning training

for in service teachers and student teachers

of all school types and subjects

Teachers get competencies on ICT in a subject context

Basic dataBMBF funded project

Run time: 1.1.2001 - 31.12.2003

Partners: University Erlangen & University Oldenburg

Over 600 participants



Technical constraints of eL3

Shared content creation by non technical authorsexchange and adaptation to subject contexts

Separate usageOldenburg: HyperwaveErlangen: ILIAS

Source formatindependent from LMSopen for further extensions or conversions

=> XML based document type



XLML:eXtended Logical Markup Language

XML document type for manual creation author orientedtext editor can be usedWYSYWIG XML editor recommended

Modular XHTML as basiswell-known elementsextensible, configurable

Additional elementsstructuringspecially treated content name-based linkingbibliography and glossary

Compromise between structuring and flexibility



Example of an XLML file



Structure of XLML

LML

Flow

Ref

Block

TableOfContents

Ref_LogoOwner Ref_LogoSubject

FullWidthPage SectionPText

LinkInlineImage

PImage

BlkStrucBlkSide BlkMisc

Image

Prep

Include Const

MetaInf

Author

Prep MetaInf

XHTML-BlockBlock

Inline

MetaInf

PIcon

Modifier

Audio Video

Glossary Bibliography

Prep

BlkMisc

XHTML

LinkButton



Publishing process

ILIASVersion

ILIASVersion

Offline-Version

Offline-Version

XML

XML

XlmlGenXlmlGen

ILIAS

SCORMpackage

SCORMpackage

iniini



Demo Content



Authoring aspects

Acceptanceinitial training and technical supportdocument oriented XML editoroffline workingpreview generation with error checks

Living developmentnew features according authors' needscomplexity grew

Content modularity and reusagecopy/paste and adaptation<include> element namespaces for linking between modulescurrently no repository, but usage possible



Transformations

From / to OpenOfficeConversion from OO in use

To convert textual documents just as a basis for editing

Experimental conversion to OOTo allow manual improvement of printout versionsFully automated pdf creation may get weak results

No round-trip possible

Trials to use OpenOffice as XLML editorWeak XML support in OpenOffice

Other XML based document typsDocBook ?

Different structure philosophy

"special features" may get lost



LMS Integration aspects

Table of ContentsProvided by LMS or content module

Navigation and linkingTracking by LMSLinks between modules

Print VersionGenerated by LMS or uploaded

SearchingKeywords, fulltext

Notes and discussionsAssigned to which levelShown with content?

InteractivitiesStorage of data, tutoring, collaboration



XLML LMS Integration

Hyperwave: Built-in import used

Manual re-editing of generated ToC

ILIAS:special page generation

Link adaptation to target platform

special import packagegenerated HTML pagesall additional resourcesstructure information in a CVS file

Patch for XLML support



XLML ILIAS Integration

Advantageseasy to use upload, reload and deletion

preserved original layout and behaviour

Support for the content oriented featurestoc, printout, notes, tracking, fulltext search

Limitationsno editing of uploaded content

reload only if structure unchanged

target specific content packages

AlternativesXML import

IMS Content Packages

ADL SCORM



ADL SCORM

Reference model for sharable contentFor import to LMS, not for exchange of sources!

Asset: basic content pieceSCO: „Sharable Content Object“

Should be independent, no links between SCOs!Granularity ?

SCORM 1.2LOM meta dataIMS content packagesAICC runtime API and data model

Weak navigation facilities

SCORM 1.3 (2004)IMS simple sequencing

Complex navigation rules



XLML SCORM Content Packages

Multiple SCOs, e.g. for chaptersLMS provides ToC and navigation

Separate run-time data for each SCO

Not possible for XLML due to linking problem

One big SCO with multiple assetsContent has to provide ToC and navigation

Only one run-time data set

Realized for XLML

No SCO, multiple assetsNo run-time data

Not better than IMS Content Package

Realized for XLML



Current Status

Milestonesdevelopment started in autumn 2001first ILIAS integration in summer 2002first publication in autumn 2002first SCORM support in autumn 2003

Usagein eL3 for around 100 learning hours,adapted to 7 school subjectsNow widely used in other projects

Publicationas open source at www.xlml.org



Many thanks for you attention!

Questions?

www.xlml.orgwww.fim.uni-erlangen.de

[email protected]

Documents

MMiSS Workshop, Bremen 2004 © FIM-NeuesLernen 2003Seite 1 The document type XLML and its LMS integration Fred Neumann [email protected]