Introduction
Problématique
The rapid integration of new technologies in education has sparked a mix of enthusiasm and skepticism among educators Learning objects, which are independent fragments of information, are created for easy exchange through learning object repositories Each learning object is accompanied by metadata that facilitates cataloging and assessing its relevance In client-server networks, metadata is typically stored in a central repository, whereas a distributed approach allows for metadata to be replicated across various repositories.
We introduce an innovative approach that allows members of a digital workspace federation (ENT) to submit their metadata to a central repository or store it in their local repository An ENT user, such as a teacher or student, can request information on all available repositories within the European learning network that meet their criteria for learning objects.
The contract of an e-learning client defines the types of learning objects and their ability to respond to requests from others In essence, this contract restricts the metadata elements utilized in searches and responses It employs the learning object metadata application profile based on the IEEE 1484.12.1-2002 standard.
Environnement de travail
European Schoolnet (EUN) is an international network comprising over 20 European education ministries, focused on enhancing learning methods for teachers and students across Europe EUN provides educational leaders and professionals with a comprehensive overview of the pedagogical use of information and communication technologies in teaching The organization achieves its goals by facilitating communication and information exchange at all educational levels through innovative technologies and by offering a portal for national and regional school networks.
CELEBRATE (ContExt eLEarning with BRoAdband TEchnologies) is a €5 million project funded by the European Commission's Information Society Technologies program, spanning 30 months Its primary goal is to develop an innovative approach to eLearning technologies in education, focusing on the future of electronic content, including resources, services, and communication tools The project will provide educational institutions with an online database of multimedia learning materials, featuring learning objects (OAs) to enhance the teaching and learning experience.
The primary goal of the project is to analyze how a new generation of content management systems for learning (CMS) developed by various commercial professionals can effectively handle Open Educational Resources (OER) Additionally, it aims to test the interoperability of these systems within a real demonstration site CELEBRATE will act as a catalyst for the European eLearning content industry, encompassing the entire value chain, including content owners, publishers, distributors, national school networks, and commercial technology platform providers.
The brokerage system that clients connect to is a key component of the European learning network To access this system, clients must utilize remote calling methods through JAX-RPC Direct exchanges between clients are not permitted, except for those explicitly authorized by the system.
Objectifs du stage
This internship focuses on the analysis and implementation of a brokerage system module related to contracts among members of the EUN network Specifically, my work revolves around three main areas.
• Etude de la recherche fédérée, des requêtes, des métadonnées d'objets d'apprentissage, et des services fournis par le système de courtage
• Analyse des contrats et de la procédure pour avoir l’accord entre un client d’ENT et l’administrateur
• L’implémentation en utilisant de nouvelles technologies comme la base de données XML Oracle 9i, XPATH, JAXB.
Les contraintes pratiques
Quelques contraintes ont été apportées au sujet :
• Les contrats doivent répondre aux demandes du projet
A simple and user-friendly graphical interface is essential, along with the effective implementation of new techniques such as XML databases, XPATH for information access, and Java architecture for XML integration using JAXB.
• Il faut vérifier la permission d’un utilisateur avant de réaliser ses demandes.
Système de courtage
Système de gestion du contenu d’apprentissage
Education is increasingly moving towards the creation of independent learning objects that can be stored in repositories, shared among educational institutions, and utilized in various ways These objects can be stored and exchanged through Learning Content Management Systems (LCMS), enabling the development and delivery of instructional content.
According to Wiley, a learning object (LO) is defined as "any electronic resource that can be reused to support learning." More specifically, a learning object is a reusable and adaptable training unit designed for various objectives or environments In other words, an effective learning object is self-contained and addresses all aspects of a specific knowledge point.
Learning objects such as images, interactive games, digital videos, multimedia files, and educational texts play a crucial role in enhancing the learning experience These resources can be explored on the website http://celebrate.eun.org, which showcases the accessibility and effectiveness of various learning tools.
En utilisant des objets d’apprentissage, les professeurs peuvent fournir des ressources pédagogiques pour que les étudiants puissent choisir les objets qui répondent à leurs besoins individuels
Metadata serves as a description of data, while Learning Object Metadata (LOM) specifically refers to a set of descriptors that detail the content of learning objects Each learning object includes information that aids in its identification, cataloging, and relevance assessment This metadata enhances the reusability of learning objects and facilitates the sharing of educational resources.
In July 2002, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) introduced a standardized set of metadata for learning objects This metadata is organized into nine categories, including generality, lifecycle, meta-metadata (information about itself), technical details, educational context, rights information, relationships, annotations, and classification.
The CELEBRATE project employs a metadata set based on the IEEE LOM standard, which includes new elements defined by the CELEBRATE committee This set serves as the application profile for Learning Object Metadata, outlining mandatory, recommended, and optional elements For a comprehensive list of these elements, readers can refer to Annex 3.
1.3 Système de gestion du contenu d’apprentissage
An Learning Content Management System (LCMS) is a platform designed to create, validate, publish, and manage training content It consists of two main components: a Learning Management System (LMS) and a Content Management System (CMS).
A Learning Management System (LMS) serves as the central hub for eLearning, focusing on the management and organization of training It facilitates the customization and distribution of learning paths, oversees learner management, tracks the progress of educational journeys, and provides collaborative tools to enhance the tutor-learner relationship.
A Content Management System (CMS) aims to streamline the creation and management of online content, facilitating more frequent updates to existing resources This effectiveness is based on two fundamental principles.
The structure is distinct from the content, allowing authors to focus solely on their writing They have access to predefined presentation templates tailored for each document element, such as headers, title formats, image placements, and multimedia file integration Authors simply need to insert their content into this framework.
• Il induit des procédures de publication des contenus Deux étapes précèdent la publication : la création, la validation Un SGC permet de les organiser selon les règles propres à l'entreprise
The SGCA enables the creation of Open Access (OA) libraries, serving as a comprehensive repository of independent training content that can be reused and combined flexibly It effectively manages the distribution and tracking of learning for individual learners at a granular level Additionally, the SGCA oversees publication procedures and workflows, ensuring compliance with publishing regulations similar to a traditional content management system (CMS) Once an OA is created, the author submits it for validation; if approved, it becomes publicly available, while rejected submissions are returned for revision The latest features of SGCA promote innovative practices in educational content creation, facilitate collaborative efforts in resource development, and streamline updates to previously published materials.
Réseau d'apprentissage
Learning objects are stored in machines and distributed across networks, with metadata providing a structured approach to labeling or referencing these objects Historically, there have been two primary types of metadata storage for learning objects: the centralized model, commonly used in client/server architecture, and the decentralized model, exemplified by systems such as "POOL, POND, and SPLASH."
We propose a new approach where network members can submit their metadata to a central repository or store it in a local repository The goal of federated search is to identify the appropriate MOAs within the network that meet specific criteria One key factor in enhancing the performance of such searches is the implementation of contracts among members The following chapter will provide a detailed explanation of these contracts.
Système de courtage
In the European network, we utilize a brokerage system that facilitates communication among members This system is designed for exchanging OAs and seeking MOAs, comprising two main components: "the network client" and "service management." "Service management" oversees the search and exchange of items, while "the network client," integrated within the learning content management system, assists members in connecting to the European network.
Le diagramme de classes "client du réseau européen" figure suivant :
Figure 1 Les classes du "Client du Réseau européen"
Contrats pour la recherche fédérée
Recherche fédérée
Federated search enables the identification of suitable repositories within the European learning network In a simulation involving three members—GiuntiLabs, "Digital Brain," and "Sanoma WSOY"—along with a central repository and a brokerage system, the white boxes represent network members while the blue boxes denote the network clients ("ELN Clients") that facilitate easy connections to the server In this scenario, "Digital Brain" submits a request to the brokerage system, known as a "LOM Query Request," illustrated by a blue arrow.
Figure 2 "Digital Brain" envoie une requête au SC
The SC reviews the inquiry to ensure the format is correct, qualifications are valid, and permissions do not exceed the "Digital Brain" limits before submitting it as a "Checked LOM Query Request" to other members who agree on the process for such inquiries (see Figure 2) These requests are indicated by solid arrows.
Quand un membre reỗoit une telle requờte, il cherche dans son dộpụt local et envoie le résultat "LOM Query Result" au SC (figure 3) Ensuite, le SC envoie le résultat
After verifying the original query, GiuntiLabs sends the "LOM Query Result" to the SC Similarly, "Sanoma WSOY" also follows this process with the central repository.
Figure 3 SC envoie les requêtes aux autres
Figure 4 GiuntiLabs envoie son résultat au SC
Figure 5 SC envoie le bon résultat
On voit que l’utilisateur peut trouver des objets d’apprentissage non seulement dans le dépôt local, dans le dépôt central mais dans tous les dépôts du réseau.
Contrat
A deposit can hold a significant number of Operating Agreements (OAs), which are typically categorized into specific types Without a contract, the information exchanged between a client and the Service Center (SC) can be overwhelming Therefore, it is essential for each client to have their contracts clearly outlining their Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) For instance, one would not seek OAs in French for a client with resources in English.
The contract remains a crucial element in the query language of project owners, serving as one of the key factors for conducting effective searches The foundational component involves comparison, which consists of three essential elements.
• Opération : égale à (eq), non égal à (ne), inférieur à (le), supérieur à (gt), inférieur ou égal à (le), supérieur ou égal à (ge)
• Champ : Un élément dans la liste de MOA
• Valeur : Le type de cette valeur doit correspondre à l’opération
Les types se groupent dans un des trois cas suivants:
The digital type represents a value as a number, allowing for various operations to be performed For instance, the expression "the size must not exceed 30,000" is represented as "size (LOM 4.2)