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Relevant specifications for X4L projects
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RELOAD: Reusable E-Learning Object Authoring and Delivery
The X4L Programme
What is the X4L Programme?
What is Strand A of X4L about?
What is Strand B of X4L about?
Tools
Tools for working with specifications
Nothing puts you off specifications like creating XML files by hand. Surely the whole point of standards is to reduce workload and increase automation? Well, this depends largely on the maturity of the tools you can work with that implement the standard.
We're still in the early days of IMS and SCORM adoption, but there are a few simple tools available to make life a little easier (many of them are even free!) There are also some tools being developed as part of Strand B.
Below are some tools for working with IMS and other specifications, such as packaging content, building QTI assessments, and other tasks you may want to accomplish.
I've concentrated here on tools useful to implementers and developers; I haven't included any "end user" applications such as Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) and content creation packages that support the specifications; but you can find those in the CETIS product directory.
IMS Content Packaging and Metadata
The LRN Toolkit is Microsoft's free downloadable kit for building content packages, and supports SCORM and IMS Content Packaging. |
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Well, this one needs no introduction really. One of the X4L Strand B projects RELOAD will develop a tool that allows a user to tag learning material with appropriate metadata, package it all up (conforming to IMS standards) and implement SCORM runtime behaviours. Later RELOAD will also be implementing IMS Simple Sequencing and IMS Learning Design. |
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This editor was developed by the University of Edinburgh, and supports both IMS Content Packaging and IMS Metadata (including IEEE LOM vocabularies). This program is being further developed as part of the RELOAD X4L Strand B project. |
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Although primarily a repository of learning objects, the Scottish Electronic Staff Development Library allows you to upload content, tag it with IMS Metadata and then download it in an IMS content package. |
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This utility allows content to be imported and exported from WebCT in IMS content packages. I believe this tool is somewhere on the new WebCT website – happy hunting! |
IMS Question and Test
This is a commercial IMS QTI editor from Russian developers XDLSoft. |
SCORM
ADL provide this downloadable tool to check that your content complies with SCORM. |
General tools
For those times when you absolutely have to hand-crank that XML file, you could do worse than XML Spy. It also has a very nifty Schema Viewer that allows you to browse an XML Schema visually.