| Learning Object Repository Education Consortium (LOREC)* Mission The mission of the Learning Object Repository Education Consortium is bring together interested education related institutions to pilot learning object repositories to share and reuse modules for online learning. Context LOREC has been formed to create a framework for educational institutions to use for online learning. While online learning provides a convenient way to deliver learning to geographically dispersed audiences, high production costs prevent many from developing top-quality online learning resources. Education produces top-quality learning resources but are unable to reuse these resources or share them with other audiences Fortunately, standards have been created to address many of these issues. The Advanced Distributed Learning Initiative (ADL), funded by the United States Department of Defense, has assembled a set of standards for online learning called the Shareable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM). ADL defines SCORM as "a collection of specifications adapted from multiple sources to provide a comprehensive suite of e-learning capabilities that enable interoperability, accessibility and reusability of Web-based learning content." SCORM consists of standards for learning object metadata and content packaging and a run-time environment for learning objects. Many developers of educational authoring systems and learning management systems are implementing SCORM standards in their products. Add IMS language here. To take advantage of this strong industry backing LOREC will work within SCORM to develop educational standards and guidelines. With these standards in place, organizations will be able to share and reuse modules of online learning, thereby decreasing production costs, increasing return on investment, and offering effective and convenient opportunities for learning. Standards would also enable the dynamic delivery of learning content tailored to a learner's needs. Since SCORM does not explicitly address many of the unique requirements needed , LOREC will work to: Define a proper subset of the SCORM standard. Define controlled vocabularies for certain SCORM elements. Create SCORM usage guidelines Define requirements for related Web services. Define requirements for learning resource repositories Pilot Projects in 2006-7 LOREC will explore completing pilot projects that demonstrate sharing and reuse of learning objects. Online Leadership Minor Online Physical Education Course Allied Health Pilot Environmental Sciences Study Skills Information Literacy E-Soils Task Summary Standards development is an iterative process. Although the exact nature of the work may change as LOREC progresses, the work will likely include the following tasks: Create a list of data requirements for learning object metadata. Map data requirements to the SCORM standard and make recommendations for changes as necessary. Add IMS???? Create a set of SCORM usage guidelines Define requirements for education related web services. Define requirements for learning resource repositories or registries. Staffing Learning Innovations Co Chairs will appoint a Working Group Chair or Co-chairs. Technical staff will assist the working groups per the chairs’ direction. A Consortium will be named to include representatives Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, University of Minnesota ,Academic Learning Innovations Council and others? Work Plan The Working Group will meet face-to-face monthly with working group meetings by internet as necessary. Working Group members or staff will perform much of the group's work independently with member comments submitted to a discussion list. A project charter will be developed to outline the purpose, scope, and deliverables for LOREC. References Advanced Distributed Learning SCORM Overview, http://www.adlnet.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=scormabt
Why a Learning Objects Repository?
Who can submit Learning Objects?
What about Copyright? *Full credit needs to go to the MedBiquitos Consortium for their framework ideas and models that have been adapted for LOREC. Permission was granted by Valerie Smothers, MedBiquitos Consortium. *MedBiquitous Consortium The World Trade Center Baltimore 401 E. Pratt Street Suite 1700 Baltimore, MD 21202 USA Phone: +1-410-385-2367 Fax: +1-410-385-6055 Email: info@medbiq.org University of Minnesota joined the consortium in October 2006, but LOREC will have representation as apart of this membership. Background: The University of Minnesota is proposing to build a sharable framework for a searchable teaching archive populated with discrete learning objects; learning objects that can be used to develop a variety of distributed learning experiences (depending on learning community), as well as "just in time" courses, modules, and/or presentations to address "teachable moments." Most importantly, while the teaching archive will be an outcome of building the framework, our main goal is to create a framework that will be easily transferable to, and uniquely modifiable by, other educational communities. Our prototype framework is unique in that it will address limitations inherent in current teaching archives (e.g. metadata, discrete learning objects, quality control, and framework management). Addressing these limitations, along with sharing of learning objects stored in the teaching archive, will improve teaching through an increase in information access and consistency in core knowledge delivery. Sharing the framework will increase opportunities for specialized education and outreach by allowing individual educational communities to create their own teaching archives; teaching archives that are uniquely relevant to any discipline in the food and agricultural sciences education – and, thereby can more effectively address the needs of a learner community. We envision our framework to serve as a model for distributing core knowledge and we will determine a method for making the framework available to others; an unprecedented gesture that will significantly reduce the costs and duplication of effort involved with creating teaching archives. | 
