Conformance Testing:
the elixer within the chain for
Learning Scenarios and Objects
Rob Nadolski, Owen Oneill, Wim van der Vegt & Rob KoperEducational Technology Expertise CentreOpen University of the Netherlands
ICALT, 2006
Fostering/enabling (new) ways of learning
ICALT, 2006
Fostering/enabling (new) ways of learning
ICALT, 2006
Fostering/enabling (new) ways of learning
ICALT, 2006
Fostering/enabling (new) ways of learning
ICALT, 2006
Optimally exploit technologies for cost-efficient, effective, and attractive e-learning experiences
Effective & attractive e-learning experiences
New ways of learning- Collaborative- Competence-based- Problem-based
Multi-user Learning Scenario’s (LS)
Knowledge co-constructed by learners
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Trends in cost-efficient e-learning experiences
1. Learning Technology specifications/standards
- IEEE LOM, - IMS CP, - IMS QTI, - IMS LIP, - IMS LD - et cetera
ICALT, 2006
Trends in cost-efficient e-learning experiences
2. Separate LS and LO (only supported by IMS LD)Learning Scenario (LS)- Roles- Learning activities- Support activities- Learning Environment
- resources (eg learning objects) - services
Learning Object (LO)Any digital, reproducible and addressable resource
ICALT, 2006
Trends in cost-efficient e-learning experiences
3. Components-based systems- Web services- Service Oriented Architecture (SOA)
Support a flexible and sustained approach to e-learning systems development
Flexibility is urged by learners, educators, and educational institutes to enable personalized new ways of learning
ICALT, 2006
Trends in cost-efficient e-learning experiences
4. Chain for LOs and LSs (includes 5 links)
ICALT, 2006
Superimposed on LT specifications/standardsAND Conformance Testing
Chain for LOs and LSs
State of the art for tools supporting Link 1
- Development of LOs and LSs
Wide range for LOs & well established specs (CP, MD)
Lacking and partly insufficient for LSs & more immature specs
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Chain for LOs and LSs
State of the art for tools supporting Link 2
- Set available LOs and LSs
Publishing in repositories is widely available,although there might be a problem for realportability of LOs/LSs (MERLOT, several LMSs)
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Chain for LOs and LSs
State of the art for tools supporting Link 3
- Make LOs and LSs searchable and reusable
Federated searches through metadata for LOs widely available, but inadequate/lacking for LSs
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Chain for LOs and LSs
State of the art for tools supporting Link 4
- Arrange LOs and LSs into units of learning
Fair range of tools but limited to reusing LOs and quite complex to use
ICALT, 2006
Chain for LOs and LSs
State of the art for tools supporting Link 5
- Use units of learning by learners and educators
Quite a range of players but the stage of truepersonalized learning environments and seamlessintegration of componentsbased e-learning systemshas not been reached yet
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Chain for LOs and LSs
State of the art for tools: Conclusion
- several links in the chain are beneath optimal strength
Solution:Better and more easy Conformance Testing to:Simplify software development-> Improve software development-> Increase confidence in software products
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Conformance Testing in chain for LOs and LSs
Simplification
- of testing process- of developing application & domain profiles
(needed to address community-specific needs)
Through
- Telcert tools (EU 6th framework)
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Conformance Testing in chain for LOs and LSs
Telcert tools(specification certification)
1. Schemaprof2. Schema Transformation Tool 3. Content Reengineering Tool 4. Telcert Test System
ICALT, 2006
Conformance Testing in chain for LOs and LSs
Telcert tools
1. Schemaprof
allows the creation of an Application Profile based on an XML schema file
reduces the incidence of human-error modifications are written to an XML file
ICALT, 2006
Conformance Testing in chain for LOs and LSs
Telcert tools
2. Schema Transformation Tool
works as a plug-in for Schemaprof combines base-specification schema with modifications
made in Schemaprof generates an XML Schema representation of an Application
Profile
ICALT, 2006
Conformance Testing in chain for LOs and LSs
Telcert tools
3. Content Reengineering Tool
enables creation of “content” based on localised XML schemas
is based on the Reload editor functionality has also been added to support Application
Profiles
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Conformance Testing in chain for LOs and LSs
ICALT, 2006
Telcert tools
4. Telcert Test System
tests against a particular e-learning specification can be tested against:
the base specification (represented by XSD file) an application profile (produced by Schemaprof) generic specification-specific tests (derived from the
specification documentation) after running a test session, the system provides detailed
information on the results of each test
Summary
Conformance Testing:
- is indispensable for creating a stronger more enduring chain
- supports development and adoption of SOA-compatiblesoftware to facilitate new ways of learning
- enables more portable LOs and LSs between different systems
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BUT
Conformance Testing could be left unexploited:
- because there is no critical mass for using LT specificationswithin certain communities
- development of effective, user-friendly SOA-compatiblesoftware components is not feasible
- it will not be mature enough for comprehensive use in the e-learning industry (which tends to use/develop newspecifications that need to be fully represented in a machinereadable format (unambiguous documentation, eg. UML 2.x))
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Discussion & Questions
Further details
- Telcert project website:http://www.opengroup.org/telcert/
E-mail: [email protected]
ICALT, 2006