The integration of SQI in a reusable learning objects system: advantages and disadvantages

ABSTRACT

Current e-learning applications should provide universal access to educational information, regardless of the standards, protocols or programming languages used. This would maximize the reuse of learning objects and help this technology to gain its place as a fundamental and, in some cases only, support tool for present day educational systems. To achieve this, it is necessary that standards are adopted that guarantee, both the development of learning objects and the search systems that provide access to the repositories that contain them; this being the only way to guarantee universal access.

In this article the effects produced by one of the standards attempting to guarantee universal access are studied. The main features of the principal systems that execute it are identified, as well as its more notable advantages and disadvantages. The integration of the SQI (Simple Query Interface) standard in a reusable learning objects system, previously developed by the authors, is put forward, describing the conclusions of the process.

REFERENCES

• 1: Otón, S., Ortiz, A., Hilera, J. R. "Reusable Learning Object System". Revista Iberoamericana de Informática Educativa (ADIE), no. 5, p. 7--22, 2007.
• 2: SQI: Simple Query Interface. European Committe for Standarization, 2005. ftp://ftp.cenorm.be/PUBLIC/CWAs/e-Europe/WS-LT/cwa15454-00-2005-Nov.pdf.
• 3: IMS Digital Repositories Specification. IMS Global Learning Consortium, 2003. http://www.imsglobal.org.
• 4: PLQL -- The ProLearn Query Language. PROLEARN Consortium, 2007. http://www.prolearn-project.org.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
      H.3.3 Information Search and Retrieval
          Subjects: Query formulation

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
      H.3.5 On-line Information Services
          Subjects: Web-based services

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.1 Computer Uses in Education
          Subjects: Collaborative learning

General Terms:
Algorithms, Languages, Standardization

Keywords:
digital repository, federated search system, learning object, query language, service oriented architecture (SOA)