[WEB4LIB] learning objects

[Stephen Meyer]

At the Textiles branch library at NCSU Libraries we are currently 
developing something very similar to what you are doing for our Textiles 
and Engineering Services instuction program. It is almost finished but 
we have not rolled it out to production yet, so I cannot give you any 
URLs that illustrate our work thus far. I will try to summarize what we 
are doing below.

-Steve

Sarah Graham wrote:

> * What technologies/software did you use?

A MySQL database that stores metadata about instruction documents. PHP 
is used to 1) create webforms that librarians used to enter info about 
the documents and upload the files to a web server; and 2) generate a 
dynamic browse environment for faculty/students to retrieve the 
instruction documents.

> * Did you hire an instructional designer? If so, were they a librarian?

The database model was designed by 4 librarians and 2 library assistants.

> * What standards did you use for describing objects (e.g. did you use a 
> particular metadata standard?)

The database elements are based on the core set of Dublin Core elements, 
though they are divided among many tables in a relational database to 
model for more robust browsing. There are a few tweaks. For example, in 
our local environment instruction primarily revolves around classes. So 
the DC.coverage element is mapped to a class for a given semester (e.g., 
Chemical Engineering 450 - Fall 2004). This allows us to pair related 
instruction documents in the public display based on the criteria that 
they have the same coverage. Our public display for a handout will then 
show the .ppt presentation as a related document used in the same 
instruction session.

> * Is the library/database accessible by students/the public, or is a 
> resource restricted to staff/librarians?

It will be a browsable set of dynamic web pages with the following 
points of access: document types (Grading Sheets, Handouts, Homework 
Assignments, Lesson Plans, Presentations), academic departments 
(Industrial Engineering...), course number levels (100, 200, 300, 400 
and graduate level classes), librarians, and a list of all instruction 
documents.

> Any other comments or information would be valuable.

The project that we are developing is intended to be an online 
_supplement_ for our Curricullum Integrated Instruction program. It is 
not meant to be a standalone project. Understanding it as situated in 
this local context has been helpful in guiding the database model and 
making decisions about how the public display will look.

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Stephen Meyer
NCSU Libraries Fellow
North Carolina State University

Home Dept: Textiles     Project Dept: Systems
Phone: 919.513.3862     Phone: 919.515.7694
Fax: 919.515.3926       Fax: 919.513.3330

stephen_meyer at ncsu.edu

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