Journal of Interactive Media in Education (Apr 2004)
Introduction by Mark Stiles to Part 3 of Littlejohn, A. (2003) Reusing Online Resources: Resource Perspectives
Abstract
Abstract: In Chapter 11, 'Digital libraries and repositories', Charles Duncan and Cuna Ekmekcioglu have kept the 'learning' emphasis [it's all about people and how they learn and not about just giving people resources'] but also recognize the many barriers and cultural issues to be overcome... this chapter explores the issues around cataloguing, distribution of resources versus centralization, and the diversity of artefacts that form 'resources'. The thorny issues of quality and intellectual property are raised and these inevitably bring us to the need for cooperation, communication and cultural change involving all of the ever-changing roles that this 'new world' implies. Oleg Liber and Bill Olivier's chapter on 'Learning technology interoperability standards' share the view that learning is not merely about content but about what people do to learn... In this chapter, the current state of specifications and models is discussed in a way that explains their relationship to each other, and their importance in an educational, rather than technical, context. Grainne Connole, Jill Evans and Ellen Sims chapter expand on issues of diversity of resources raised in Chapter 11. Grainne, Jill and Ellen review the current state of research and highlight issues such as the description of images in terms of both what they are and how they might be useful. In 'Assessing question banks', Joanna Bull and James Daziel move on to considering how we will know learning has been successful... This chapter recognizes concerns [about] the ability of computer-aided assessment (CAA) to assess the full range of outcomes desired to be identified... Joanna and James address the vital issues of achieving efficiency gains while maintaining quality. Part 3 of the book concludes with a look at the international dimension. In 'Sharing and reuse of learning resources across a transnational network', Joachim Wetterling and Betty Collis give us a fascinating look at a European project... Authors discuss the issues of reuse in the context of pedagogic and cultural differences in education when viewed across national boundaries, concentrating on pedagogy, collaboration and the re-engineering of courses. Notes: Reprinted with permission from: 'Reusing Online Resources: A Sustainable Approach to eLearning,', (Ed.) Allison Littlejohn. Kogan Page, London. ISBN 0749439491. Editor: Allison Littlejohn.
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