Social Technologies (Aug 2011)
Interoperability Guidelines for Lithuanian E-Learning Management Systems
Abstract
Purpose – the paper aims to analyse e-learning content and repositories along with the problems of learning organisation interoperability. The main objective of the paper is to analyse scientific research results and the newest international experience in the area and to provide interoperability guidelines and recommendations for the implementation of appropriate Lithuanian state programmes. The learning content and repositories recommendations are designed for the implementation of the Lithuanian education portal project as well as Lithuanian Virtual University (LVU) programme’s information services’ (LABT / eLABa) and e-learning services’ (LieDM) sub-programmes. The whole education institution recommendations are designed for the maintenance and development of LVU programme’s management services’ (LieMSIS) system.Design/methodology/approach – methods used for the general analysis of proposed interoperability guidelines (reccomendations) were bibliographic research and comparative analysis of Lithuanian and foreign scientific works published in periodicals and large-scale EU-funded interoperability projects deliverables. System analysis and comparative analysis methods were used in order to formulate and analyse systems’ interoperability guidelines and recommendations. The author employed the experimental research method while working in the appropriate EU-funded interoperability projects to form the guidelines (recommendations). In order to summarize the results, the evaluative research method was used..Findings – the international guidelines and recommendations presented in the paper could be suitable for implementation while developing Lithuanian state education information systems such as the Lithuanian education portal, the Lithuanian academic libraries’ (eLABa) system, the Lithuanian distance learning system (LieDM), and the Lithuanian universities’ management system (LieMSIS).Research limitations/implications – the paper presents the author’s viewpoint on the probable implementation of several well-known international approaches, standards and specifications to improve interoperability of the different components of the LVU programme.Practical implications – the proper implementation of the proposed interoperability guidelines and recommendations could considerably improve the interoperability level of Lithuanian state e-learning management systems.Originality/Value – this type of analysis has been performed and recommendations have been applied to the LVU case study for the first time in scientific literature.
