Linking VLEs and Repositories

=Introduction=

The following is to snapshot from early 2009 showing examples of how repositories containing learning materials and VLEs interact. For some time there have been various projects (some JISC funded, some based at JISC services, some institutional, some commercial) that have the aim of "linking" a repository to a VLE. We hope to summarize and analyse some of that work here. Specifically:
 * what is the nature of the link? e.g. embedding a search of the repository/catalogue into the VLE (and then what?–transferring the resource to the VLE?); using the repository to serve material when requested by the VLE; slurping information out of a VLE to store it in the repository (then what?); passing information on resource usage from the VLE to the repository; searching the VLE from within the repository.
 * what is the aim, what use cases are being met?
 * which repository and VLE systems are being linked? To what extent is the link system-specific (e.g. a blackboard building block or repository plugin) or generic (e.g. uses SRU, RSS)?
 * what specifications / standards are being used?
 * any reflections on what has worked well. Or not.

The initial scope is to focus on repositories that are separate from the VLE rather than those that are merely the file store/retrieval components of the VLE. Such a repository would typically have an interface independent from that of the VLE, or offer services to a range systems not just the one VLE; ideally it should be possible to change the VLE system without needing to change the repository.

Information that has been gathered by an initial message to the JISC-Repositories email list is summarized here; readers with anything to add or correct are encouraged register and edit this wiki, or to contact Phil Barker.

Summary
Discovery of resources in the repository by course designers is a frequently occurring aim. Remote search of a single repository is a common approach to this, though browsing a single repository and cross-searching a group of repositories are also mentioned. Remote search is supported by the SRU standard, though other approaches such as bespoke APIs, other query standards, or simply presenting the repository interface in a frame in the VLE are also adopted. Similar approaches may also support cross search if used to query a brokering or aggregator service. While various repository developers have implemented VLE-specific search tools it is not always clear whether these tools are specific to the repository system or are a generic implementation of SRU.

Discovery of learning resources by students does not often seem to feature explicitly as an aim.

Currently, the most common approach to delivering the learning resource to the learner is by embedding a link into the VLE and serving the resource from the repository (link by reference rather than embedding?), which has the advantage of not having to store the same resource in several places in the VLE course structure but doesn't allow for the resource to be edited by the course designer (global resource rather than localized resource).

Deposit of resources from a VLE to a repository is desired but not widely implemented functionality, with the aim of improving learning resource sharing and management. SWORD and WebDAV would seem to be relevant standards to supporting this.

There are no reports of information about resource usage in a VLE (e.g. what courses a resource is used in) being passed to the repository with the aim of enhancing the metadata about the resource in order to improve resource discovery and management.

Aim
Allow teachers/course designers to search their intraLibrary repository directly from within their VLE and add resources to courses in a couple of clicks.

Systems involved
Intralibrary and Blackboard Vista, Blackboard (in development), Moodle (in development). For each VLE there is a specific module (Vista PowerLink, BlackBoard BuildingBlock, Moodle module/plugin) which interacts directly with Intralibrary.

Functionality
Remote search of a single repository.

Include a link in the VLE to content served from the repository.

Specifications and Standards used
SRU for remote search.

Reflections
In use / planned for use at Keele, Oxford Brookes, Leeds Met.

Oxford Brookes have "successfully tested the BB Vista powerlink", it seems popular with lecturers, though some tweaks are needed to make sure the right information is displayed with the search results.

So far, VLE integration has been focussed on discovery of resources within intraLibrary. Depositing has been of interest but until recently there was no standard way of doing it. Now that the SWORD specification has been developed, this gives us the ability to publish from the VLE into intraLibrary and we are hoping to work on this soon.

[update, July 2011: Oxford Brookes are no longer using Intralibrary.]

Further Info.
See Intrallect website.

[Information last checked: 18 Mar. 2009]

Aim
Allow Moodle course author to search and browse CoRe repository and add link to learning object with a single click.

Systems involved
CoRe and Moodle

Functionality
Search and browse of a single repository.

Include a link in the VLE to content served from the repository.

Specifications and Standards used
not known.

Aim
Allow read/write access to the repository from the VLE in accordance with the repository's policies and ingest workflow.

Systems involved
DSpace and Sakai. Extension to Fedora @ University of Highlands and Islands.

Functionality
A "live link" between a resource tool in a Sakai workspace and one or more DSpace repository. This allows the Sakai system to display resources from DSpace's hierarchical archive of "Communities", "Collections" and "Items" in the Sakai file and folder tree.

Files from a DSpace instance can be exposed in a read-only or read-write fashion through Sakai (depending on the DSpace access privilege given to the Sakai--not individual users of Sakai).

Specifications and Standards used
WebDAV (Larry Stone's Lightweight Network Interface (LNI) adapter for the DSpace source)

Reflections
Project runs 1 Mar 2007 - 31 Jan 2009.

Aim
Embed access to a federation of repositories into a VLE system.

Systems involved
The Globe repository federation, Moodle VLE.

Functionality
Allows a Moodle user to search for content in a Globe repository, view metadata for matching items, download selected items and import them into a Moodle course. A new version under development aims to allow users to upload to the Ariadne repository.

Specifications and Standards used
SQI (Simple Query Interface) and SOAP/HTTP.

Others
Some other projects about which we have little information or which are not fully developed.

Blackboard & HIVE @ Staffordshire University
Taking content en masse from the VLE and putting it into a repository (Hive).

Intralibrary @ Newcastle
Possible deposit from VLE into Intralibrary (using SWORD?).

BURP @ Bradford University
Should be some interaction between VLE and repository when the latter is running, e.g. search as is already available for library system from VLE.

ePrints & Blackboard @ Southampton
edspace project Would like to link edshare (running ePrints) to the institutional VLE (Blackboard), anticipate the link will support discovery of material in the repository, delivering it through the VLE and export from the VLE to the repository.

various @ Switzerland
"The goal is to connect various Learning Object Repositories to different VLEs. Some pilot projects have already been implemented, connecting e.g. a Fedora-based repository to Moodle." Part of the Swiss LOR project.

Equella and WebCT @ Nottingham
Pilot project with aim that staff should be able to deposit digital assets into the repository from within WebCT, and download existing assets for use in WebCT courses.

MrCute
 The repository concerned seems to be integrated into Moodle and fairly basic, not sure whether the project is enhancing a link between the VLE and a repository or adding functionality to the Moodle repository. Aim is to allow users to create, upload and tag resources (IMS Content packages) and embed them in Moodle courses.

Open University
Need to have a look through what Tony Hirst has been writing, see.