Blackboard/Common Cartridge and Open Educational Resources with SoftChalk Jeff Kahn.

Blackboard/Common Cartridge and Open

Educational Resources with SoftChalk

Jeff Kahn

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What we will cover

• What is IMS Common Cartridge• Who is SoftChalk• How does SoftChalk integrate with Blackboard via

Common Cartridge and otherwise • What is an Open Educational Resource (OER)• How does SoftChalk support authoring OERs• How can Blackboard be an OER Repository

IMS Global Learning ConsortiumCommon Cartridge

www.imsglobal.org

What Problem Does Common Cartridge Address?

The Need for a Standard

• Common Cartridge is a specification for packaging learning and assessment content.

• The package distills the latest and best community practices for sharing digital content among authoring tools and learning platforms.

What’s In CC 1.0• Cartridge Manifest – describes the cartridge (zip of files)• Metadata

– Cartridge, Roles, Curriculum Standards (coming)

• Content– html, xml, media files (mpg, jpg, mp3), application files (e.g.

Microsoft Office), …– Web links

• Integrated assessments (and question banks)– Multiple choice (single or multiple response)– True/false– Essay– Simple fill in the blank– Pattern match (optional)

• Discussion forum• Authorization for protected content (optional)

Simplified Course Import Example

Starting with this…

Some Course DocumentsSome Links to ContentSome Discussion TopicsAn Assessment

We package like this…

course-xx.zip

imsmanifest.xml

resources

content file (supporting files)

xml file describing link

xml file describing discussion topic

xml file describing assessment

Simplified Course Example

Cartridge Structure on Disk

Discussion Topics (specification section 4.7)

• Discussion topic text is stored in an XML file that must be processed by the learning platform.

• Discussions can have attachments.

Web Links (specification section 4.8)

• Link information is stored in an XML file that must be processed by the learning platform.

• Links can have some parameters related to desired behavior.

Assessment (continued)

Authorization(specification section 4.6)

• Authorization on cartridge import• Authorization on cartridge use• Authorization on resource use• Mechanism (separate specification)

– Unique identifier– Web service address

Blackboard Support for Common Cartridge Import

Resources for Developers

Sample Cartridges

• Developer section on the CC Alliance Forum– http://www.imsglobal.org/developers/alliance/ccresources.cfm

• Valid Cartridges (17) and Invalid Cartridges (35)– These determine conformance for importers

• Feedback on Cartridges

• Other Cartridges– Product Directory

– Learning Impact Challenge

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http://www.imsglobal.org/cc/statuschart.html

Compliant and In-the-Works

Take-Aways

• SoftChalk is a content authoring tool that can export material in IMS Common Cartridge format.

• Blackboard will be able to import Common Cartridges.

www.softchalk.com

• Based in Richmond, Virginia• Founded in 2002 by folks with history of educational technology

innovation since 1996, including Web Course in a Box later sold to Blackboard.

• Offers a range of online and in-person training• Works with a number of open initiatives, including: IMS, MERLOT,

Connexions Consortium, and Sakai.

• Blackboard Signature Partner• Cofounder of SoftChalk was Cofounder of the BbOpenSource.org that

predated OSCELOT.

Who is SoftChalk LLC

• Desktop application, written in Java• Runs on Windows and Mac OSX• Creates content in Web format• Students view with a web browser• Content delivered in a Learning

Management System (LMS), on CD-ROM, or on a web server

What is SoftChalk Lesson Builder

Media Search Tool

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Includes Blackboard Content System

Building Block for Dump of Content System Metadata

• REST interface• Uses NOSESSION to avoid login• Returns XML containing items and their

metadata• Available through OSCELOT

Publish to Blackboard From Within SoftChalk

Building Block for Upload

• REST interface• Login using a key• Get TOC, Course, Folders, and Items,

Content• Add Item, zip, SCORM• Replace and Delete

Open Educational Resources

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What is an Open Educational Resource

According to Wikipedia: “Open educational resources (OER) are learning materials that are freely available for use, remixing and redistribution.”

Complete OER Solution• Authoring Tool • Content• Use License• Repository to Hold Content• Discovery Service / Refer-atory• Consuming Application

OER Licensinghttp://www.creativecommons.org

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License Displays in Footer

Blackboard as OER Repository

• Decide how open to allow contribution– Instructor(s) login

• Users outside the institution can be given Guest access

• Make the content discoverable– MERLOT, etc

References to OERs

Peer Reviewed

SoftChalk Publish

Take-Away• Authoring Tool • Content• Use License• Repository to Hold Content• Discovery Service / Refer-atory• Consuming Application

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Please provide feedback for this session by emailing DevConFeedback@blackboard.com. 

The subject of the email should be title of this session:

Blackboard/Common Cartridge and Open Educational Resources with SoftChalk

Questions?

jeffkahn@verbenaconsulting.com

jkahn@imsglobal.org

jkahn@softchalk.com