28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

e-MapScholar: The learning

resource centre

Ross Purves

28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

Outline

• Focussing on the “public face” of e-MapScholar – the learning resource centre

• How are materials organised from the student’s viewpoint (and the structure underlying them)

• Most importantly – how are “units” delivered and what resources are available in their construction…

28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

Framework for resource delivery

• Three main areas identified as key conceptual interdisciplinary domains– Working with digital map data– Data integration– Visualisation

• The learning resource centre contains units relevant to all three

• Initially, mind maps were used to identify resources, units and learning objectives

28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

Visualisation mind map

• Mind map groups concepts together

• LOs central in identifying appropriate content for individual units

• Mind maps form the basis for the structure of the LRC

28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

What is a Learning Resource Centre

• A big box of materials• Can be viewed from two perspectives:

– Student: Student can undertake modules which are composed of a number of units

– Lecturer: Lecturer can modify modules and units by localisation and discipline specific customisation

• Under the e-MapScholar model, all materials are stored centrally

28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

Components of a learning resource

A learning resource contains

Learning units contain:

Metadata

Learning objectives

Learning objects

Metadata

Learning objectives

Learning units

and can be made up of different combinations of units.

Learning objects include

Plain text

Interactive tools

Web mapping

and are customisable in content and spatial extent where appropriate.

Assessmenttools

28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

The resource

• The student always starts by choosing a resource

• A resource can consist of one or many learning units (generally no more than about 4)

• Each resource has associated with it learning objectives and metadata

• No content is stored in a resource – it is simply a collection of units and data explaining that collection…

• A lecturer can use any set of units to build a resource

28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

The unit

• The unit is the basic element with which the student works

• Each unit is designed to take 15-20 minutes to complete

• Units are authored and reviewed inhouse and externally

• Units can be viewed in page or long views

• Metadata is also stored with units, along with the content

28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

Initial page with LOs and other information

Some components of a unit

Graphics and text in bite-sized chunks

Integral assessment elements

Interactive tools using‘live’ geodata

Summary and reflective questionsfor formative evaluation

References and comments

28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

The objects

• Each unit is made up of metadata and content

• The content takes the form of:– text– interactive tools– web mapping– self assessment tools

• The lecturer can customise a unit by modifying these objects

28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

Text

• Each page has text on the left hand side • Text forms a narrative relating to the

illustrations and tools, and often suggests activities relating to tools

• Lecturer may customise text, for example to make an example more discipline or location specific

28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

Tools for learning

• Tools to facilitate interaction are an essential part of e-MapScholar

• Tools are all either server-side (use only html) or java-based

• Examples include animation tool, linked view web mapping, elevation data display tool, digitising tool etc…

• Spatially based tools use live data from Digimap through OpenGIS web map and web feature servers

28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

Digitiser

Animation

Map Viewer

HotspotRaster visualisation

28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

Tools for assessing

• Providing ways for students to undertake formative assessment was recognised as an important element of e-MapScholar

• It was also recognised that such assessment should:– provide feedback– have variety– be customisable

• Assessment tools include question and answer, multiple choice, numerical response and graphical question and answer

28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

Some issues

• Java based tools have proved challenging – rise of the plug-in (we wanted to avoid plug-ins) and lack of consistent cross platform support

• Authentication issues are important – some tools provide live data (though only as visualisations) – data use must be logged and monitored

• Generic use of feature/coverage servers makes increasing tool population easier…

28 March 2003 e-MapScholar: learning resource centre

Summary

• Described the Learning Resource Centre – this is what the student sees…

• Looked in most detail at the objects that make up a unit

• Interactivity is provided through tools – for both learning and assessing…