Before Starting: IMS Learning Design

Before Starting: IMS Learning Design
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IMS Learning Design (short introduction)
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IMS Learning Design (short introduction)

IMS Learning Design (from now on referred as IMS-LD) is a + specification done by the IMS Global Learning Consortium. It is an + XML-based description for e-learning. It provides a global framework for + including the description of different pedagogical and methodological + learning models. Therefore IMS-LD is independent from a concrete pedagogy + or methodology.

The XML file that is compliant with IMS-LD specifies a set of + learning activities (which are usually related to a set of resources and + services) and who and when can do these activities and with which + conditions. Therefore, it establishes a sequencing of activities for each + role. IMS-LD is in principle independent from IMS Content + Packaging (IMS CP), so it can be used without IMS CP. + Nevertheless, the most common case is to insert the IMS-LD file inside the + organizations element of an IMS CP and the result is called "unit of + learning". A unit of learning, as defined in the IMS-LD specification, is + an abstract term used to refer to any delimited piece of education or + training, such as a course, a module, a lesson, etc. In this + specification, the terms unit of learning and course are used to represent + the same thing: a collection of ordered activities which has associated + resources and services to learn that are going to be delivered to + different defined roles and the workflow of the activities.

Unit of learning and IMS Learning Design are not the same thing. A + learning design is a description of a learning method used to achieve + certain goals (learning objectives), and a unit of learning is the result + of packaging a learning design (for example using IMS CP). There are some + other terms introduced by IMS-LD that need to be defined, which are + briefly explained bellow:

Prerequisites. The previous + requirements for learners for doing the unit of learning.
Objectives: They are the goals + to obtain in a unit of learning. Also it is possible to write + objectives for each particular activity.
Components. It defines + statically the following elements of a unit of learning: roles, + activities, environments and properties
Roles. It defines the different + types of users in a unit of learning. There are two basic types of + roles: Learner and Staff. But additional roles can be defined. The + roles form a hierarchical graph where the root roles are the basic + ones. For example inside Learner role we can have additional roles + depending on the students level or inside the staff role we can have + professors, teaching assisstants, tutors, etc. .LRN. in fact, has + defined predefined roles, so the sutdent role will be linked to the + Learner one and the proffessor, teaching assisstant, etc. can be + mapped to the IMS-LD corresponding ones. When there is no an exact + correspondence, then we will create new .LRN subgroups that match with + the IMS-LD roles.
Properties. This is something + that defines a concrete feature. There are local properties , + local-person properties, local-role properties, global-personal + properties and global properties. They are used depending on the scope + of the property.
Activities. An activity is + something to be done, that usually has a description and an + enviroment. There are two types of activities: learning activities + (activities that are done by students in order to learn) and support + activities (activities to support or help students, usually done by + professors). Also there are structure activities which are an union of + several activities that can be presented to the student either in a + sequencial mode or for the user to select. The activities are the core + of the workflow of the learning design.
Environment. Collection of + learning objects (for example files to be viewed by the student), + services (like foros, chat, etc.) and sub-environments, in wich + activities take place. When a student has to complete an activity that + have a concrete enviroment, then he/she can do whichever of the + learning objects and services that are defined inside this + enviroment
Service. For instance, a + discussion forum, email, conference service and monitor service (to + look at the properties).
Method. It defines the dinamic + part of learning design. It consists of several plays and contitions. + If a method has several plays then each play is executed in parallel + for all the roles. Therefore, for example a Learner can select in an + instant of time between the different parallel activities (one + activity for each play)
Play A play has a set of acts. + Each act is not executed until the previous one has been executed. + Therefore, it can be viewed as a sequence of acts. A play finishes + when all its acts has finished
Act It defines what activity to + do for each of role. Each role make the activity in parallel respect + to the rest of roles. An act is finished when all the roles have + finished its activity. This provides a synchronization point.
Conditions. They are used in + conjunction with properties to further refinement and to add + personalization facilities in the learning design. By these way, for + example is possible to take decissions taken into account the user + profile, assessments done by the student, selections of the students + during the course, etc.
Notification. Allows to send + messages between roles or to assign new learning or support activities + to roles based on certain events. When integrating IMS-LD with .LRN, + we take advantage of this capability in order to send messages between + the system's components. This can only be done if .LRN is fully aware + of the learner status inside the course.
Item. When a component, a + learning objective, or a prerequisite needs a resource, an item + element is used. The learning design provides a semantic context for + these items, so that runtime systems can know what to do with the + resource.

Levels A, B and C
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Levels A, B and C

There are tree levels of complaint in the IMS-LD + specification:

Learning Design Level A includes everything + described above except the conditions, properties and notifications. + It thus contains all the core vocabulary needed to support dedagogical + diversity.
Learning Design Level B adds Properties and + Conditions to level A, which enable personalization and more elaborate + sequencing and interactions based on learner porfolios. It can be used + to direct the learning activities as well as record outcomes.
Learning Design Level C adds Notification + to level B, which, although a fairly small addition to the + specification, adds significantly to the capability.

There is a IMS + Learning Design XML Binding document, where you can find detailed + information about how each one of the elements described above is mapped + in the final xml file.

Chapter 1. Introduction
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Chapter�1.�Introduction
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1. Introduction
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1. Introduction

Given the current need of the professors as .LRN users of having a tool that lets them define and set up the workflow of their courses and a synchronization and interaction between different roles of an e-learning experience, the imsld package provides the support to fullfill these needs, making use of the IMS Learning Design (from now on referred as IMS LD). We recommend to read the IMS LD specification in order to understand better this document. If you are already familiarized with the specification, continue reading this document, otherwise you can take a quick introduction by reading our very short introducion to IMS LD)

Introduction
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Introduction

Given the current need of the professors as .LRN users of having a + tool that lets them define and set up the workflow of their courses and a + synchronization and interaction between different roles of an e-learning + experience, the IMS-LD package provides the support to fulfil these needs, + making use of the IMS Learning Design (from now on referred as IMS-LD). We + recommend to read the IMS-LD + specification in order to understand better this document. If you + are already familiarized with the specification, continue reading this + document, otherwise you can take a quick introduction by reading our + short introduction to + IMS-LD)

2. Integrating IMS LD with .LRN
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2. Integrating IMS LD with .LRN

Using the IMD LD specification, the professor is able to indicate the moment (which could be based on conditions) in which a role is going to do an activity and which materials and services are going to be used. Integrating IMD LD into .LRN, the professor is able to use all the services provided by .LRN, such as forums for asynchronous interaction, chat as synchronous interaction, assessments to evaluate the e-learning process (students and contents), the evaluation package (grade book) to support a a variety of learning and support activities, etc. And all of this is done in a centralized way, from an IMS LD editor.

The main idea is to load an IMS LD document (which is an XML document) and play it. To play an IMS LD document is nothing more than to peform the activities prescribed in the document with its related enviroment which defines the learning objects and services, and this is when the interaction with the .LRN services begin. The imsld package is able to detect and indicate what .LRN service is the most indicated one to perform a given IMS LD service. The activities will follow the sequence prescribed in the IMS LD document, each member of the course will perform a specific set of activities according to the member's role inside the course. The professor is able to decide the different roles that the course supports, and which role can do what at any given time during the course life, and following the defined sequence.

With the imsld package, the professor is able to let the learner choose betwen the activities, make the learner follow a specific sequence or use a combinaiton of both sequenced and learner's choice activities. And that's not all, the professor is also able to define the sequence of the learning activities using conditions and properties that change according to the learner behavior during the course (as defined at the the level B of the Learning Design Specification). Moreover .LRN can take advantage from the power notification system in order to send messages and set new activities based on events (as defined at the level C of the Learning Design Specification)

The imsld package provides an IMS LD editor, an IMS LD player, an IMS LD viewer and an IMS LD importer/exporter. Each one of these is described later on this document.

Integrating IMS-LD with .LRN
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Integrating IMS-LD with .LRN

Using the IMD LD specification, the professor is able to indicate + the moment (which could be based on conditions) in which a role is going + to do an activity and which materials and services are going to be used. + Integrating IMD LD into .LRN, the professor is able to use all the + services provided by .LRN, such as forums for asynchronous interaction, + chat as synchronous interaction, assessments to evaluate the e-learning + process (students and contents), the evaluation package (grade book) to + support a a variety of learning and support activities, etc. And all of + this is done in a centralized way, from an IMS-LD editor.

The main idea is to load an IMS-LD document (which is an XML + document) and play it. To play an IMS-LD document is nothing more than to + perform the activities prescribed in the document with its related + environment which defines the learning objects and services, and this is + when the interaction with the .LRN services begin. The IMS-LD package is + able to detect and indicate what .LRN service is the most indicated one to + perform a given IMS-LD service. The activities will follow the sequence + prescribed in the IMS-LD document, each member of the course will perform + a specific set of activities according to the member's role inside the + course. The professor is able to decide the different roles that the + course supports, and which role can do what at any given time during the + course life, and following the defined sequence.

With the IMS-LD package, the professor is able to let the learner + choose between the activities, make the learner follow a specific sequence + or use a combination of both sequenced and learner's choice activities. + And that's not all, the professor is also able to define the sequence of + the learning activities using conditions and properties that change + according to the learner behavior during the course (as defined at the the + level B of the Learning Design Specification). Moreover .LRN can take + advantage from the power notification system in order to send messages and + set new activities based on events (as defined at the level C of the + Learning Design Specification)

The IMS-LD package provides an IMS-LD editor, an IMS-LD player, an + IMS-LD viewer and an IMS-LD importer/exporter. Each one of these is + described later on this document.

3. Pedagogical Flexibility
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3. Pedagogical Flexibility

"The IMS LD specification is flexible in the description of all different kinds of pedagogies and not prescribe any specific pedagogical approach." (IMS LD spec) The IMS LD specification does not follow any pedagogy. When doing the integration with .LRN, this pedagogical flexibility has to be preserved, letting the professor to give the course in any way he or she wants, limiting as less as possible the professor choices when creating the IMD LD document.

Pedagogical Flexibility
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Pedagogical Flexibility

“The IMS-LD specification is flexible in the description of + all different kinds of pedagogies and not prescribe any specific + pedagogical approach.” (IMS-LD spec) The IMS-LD specification does + not follow any pedagogy. When doing the integration with .LRN, this + pedagogical flexibility has to be preserved, letting the professor to give + the course in any way he or she wants, limiting as less as possible the + professor choices when creating the IMD LD document.

4. Historical Considerations
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4. Historical Considerations

There is some work done so far that we could use in the near future:

Alfanet.The people of Alfanet has already done some integration of IMS LD with OpenACS. At the time of writing this specification we were waiting to have access to their code in order to evaluate the possibility to make use of what they have already done, avoiding the waist of resources, but by the moment we don't know if this will be possible.
LAMS. At the time of writing this specification, we were plannig to do an integration with LAMS, which is a tool for designing, managing and delivering online collaborative learning activities. The LAMs project is already integrated with Moodle. We can take advantage of that integration experience, but we expect to write all the code at .LRN from scratch, and maybe later work on the integration.
RELOAD. It has an IMS LD editor wich is independent from any LMS. By means of this editor, you can generate an IMS LD for a concrete course. Also it has integrated the CopperCore player
CopperCore. It has an IMS LD editor wich is independent from any LMS. By means of this editor, you can generate an IMS LD for a concrete course. Also it has a player.
Our purporse is to be able to interpret the IMS LD generated by RELOAD, CopperCore and LAMS and whichever IMS LD that can be generated by other different authoring tools.

Historical Considerations
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Historical Considerations

There is some work done so far that we could use in the near + future:

Alfanet.The + people of Alfanet has already done some integration of IMS-LD with + OpenACS. At the time of writing this specification we were waiting to + have access to their code in order to evaluate the possibility to make + use of what they have already done, avoiding the waist of resources, + but by the moment we don't know if this will be possible.
LAMS. At + the time of writing this specification, we were planing to do an + integration with LAMS, which is a tool for designing, managing and + delivering online collaborative learning activities. The LAMs project + is already integrated with Moodle. We can take advantage of + that integration experience, but we expect to write all the code at + .LRN from scratch, and maybe later work on the integration.
RELOAD. It has an + IMS-LD editor which is independent from any LMS. By means of this + editor, you can generate an IMS-LD for a concrete course. Also it has + integrated the CopperCore player
CopperCore. It has + an IMS-LD editor which is independent from any LMS. By means of this + editor, you can generate an IMS-LD for a concrete course. Also it has + a player.
Our purpose is to be able to interpret the IMS-LD generated by + RELOAD, CopperCore and LAMS and whichever IMS-LD that can be generated + by other different authoring tools.

5. Competitive Analysis
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5. Competitive Analysis

There are a lot of competing products.The IMS LD specification is very large and has many different options. Each product can implement the most suitable features. Also, it does not indicate how to implement it. And therefore, different LMS can implement it in a different way depending on their services. This is a compatibility problem, but it can be solved by a convenient mapping between the different IMS LD references and the different services of a LMS

Moreover, when writing the specification we tried to incorporate the ideas from the competing products (each one of them has its own way of dealing with the IMS LD specification), and from the experience we had when using them. A detailed analysis would be too much for the moment.

Competitive Analysis
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Competitive Analysis

There are a lot of competing products.The IMS-LD specification is + very large and has many different options. Each product can implement the + most suitable features. Also, it does not indicate how to implement it. + And therefore, different LMS can implement it in a different way depending + on their services. This is a compatibility problem, but it can be solved + by a convenient mapping between the different IMS-LD references and the + different services of a LMS

Moreover, when writing the specification we tried to incorporate the + ideas from the competing products (each one of them has its own way of + dealing with the IMS-LD specification), and from the experience we had + when using them. A detailed analysis would be too much for the + moment.

6. Extensibility
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6. Extensibility

The .LRN implementation must be easily extensible. The IMS LD specification may change in the future, so the .LRN implementation has to be done taking that into account. The .LRN implementation must be so flexible in order to adapt to the posible changes of the IMS LD specification. This means that if a change is produced in IMS LD specification, then this should imply only minor changes in our .LRN implementation of IMS LD. Also, if the initial specification should be extended it should be done in an easy way.

Reusability and standards

The implementation must follow, as much as possible, the standards defined by the IMS Global Learning Consortium. For example for the compatibility problem that was mentioned before, there should be an easy way to modify which .LRN service performs wich IMS LD service, and also to add a new type of IMS LD service and the corresponding .LRN service that will be in charge of dealing with it.

Our XML parser has to be aware of this flexibility, being easy to modify according to the, probably often, changes or improvements in the specification. The mapping between the service types and its corresponding .LRN services can be easily edited via web. Everything that can possibly change in the near future, must be easily extensible as this was mentioned in the previous section

Extensibility
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Extensibility

The .LRN implementation must be easily extensible. The IMS-LD + specification may change in the future, so the .LRN implementation has to + be done taking that into account. The .LRN implementation must be so + flexible in order to adapt to the possible changes of the IMS-LD + specification. This means that if a change is produced in IMS-LD + specification, then this should imply only minor changes in our .LRN + implementation of IMS-LD. Also, if the initial specification should be + extended it should be done in an easy way.

Reusability and standards

The implementation must follow, as much as possible, the standards + defined by the IMS Global Learning Consortium. For example for the + compatibility problem that was mentioned before, there should be an easy + way to modify which .LRN service performs which IMS-LD service, and also + to add a new type of IMS-LD service and the corresponding .LRN service + that will be in charge of dealing with it.

Our XML parser has to be aware of this flexibility, being easy to + modify according to the, probably often, changes or improvements in the + specification. The mapping between the service types and its corresponding + .LRN services can be easily edited via web. Everything that can possibly + change in the near future, must be easily extensible as this was mentioned + in the previous section

7. User Requirements
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7. User Requirements

The user requirements are described in detail in the User Requirements Chapter. In this section we explain in detail the objectives of the imsld package, as well as the way to achieve them.

User Requirements
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User Requirements

The user requirements are described in detail in the User + Requirements Chapter. In this section we explain in detail the objectives + of the IMS-LD package, as well as the way to achieve them.

8. Use Cases
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8. Use Cases

In this Chapter we give some use cases that correspond to frequently applications that can be handled by the ims-ld package

Use Cases
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Use Cases

In this Chapter we give some use cases that correspond to frequently + applications that can be handled by the ims-ld package

9. API
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9. API

The API will be defined during the development phase.

API
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API

The API will be defined during the development phase.

10. Data Model
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10. Data Model

The data model is described in the Data Model Chapter, and it intends to show all the tables where the information will be stored.

The IMS LD specification is large and the number of tables to store all the information is large too. We don't store every information that comes in the IMS LD compliant XML file when parsing it, because there are some metadata and tags that can be ignored, not affecting the behavior of the unit of learning.

Anyway, you can take a look at the data model and see how we store the information in the different tables and how these tables are related betwheen them. As you will notice, the data model is almost the exactly the representation of the tables in the IMS LD Information Model in a relational database, plus some control tables.

Data Model
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Data Model

The data model is described in the Data Model Chapter, and it + intends to show all the tables where the information will be + stored.

The IMS-LD specification is large and the number of tables to store + all the information is large too. We don't store every information that + comes in the IMS-LD compliant XML file when parsing it, because there are + some metadata and tags that can be ignored, not affecting the behavior of + the unit of learning.

Anyway, you can take a look at the data model and see how we store + the information in the different tables and how these tables are related + between them. As you will notice, the data model is almost the exactly the + representation of the tables in the IMS-LD Information Model in a + relational database, plus some control tables.

11. Architectural Model

The architectural model is described in the Architectural Model Chapter, and it presents the general architectural related to the ims-ld package. It explains each part of the system and particullary the ims-ld package, and are described the aspects about the implementation as for example the mapping between .LRN services and IMS LD services,

Architectural Model

The architectural model is described in the Architectural Model + Chapter, and it presents the general architectural related to the ims-ld + package. It explains each part of the system and particularly the ims-ld + package, and are described the aspects about the implementation as for + example the mapping between .LRN services and IMS-LD services,

12. Authors

The specifications for the imsld package have been written by Pedro Muñoz and Jose Pablo Escobedo with help from people within and outside the OpenACS community.

Authors

The specifications for the IMS-LD package have been written by + Pedro + Mu�oz and Jose Pablo + Escobedo with help from people within and outside the OpenACS + community.

1. Importing IMS Learning Design Documents

As we mentioned before in this specification, an IMS LD document is an XML file, so by practical means, we are just dealing with an XML file, which is easy to parse. In this XML file is defined all the unit of learning. We took advantage of the work already done in the assessment package, where an IMS QTI parser was implemented. In the case of the assessment package, the document follows the IMS QTI specification, and it is parsed and imported into the data base. The imsld package will do something similar but with documents following the IMS LD specification, and with the big difference that the MS LD document can not be displayed in only one .LRN package, as happens with IMS QTI. IMS LD deals with activities, roles (users), properties, conditions, workflows, etc, and that is why the imsld package will interact with other .LRN services.

Besides the XML parser, we need .LRN to recognize each one of the activities and roles defined in the IMS LD and to know what to do with each one of them.

The professor or IMS LD designer will only have to enter a path where it is located an IMS LD file and then push upload. By these way a profesor can upload an existing IMS LD file which describes a unit of learning. The IMS LD importer will recognize IMS LD files that are integrated in IMS CP or files that are IMS LD, but are not in an IMS CP.

We call the process of parsing and interpreting the IMS LD document the import stage. This IMS LD document can be generated with any external or internal editor that follows the IMS LD specification, such as LAMS, Coppercore, Reload, etc, wich is one of the main advantages and purposes of following a well defined standNoard.

Interaction Between the IMS-LD package and .LRN Services

The IMS-LD package is a .LRN service (or package, we use these terms + indifferently in this specification when referring to .LRN), which will + interact with some other .LRN services. When writing this specification, + we expect the IMS-LD package to interact with at least the following .LRN + packages:

Forums.
Jabber.
Assessment.
Evaluation (grade book).
Calendar.
News.
FAQ
Notifications.
File Storage.

As we mentioned earlier, the IMS-LD package allows to easily modify + the mappings between the elements of the IMS-LD specification and the .LRN + services. And not only modifying the mappings, but also to add new ones. + By these way if the IMS-LD specification change in some aspect, then the + package will adapt to the new changes easily. From our point of view it is + necessary that in the future the IMS-LD specification adds more tags that + map onto services. By these way compatibility between LMS are obtained, + and if an LMS doesn't understand one tag because it is not available, then + it will be ignored and nothing will be presented to the user.

Besides, we take advantage of the new callbacks used in OpenACS in + order to provide a clean interaction between different .LRN packages. With + the callbacks we can determine if some needed package is not installed, + and instead of displaying an error to the user, try to map the activity or + whatever we are mapping to other package, and if after trying with all the + available packages we can't map the item to .LRN, a message is shown to + the user with this and any other item that could not be mapped by the + system and with the purpose of letting the user to do the manual + mapping.

We have to take into account that the item will not always have all + the necessary information to let the mapping be done easily, but we try to + do our best by providing at least the required information to create the + forum, chat, assessment, task, etc, and if definitively no mapping can be + done, a final error message is shown to the user indicating that there is + at least one item that .LRN can't understand.

2. Interaction Between imsld package and .LRN Services

The imsld package is a .LRN service (or package, we use these terms indifferently in this specification when referring to .LRN), wich will interact with some other .LRN services. When writing this specification, we expect the imsld package to interact with at least the following .LRN packages:

Forums.
Jabber.
Assessment.
Evaluation (grade book).
Calendar.
News.
FAQ
Notifications.
File Storage.

As we mentioned earlier, the imsld package allows to easily modify the mappings between the elemnts of the IMS LD specification and the .LRN services. And not only modifying the mappings, but also to add new ones. By these way if the IMS LD specification change in some aspect, then the package will addapt to the new changes easily. From our point of view it is necessary that in the future the IMS LD specification will add more tags that univoquily mapping with services. By these way compatibility between LMS are obtained, and if an LMS doesn't understand one tag because it is not available, then it will be ignored and nothing will be presented to the user.

Besides, we take advantage of the new callbacks used in OpenACS in order to provide a clean interaction between different .LRN packages. With the callbacks we can determine if some needed package is not installed, and instead of displaying an error to the user, try to map the activity or whatever we are mapping to other package, and if after trying with all the available packages we can't map the item to .LRN, a message is shown to the user with this and any other item that coud not be mapped by the system and with the purpose of leting the user to do the manual mapping.

We have to take into account that the item will not allways have all the necessary information to let the mapping be done easily, but we try to do our best by providing at least the required information to create the forum, chat, assessment, task, etc, and if definetively no mapping can be done, a final error message is shown to the user indicating that there is at least one item that .LRN can't understand.

Editing IMS Learning Design Documents

When writing this specification, we were not thinking about + implementing an IMS-LD editor in the short term. We think that in the + market there are already very good IMS-LD editors, and that instead of + investing efforts and resources in doing one more, we better work in order + to provide a good IMS-LD player and a viewer.

In the future we might work on an editor, but now there is a greater + need of a good player. We therefore provide support for the most commonly + used IMS-LD editors (Reload, Coppercore and LAMS), which we mentioned + above. Even tough there is a standard, there is always something different + in the way each editor makes use of it, and we try to deal with it by + being as flexible as possible, even tough sometimes it is hard to + achieve.

3. Editing IMS Learning Design Documents

When writting this specification, we were not thinking about implementing an IMS LD editor in the short term. We think that in the market there are already very good IMS LD editors, and that instead of investing efforts and resources in doing one more, we better work in order to provide a good IMS LD player and a viewer.

In the future we might work on an editor, but now there is a greater need of a good player. We therefore provide support for the most commonly used IMS LD editors (Reload, Coppercore and LAMS), wich we mentioned above. Even tough there is a standard, there is always something different in the way each editor makes use of it, and we try to deal with it by being as flexible as possible, even tough sometimes it is hard to achieve.

Viewing an IMS-LD Document and Groups assignation

The IMS-LD package provides an IMS-LD viewer that will have two + modes for the professor: off-line mode and on-line mode.

In the off-line mode only the professor will have access and he/she + will be able to see all the plays, acts, properties, conditions, etc. + Definitively, all the things that are described in an IMS-LD document. But + this information of the XML package will not include the mapping between + roles and members of the .LRN course or community. It is the professor who + must do this association before running the IMS-LD for concrete students. + The interface will allow to select the students inside a concrete .LRN + course. This tool will allow to assign students and professors (or other + groups if exists) to the roles defined in the IMS-LD file.

On the other hand, in the on-line mode, it is visualized the IMS-LD + when it is running. It will give to both the teacher and the student + (staff and learner) an overview of the activities in the workflow, i.e. + the visualization of the play, as well as their current status.

For the teacher, the viewer also offers in on-line mode the + possibility of seeing the properties and conditions, tracking the + students, watching the users in every activity of an act, etc. The teacher + is able to view more details in every act and see who has done what. + He/she can verify if a given test is too difficult and the students can't + continue with the flow of the course, or if the teaching method is not + working as planned. The viewer shows the list of acts that conforms the + play, as well as the activities that conforms each act, the list of + students that are part of that given course, etc. It display this + information in a graphical way, in order to make the information easy to + understand. It will also display links to the .LRN services involved, in + case the teacher wants to make use of the functionalities of that specific + package (because eventh ough we make use of them, it doesn't mean that we + are replacing them). In the future the teacher will be able to edit the + sequence of activities from the viewer, when the editor is + finished.

On the other hand, the viewer offers the possibility to the students + to see their status inside the play. They can see how much have completed + and how much they have yet to complete. Of course, when viewing the IMS-LD + level B, this current status is not that easy to see nor to reproduce, + because the workflow can depend on the students themselves because of the + properties and conditions. Even more, there can be sometimes that this + status is impossible to represent (we mean, the exact path that the + student has not completed yet), because the conditions change during the + lifetime of the course. This gets even more complicated when viewing + IMS-LD level C, because it adds the notifications, which combined with the + conditions and properties of level B, can make the play to follow a path + impossible to represent. But no matter what level the student is viewing, + he is able to see what he or she have already done.

4. Viewing an IMS LD Document and Groups assignation

The imsld package provides an IMS LD viewer that will have two modes for the professor: off-line mode and on-line mode.

In the off-line mode only the professor will have access and he/she will be able to see all the plays, acts, properties, conditions, etc. Definitively, all the things that are described in an IMS LD document. But this information of the XML package will not include the mapping between roles and members of the .LRN course or community. It is the professor who must do this association before running the IMS LD for concrete students. The interface will allow to select the students inside a concrete .LRN course. This tool will allow assignate students and professors (or other groups if exists) to the roles defined in the IMS LD file.

On the other hand, in the on-line mode, it is visualized the IMS LD when it is running. It will give to both the teacher and the student (staff and learner) an overview of the activities in the workflow, i.e. the visualization of the play, as well as their current status.

For the teacher, the viewer also offers in on-line mode the possibility of seeing the properties and conditions, tracking the students, watching the users in every activity of an act, etc. The teacher is able to view more details in every act and see who has done what. He/she can verify if a given test is too difficult and the students can't continue with the flow of the course, or if the teaching method is not working as planned. The viewer shows the list of acts that conforms the play, as well as the activities that conforms each act, the list of students that are part of that given course, etc. It display this information in a graphical way, in order to make the information easy to understand. It will also display links to the .LRN services involved, in case the teacher wants to make use of the functionalities of that specific package (because eventhough we make use of them, it doesn't mean that we are replacing them). In the future the teacher will be able to edit the sequence of activities from the viewer, when the editor is finished.

On the other hand, the viewer offers the possibility to the students to see their status inside the play. They can see how much have completed and how much they have yet to complete. Of course, when viewing the IMS LD level B, this current status is not that easy to see nor to reproduce, because the workflow can depend on the students themselves because of the properties and contitions. Even more, there can be sometimes that this status is impossible to represent (we mean, the exact path that the student has not completed yet), because the conditions change during the lifetime of the course. This gets even more complicated when viewing IMS LD level C, because it adds the notifications, wich combined with the conditions and properties of level B, can make the play to follow a path impossible to represent. But no matter what level the student is viewing, he is able to see what he or she have already done.

IMS-LD Player

The player is the part of the IMS-LD package that present to all the + roles of the unit of learning the different activities in a sequence + ordered way based on the properties and conditions.

When deciding how the player should interact with the user, we + thought two different implementations:

Show a little portlet to the user that indicates the next + activity to complete, showing the corresponding link to the + appropriate .LRN package.
Render all the information in a single window, in a centralized + way. Something that the LORS package currently do when playing an + SCORM document.

After analyzing each one of these approaches, we concluded that + rendering all the information in a single window was the better option, + because we think is more simple for the users (teachers and students) to + centralize the visualization instead of following different links, and + also it can give us some kind of control of what the user is doing, and we + can be sure of what the user is actually seeing on his/her screen.

Also, for example if the activity is a forum and we redirect the + user to this forum, the user can easily get distracted and end up reading + a forum that does not form part of the activity. In the other hand, if we + render the forum inside a centralized window, we have the control on the + user's window, and by using some kind of frame, we can easily show any + important message to the user and be sure (well, not entirely), that + he/she read it. Besides, in this centralized window we can show in the + bottom the activities that are completed and, when possible, the ones that + are yet to complete.

Therefore the selected option is the single window. The users + (students, professors, etc.) will see in the single window in a concrete + moment of time, some resource associated with an activity. The user will + have at the left hand a list of the possible activities that he/she can + see in a concrete moment (this depends on the design of the course). The + student can select between the activities presented. Also for each + activity it will be a description that will be shown always if the current + activity is selected by the user (this description will appear in a little + space), and also the user will be able to choice between the different + resources of the associated environment of the activity. Therefore the + student will select between the given resources for the activity. These + resources can be any of the .LRN services or learning objects as files + that comes for example in the IMS CP.

The activities presented to the different roles will change in the + time depending on the different properties and conditions. For example, it + can change depending on the evaluations of the professors, on the results + of the assessments, on the user models, etc. Therefore not all the users + will see the same information because it is personalized depending on + conditions. Also different paths in the workflow can be defined based on + roles.

1. Use Cases

The following Use Cases describe how the ims-ld package for .LRN can be applied in different situations. Some of these Use Cases have been inspired for the experience in the E-LANE project . The ims-ld package for .LRN will have a wide range of capabilities and it could be applied to a wide range of powerful pedagogies and scenarios. Here we explain different Use Cases where this package can be used. The Use Cases doesn't present the detailed diagram about the interactions beween the different roles involved, but they can be easily deduced from the given explanation.

1.1. Integration in the same execution framework of different .LRN packages combined in a workflow

The ims-ld package will communicate with different .LRN services, as part of different activities, presenting them in a prescribed order. The ims-ld package allows to visualize in the same window different .LRN services like assessments, calendar, evaluation(gradebook), forums, FAQs, chat, etc.

With the ims-ld package the user only has to click the execution window link, and then he/she will be able to visualize all the workflow of the activities designed for him/her without having to go to the concrete links.

1.2. Evaluation of the educational process

With the IMS LD package can be used to evaluate the users in the unit of learning (using evaluation, for instance), but it also can evaluate them using the contents and activities of the e-learning process, and even tests, that the professor have designed. Therefore the entire educational process is evaluated. The professor can assign tests for some activities, for some contents, for some users, etc.

As a particular example of this scenario, several contents can be presented to the students grouped in different activities. The activities are presented to the students in a sequencial order and after each activity an assessment associated to its content has to be done. These way the professor can evaluate the students for all the different contents, and also evaluate the content. For example, if the majority of the students fails an exam then it is a signal of a content that could require modification.

Moreover, IMS LD allows to evaluate the process in function of the obtained objectives (learning objectives). The ims-ld package defines overall objectives and objectives for each activity, so an analisys of the obtained objectives can be made with respect to the initial requirements.

1.3. Content Personalization depending on different user properties

The possibility of the ims-ld package of defining personal global properties allows to define a concrete user modeling in the e-learning experience (unit of learning). A user model in ims-ld package can be viewed as a set of global properties for a user. The idea is that a user should follow a particular path in the unit of learning depending on its particular profile. The ims-ld package allows to define concrete sequences along with the contents depending on the user properties and also to show or hide some content inside a document depending on them.

As a particular example, in the E-LANE project we are several different partners, and some or them speak spanish, so at the E-LANE project we have designed different courses in spanish. Each country has its special form of the spanish language, and some words doesn't mean exactly the same in all the countries, also some courses can be applied in some countries but not in others. With the use of IMS LD we can solve this problem, defining a property named country and personalizing each content depending on the country of the user. Therefore, if a word has different meanings in different countries, the system will be show the appropiate word depending on the country property of each user.

1.4. Different paths of contents for users depending on the evaluation of activities or on the assessments results

The ims-ld package allows to define different paths along with the different activities depending on the result of an evaluation of a homework, task, depending on the grade of an assessment or a on combination of several evaluations.

For example, we can define three levels of the student knowlodge: low, medium and high. If a students receive a set of evaluations, assessments, etc. and with the tests results the systems detects that they have a low knowledge level, the system, based on the unit of learning dessign, can detect it and present to the students an easy exercise. Neverless, if the tests show that the student has a high knowledge level, then the system presents to the student a more difficult exercise. By this way we are adapting the content to the necesities and knowledge of the students.

1.5. Give the students exactly what they don't know

Each unit of learning can have a set of prerequisites and a set of objectives. The prerequisites can be considered as the previous related knowledge necessary about a given subject and the objectives can be considered as the future knowledge to aquire. The ims-ld package allows to check if a particular user has the required knowledges (the previous and future ones) using assessments or/and evaluations. This way the system can determine the weak knowledge areas of the students and show them only the knowlodges they don't have. This way, for instance, if the student already knows some concepts of the course, we can avoid to show them because it is a waste of time for the students.

1.6. Repeating activities for students

A student can repeat the same activity if the obtained results are not the desirable or expected ones. He/She can repeat all the activity or only one part of the it. The repeated activity can consist of assessments, forums, content, FAQ, chat, etc.

1.7. Give the students the capacity for selecting options

A user can select different options during the cycle of the unit of learing, for example, checking a checkbox or fullfiling a text box, and depending on this selection he/she can go trough different paths along the course.

1.8. Problem based learning

The ims-ld package allows to use a common framewok for different pedagogical models. One of the most beneficious techniques in order to learn is the problem based learning, where a problem is given to the students and evaluated by a professor.

For example we can apply the Polya model for problem solving. This method has four phases: 1) Understanding the problem 2) Doing a plan 3) Execution of the plan 4) Review and examining the solution.

In IMS LD all of this can be described. Ther could be infinite possibilities for applying this model in IMS LD. This example uses the Polya model appliet to a mathematics problem: We have only one play and one act for this example. The act has one learning-structure which shows the different activities in an stablished order. Each phase of the Polya model will have at least one associated activity.

1) Understanding the problem: The activity consists in reading the enunciation of a problem. The problem is presented to the student as a description. Also, there is a resource inside an enviroment that asks the student the next questions: What are the variables? What are the conditions? Is enough the conditions to determine some variables?, etc. IMS LD can indicate that only when the user answer these questions he/she can move on to the next step. this will be interpreted in our .LRN package and only when this condition is done the student will go to the next step.

2) Doing a plan: The activity consists of thinking an adequate strategy for solving the problem. To help tje student, he/she can consult an enviroment during the activity that consists of a set of files that contains the theoretical concepts thay helps to understand the problem. With the IMS LD specification, the professor can indicate that only when the student push a specific bottom, then he/she will go to the following step. The ims-ld package deal with this case too.

3) Execution of the plan: This phase has two activities. Both of them use the Evaluation(Gradebook) package. The first activity is for the students, they have to do the solution of the problem and submit it to the system. The second one is for the professors and it is a support activity. They have to grade the submissions and also they provide feedback for the students.

4) Reviewing and examining the solution: The student has to debug his/her answer according to the feedback received by the professor. The professor in the previous phase has given the studentsthe solution and they should extend it to other type of problems. In this phase, the students can access the course materials, use the chats, forums, etc, in orther to discuss their ideas among them, and finally they have to take an assessment.

1.9. Learning in student groups

The benefits of working with groups of students in order to learn are well known. The ims-ld package allows this approach in several ways. It allows to define different roles wich in the execution time will be transformed in different groups. Each group can receive a common problem to solve, being in a common forum, chat, etc. Also, there can be different groups with people of different roles, where each person has to do a different task in order to get the work done, wich at the end is discussed by all members of the group.

1.10. Collaboratibe Learning

The ims-ld package allows to produce different ways of Collaboratibe Learning. For example, it can establish that until a certain group doesn't finish one set of activities, then the following activity will not begin. This can be done thanks to the contitoins of the different acts. It also allows the interaction between people with, for example, the notifications of the Level C of IMS LD. Also, for the Collaborative Learning, the chat, forums, etc. can be used.

For example, in a learning experience, until all the members of a group have not finished reading an on-line text, they cannot start a discusison forum about it.

1.11. Learning by Games

As a lot of games requires a sequence of activities and interaction between different roles, then some Games could be modelled as IMS LD, and they could be played using the Player of the ims-ld package

1.12. Reusing Methodologies

The methodology represented in an IMS LD file can be reused for other purposes. For example the methodology of a successful course of "Computer Architecture" could be reused in another course of "Communication Software". Although the content of the courses have nothing in common, the methodology can be reused in the sense of the order of the activities, conditions, services that are going to use, etc.

Use Cases

The following Use Cases describe how the ims-ld package for .LRN can + be applied in different situations. Some of these Use Cases have been + inspired for the experience in the E-LANE project . The ims-ld package for + .LRN will have a wide range of capabilities and it could be applied to a + wide range of powerful pedagogies and scenarios. Here we explain different + Use Cases where this package can be used. The Use Cases doesn't present + the detailed diagram about the interactions between the different roles + involved, but they can be easily deduced from the given + explanation.

Integration in the same execution framework of different .LRN + packages combined in a workflow

The ims-ld package will communicate with different .LRN services, + as part of different activities, presenting them in a prescribed order. + The ims-ld package allows to visualize in the same window different .LRN + services like assessments, calendar, evaluation(gradebook), forums, + FAQs, chat, etc.

With the ims-ld package the user only has to click the execution + window link, and then he/she will be able to visualize all the workflow + of the activities designed for him/her without having to go to the + concrete links.

Evaluation of the educational process

With the IMS-LD package can be used to evaluate the users in the + unit of learning (using evaluation, for instance), but it also can + evaluate them using the contents and activities of the e-learning + process, and even tests, that the professor have designed. Therefore the + entire educational process is evaluated. The professor can assign tests + for some activities, for some contents, for some users, etc.

As a particular example of this scenario, several contents can be + presented to the students grouped in different activities. The + activities are presented to the students in a sequential order and after + each activity an assessment associated to its content has to be done. + These way the professor can evaluate the students for all the different + contents, and also evaluate the content. For example, if the majority of + the students fails an exam then it is a signal of a content that could + require modification.

Moreover, IMS-LD allows to evaluate the process in function of the + obtained objectives (learning objectives). The ims-ld package defines + overall objectives and objectives for each activity, so an analysis of + the obtained objectives can be made with respect to the initial + requirements.

Content Personalization depending on different user + properties

The possibility of the ims-ld package of defining personal global + properties allows to define a concrete user modeling in the e-learning + experience (unit of learning). A user model in ims-ld package can be + viewed as a set of global properties for a user. The idea is that a user + should follow a particular path in the unit of learning depending on its + particular profile. The ims-ld package allows to define concrete + sequences along with the contents depending on the user properties and + also to show or hide some content inside a document depending on + them.

As a particular example, in the E-LANE project we are several + different partners, and some or them speak Spanish, so at the E-LANE + project we have designed different courses in Spanish. Each country has + its special form of the Spanish language, and some words doesn't mean + exactly the same in all the countries, also some courses can be applied + in some countries but not in others. With the use of IMS-LD we can solve + this problem, defining a property named country and personalizing each + content depending on the country of the user. Therefore, if a word has + different meanings in different countries, the system will be show the + appropriate word depending on the country property of each user.

Different paths of contents for users depending on the evaluation + of activities or on the assessments results

The ims-ld package allows to define different paths along with the + different activities depending on the result of an evaluation of a + homework, task, depending on the grade of an assessment or a on + combination of several evaluations.

For example, we can define three levels of the student knowledge: + low, medium and high. If a students receive a set of evaluations, + assessments, etc. and with the tests results the systems detects that + they have a low knowledge level, the system, based on the unit of + learning design, can detect it and present to the students an easy + exercise. Nevertheless, if the tests show that the student has a high + knowledge level, then the system presents to the student a more + difficult exercise. By this way we are adapting the content to the + necessities and knowledge of the students.

Give the students exactly what they don't know

Each unit of learning can have a set of prerequisites and a set of + objectives. The prerequisites can be considered as the previous related + knowledge necessary about a given subject and the objectives can be + considered as the future knowledge to acquire. The ims-ld package allows + to check if a particular user has the required knowledges (the previous + and future ones) using assessments or/and evaluations. This way the + system can determine the weak knowledge areas of the students and show + them only the knowledges they don't have. This way, for instance, if the + student already knows some concepts of the course, we can avoid to show + them because it is a waste of time for the students.

Repeating activities for students

A student can repeat the same activity if the obtained results are + not the desirable or expected ones. He/She can repeat all the activity + or only one part of the it. The repeated activity can consist of + assessments, forums, content, FAQ, chat, etc.

Give the students the capacity for selecting options

A user can select different options during the cycle of the unit + of learning, for example, checking a checkbox or fulfiling a text box, + and depending on this selection he/she can go trough different paths + along the course.

Problem based learning

The ims-ld package allows to use a common framework for different + pedagogical models. One of the most beneficial techniques in order to + learn is the problem based learning, where a problem is given to the + students and evaluated by a professor.

For example we can apply the Polya model for problem solving. This + method has four phases: 1) Understanding the problem 2) Doing a plan 3) + Execution of the plan 4) Review and examining the solution.

In IMS-LD all of this can be described. There could be infinite + possibilities for applying this model in IMS-LD. This example uses the + Polya model appliet to a mathematics problem: We have only one play and + one act for this example. The act has one learning-structure which shows + the different activities in an stablished order. Each phase of the Polya + model will have at least one associated activity.

1) Understanding the problem: The activity consists in reading the + enunciation of a problem. The problem is presented to the student as a + description. Also, there is a resource inside an environment that asks + the student the next questions: What are the variables? What are the + conditions? Is enough the conditions to determine some variables?, etc. + IMS-LD can indicate that only when the user answer these questions + he/she can move on to the next step. this will be interpreted in our + .LRN package and only when this condition is done the student will go to + the next step.

2) Doing a plan: The activity consists of thinking an adequate + strategy for solving the problem. To help tje student, he/she can + consult an environment during the activity that consists of a set of + files that contains the theoretical concepts that helps to understand + the problem. With the IMS-LD specification, the professor can indicate + that only when the student push a specific bottom, then he/she will go + to the following step. The ims-ld package deal with this case + too.

3) Execution of the plan: This phase has two activities. Both of + them use the Evaluation(Gradebook) package. The first activity is for + the students, they have to do the solution of the problem and submit it + to the system. The second one is for the professors and it is a support + activity. They have to grade the submissions and also they provide + feedback for the students.

4) Reviewing and examining the solution: The student has to debug + his/her answer according to the feedback received by the professor. The + professor in the previous phase has given the students the solution and + they should extend it to other type of problems. In this phase, the + students can access the course materials, use the chats, forums, etc, in + order to discuss their ideas among them, and finally they have to take + an assessment.

Learning in student groups

The benefits of working with groups of students in order to learn + are well known. The ims-ld package allows this approach in several ways. + It allows to define different roles which in the execution time will be + transformed in different groups. Each group can receive a common problem + to solve, being in a common forum, chat, etc. Also, there can be + different groups with people of different roles, where each person has + to do a different task in order to get the work done, which at the end + is discussed by all members of the group.

Collaborative Learning

The ims-ld package allows to produce different ways of + Collaborative Learning. For example, it can establish that until a + certain group doesn't finish one set of activities, then the following + activity will not begin. This can be done thanks to the conditoins of + the different acts. It also allows the interaction between people with, + for example, the notifications of the Level C of IMS-LD. Also, for the + Collaborative Learning, the chat, forums, etc. can be used.

For example, in a learning experience, until all the members of a + group have not finished reading an on-line text, they cannot start a + discussion forum about it.

Learning by Games

As a lot of games requires a sequence of activities and + interaction between different roles, then some Games could be modeled as + IMS-LD, and they could be played using the Player of the ims-ld + package

Reusing Methodologies

The methodology represented in an IMS-LD file can be reused for + other purposes. For example the methodology of a successful course of + "Computer Architecture" could be reused in another course of + "Communication Software". Although the content of the courses have + nothing in common, the methodology can be reused in the sense of the + order of the activities, conditions, services that are going to use, + etc.

2. Final Comments

The presented use cases are only a set of examples about some possible applications of the ims-ld package in .LRN, but it is not restricted to this applications. There can be a use case that combines some or all of the ones described above too. For example, a collaboratibe learning activity, problem based and content personalized e-learning experience with an evaluation of the educational process is possible. Whichever other combinations are also possible.

We have tried to represent the more common applications but there are some other applications that can be applied with the ims-ld package and have not been mentioned.

In Summary the ims-ld package provides a wide range of possibilities for both teachers and students, and many different and interesting use cases have been exposed.

Final Comments

The presented use cases are only a set of examples about some + possible applications of the ims-ld package in .LRN, but it is not + restricted to this applications. There can be a use case that combines + some or all of the ones described above too. For example, a collaborative + learning activity, problem based and content personalized e-learning + experience with an evaluation of the educational process is possible. + Whichever other combinations are also possible.

We have tried to represent the more common applications but there + are some other applications that can be applied with the ims-ld package + and have not been mentioned.

In Summary the ims-ld package provides a wide range of possibilities + for both teachers and students, and many different and interesting use + cases have been exposed.

1. Level A

imsld_imslds: This table is used to store all the units of learning. This is the high level in the hierarchy. Each IMS LD file loaded in .LRN will generate an entrance in this table. This table contains all the different units of learning. Each unit of learning will contain global information and also references to other tables for having all the required information of a unit of learning
- imsld_id - identifier
- version - version number
- uri - uri of the imsld
- level - A, B or C. It is the level of the IMS LD file that arrive
- sequence_p - sequence used, true or false. True means simple sequencing is being used. Defaults to false
- learning_objective_id - references imsld_learning_objectives
- title
- method_id - references imsld_methods
- prerequisite_id - references imsld_itemmodel
- component_id - references imsld_components
- complete_unit_of_learning_id - references complete_unit_of_learning
imsld_complete_unit_of_learning. This tables describes the actions to do when a unit of learning is completed
- complete_unit_of_learning_id
- when_property_value_is_set_id * - references imsld_when_property_value_is_set
imsld_prerequisites. It has all the prerequisites of a unit of learning. These are the previous knolowdges that are required for doing the unit of learning
- prerequisite_id
- prerequisite_item - references imsld_items
imsld_components: Used to store all the components of the IMS LD
- component_id
- role_id - references imsld_roles
- activity_id - references imsld_activities
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
- property_id * - references imsld_properties
imsld_roles. This table contains all the defined roles
- role_id - references imsld_roles
- role_types - references role_types_id
- create_new_p - multopleoccurrences of this role may be created during runtime?
- match_n_persons - exclusively-in-roles, not-esclusively
- max_persons. Maximum number of persons for this role
- min_persons. Minimum number of persons for this role
- role_name. The name of the role
- information_id - references imsld_items
- role_parent_id. The parent role. This allows a hierarchy of roles. The root of the hierarchy are learner and stuff, which has not a parent role
imsld_activities. This table defines the three types of activities in IMS LD: learning activities, support activities and structure activities. These three tables references to this table
- activity_id
- activity_structure_id - references imsld_activity_structures
imsld_learning_activities. This table stores all the learning activities of IMS LD
- learning_activity_id - references imsld_activities
- title
- isvisible_p - initial visibility attribute. Initial value: true
- learning_obective_id - references imsld_learning_objectives
- prerequisite_id - refereces imsld_itemmodel
- parameter_id - references imsld_parameters
- activity_description_id - references imsld_items
- complete_activity_id - references complete_activities
- on_completion_id * - references imsld_on_completions
imsld_complete_activities. This is a table where for each entry is specified when an activity is considered completed
- complete_activity_id
- user_choice - the user specifies that this activity is completed
- time_limit - references imsld_time_limits. The activity is completed when the time is completed
- when_property_value_is_set_id * - references imsld_when_property_value_is_set
imsld_learning_activity_environments_map This table maps learning activities with enviroments
- learning_activity_id - references imsld_learning_activities
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
imsld_support_activities. This table stores all the support activities of IMS LD
- support_activity_id - references imsld_activities
- component_id - references imsld_components
- isvisible_p - initial visibility attribute. Initial value: true
- title. The name of the support activity
- activity_description_id - references imsld_items
- complete_activity_id - references imsld_complete_activities
- on_completion_id - references imsld_on_completions
imsld_support_activity_roles_map. This table maps a support role to an activity
- support_activity_id - references imsld_support_activities
- role_id - references imsld_roles
imsld_support_activity_environments_map. This table maps support activities with enviroments
- support_activity_id - references imsld_support_activities
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
imsld_activity_structures. This table contains all the activity structures of IMS LD. Each entry is one activity structure.
- activity_structure_id - references imsld_activities
- number_to_select - if not null, the activity structure is completed when the number of activities completed equals the number set
- sort - possible values: as-is, visibility-order
- structure_type - sequence or selection
- title. The name of the activity structure
- information_id - references imsld_items
imsld_activity_structure_choices
- choice_id
- learning_activity_id - references imsld_learning_activities
- support_activity_id - references imsld_support_atcivities
- unit_of_learning_id - references imsld_imslds
- activity_structure_id - references imsld_activity_structures
imsld_activity_structure_choices_map
- activity_structure_id - references imsld_activity_structures
- choice_id - references imsld_activity_structure_choices
imsld_activity_structure_environments_map
- activity_structure_id - references imsld_activity_structures
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
imsld_environments
- environment_id
imsld_enviromnent_instances
- enviroment_id - references imsld_environments
- environmen_instance_id
- title
imsld_environment_instance_choices
- choice_id
- learning_object_id - references imsld_learning_objects
- service_id - references imsld_services
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
imsld_environment_instances_environment_instance_choices_map
- choice_id - references imsld_environment_instance_choices
- environment_instance_id - references imsld_enviromnent_instances
imsld_learning_objects
- learning_object_id
- class
- isvisible_p - the user decides when the activity is completed?
- parameter_id - references imsld_parameters
- type - knowledge-object, tool-object, test-object, etc. (learning resource type from the IEEE LTSC LOM)
- item_sequence_id - references ims_leanring_object_item_sequences
- schema_sequence_id - references ims_learning_object_schema_sequences
- item_id - references imsld_items
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
imsld_learning_object_item_sequences: First sequence of the learning objects
- sequence_id
- title
ims_learning_object_schema_sequences: Second sequence of the learning objects
- sequence_id
- schema
- schemaversion
imsld_learning_object_item_sequence_items_map
- sequence_id - references imsld_learning_object_item_sequences
- item_id - references imsld_items
imsld_parameters: Table for holding the parameter values. This table will possible dissapear, depending if in the development phase there is the need of storing more information about the parameters
- parameter_id
- parameter_value
imsld_services. It contains all the services
- service_id
- class
- identifier
- isvisible_p
- parameter_id
- email_service - (send_mail) references imsld_email_services
- conference_service_id - references imsld_conference_services
- index_search_id - refernces imsld_index_search_services
imsld_email_services. It describes all the email services
- email_id - references imsld_services
- select - all-persons-in-role, persons-in-role
- title
imsld_email_data
- email_data_id
- role_id - references imsld_roles
- email_property_id - references imsld_properties *
- username_property_id - references imsld_properties *
imsld_email_service_email_data_map
- email_id - references imsld_email_services
- email_data_id - references imsld_email_data
imsld_conference_services
- conference_id
- conference_type - synchronous, asynchronos or announcement
- title
- conference_manager_id - references imsld_roles
- moderator_id - references imsld_roles
- item_id - references imsld_items
imsld_conference_participants_or_observers_map
- conference_id - references imsld_conference_services
- role_id - references imsld_roles
imsld_index_search_services
- search_service_id
- title
- index_class - this element selects the clss to make the index on
- index_element - this element selects the element to make the index on
- index_type_of_element - type of element to index on
- search - how a user can access the indexed entities
- search_type - type of search facility that is expected at runtime: free-text-search, index-with-reference, index-without-reference
imsld_learning_objectives. This table contains all the different objectives of the different unit of learning and activities. Each entry of this table is a set of objectives. A set of objectives is symbolized by an itemmodel_id
- learning_objective_id
- itemmodel_id - references imsld_itemmodels
imsld_methods
- method_id
- time_limit_id - references imsld_time_limits. If not null, the mehod is completed when this time has been completed, otherwise, the method is completed when all the plays mapped to this method through the imsld_plays_to_complete_method are completed
- on_completion_id - references imsld_on_completions
- condition_id * - references imsld_conditions
imsld_plays_to_complete_method. It contains all the plays that has a method. Each play can be selected in parallel by an user during the delivering of a unit of learning
- method_id
- play_id
imsld_plays
- play_id
- isvisible_p - the user decides when the activity is completed?
- title
- complete_play_id - references imsld_complete_play
- on_completion_id - references imsld_on_completions
imsld_complete_play
- complete_play_id
- when_last_act_completed - references imsld_acts. The play is completed when this act is completed
- time_limit_id - references imsld_time_limits. The play is completed when this time is completed
- when_property_value_is_set_id * - references imsld_when_property_value_is_set
imsld_method_plays_map
- method_id - references imsld_methods
- play_id - references imsld_plays
imsld_play_acts_map
- play_id - references imsld_plays
- act_id - references imsld_acts
imsld_acts
- act_id
- title
- complete_act_id - refrences imsld_complete_acts
- on_completion_id - references on_completion
- when_condition_true * - references imsld_when_condition_true
imsld_complete_acts
- complete_act_id
- time_limit_id - references imsld_complete_acts. When not null, the act is completed when this time has been completed, otherwise, the act is completed until all role parts mapped to this complete_act_id trhoug the imsld_act_role_parts are completed
- when_property_value_is_set_id * - references imsld_when_property_value_is_set
imsld_act_role_parts
- complete_act_id - references imsld_acts
- role_part_id - references imsld_part_id
imsld_act_role_parts_map
- role_part_id - references imsld_role_parts
- act_id - references imsld_acts
imsld_role_part_choices
- choice_id
- learning_activity_id - references imsld_learning_activities
- support_activity_id - references imsld_support_activities
- unit_of_learning_id - references imsld_imslds
- activity_structure_id - references imsld_activity_strutcures
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
imsld_role_parts - mapping table between acts and roles
- role_part_id
- title
- role_id - references imsld_roles
- choice_id - references imsld_role_part_choices
imsld_on_completion
- on_completion_id
- feedback_description_id - references imsld_itemmodels
- change_property_value_id * - references imsld_change_property_value
- notification_id - references imsld_notifications **
imsld_itemmodels. This is a table that contains a text and an id. In conjuction with the tables imsld_itemmodel and imsld_itemmodel_items_map allow to associate several items to the same itemmodel.
- title
- itemmodel_id
imsld_itemmodel_items_map
- item_id - references imsld_items
- itemmodel_id - references imsld_itemmodels
imsld_items. Items are used for multiple purporses in other tables. For example it can describe objectives, prerequisites, references to files, etc.
- item_id
- identifier. Unique identifier for the IMS LD
- identifierref. It references the IMS CP
- isvisible_p.
- parameter_id
- title: A text that can represent a prerrequisite, an objective, the name of a file, etc.
- parent_item - references imsld_items. An item can reference to another item, wich is a sub-item or child of the one referencing it.
imsld_time_limits
- time_limit_id
- time_limit - amount of time in a specific format
- property_id * - references imsld_properties

Next, the tables necessary for Level A are draw in the form of an E-R diagram

Level A

imsld_imslds: This table is used to store all the units of + learning. This is the high level in the hierarchy. Each IMS-LD file + loaded in .LRN will generate an entrance in this table. This table + contains all the different units of learning. Each unit of learning + will contain global information and also references to other tables + for having all the required information of a unit of learning
- imsld_id - identifier
- version - version number
- uri - uri of the imsld
- level - A, B or C. It is the level of the IMS-LD file that + arrive
- sequence_p - sequence used, true or false. True means + simple sequencing is being used. Defaults to false
- learning_objective_id - references + imsld_learning_objectives
- title
- method_id - references imsld_methods
- prerequisite_id - references imsld_itemmodel
- component_id - references imsld_components
- complete_unit_of_learning_id - references + complete_unit_of_learning
imsld_complete_unit_of_learning. This tables describes the + actions to do when a unit of learning is completed
- complete_unit_of_learning_id
- when_property_value_is_set_id ** - references + imsld_when_property_value_is_set
imsld_prerequisites. It has all the prerequisites of a unit of + learning. These are the previous knolowdges that are required for + doing the unit of learning
- prerequisite_id
- prerequisite_item - references imsld_items
imsld_components: Used to store all the components of the + IMS-LD
- component_id
- role_id - references imsld_roles
- activity_id - references imsld_activities
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
- property_id ** - references imsld_properties
imsld_roles. This table contains all the defined roles
- role_id - references imsld_roles
- role_types - references role_types_id
- create_new_p - multopleoccurrences of this role may be + created during runtime?
- match_n_persons - exclusively-in-roles, + not-exclusively
- max_persons. Maximum number of persons for this + role
- min_persons. Minimum number of persons for this + role
- role_name. The name of the role
- information_id - references imsld_items
- role_parent_id. The parent role. This allows a hierarchy + of roles. The root of the hierarchy are learner and stuff, which + has not a parent role
imsld_activities. This table defines the three types of + activities in IMS-LD: learning activities, support activities and + structure activities. These three tables references to this + table
- activity_id
- activity_structure_id - references + imsld_activity_structures
imsld_learning_activities. This table stores all the learning + activities of IMS-LD
- learning_activity_id - references imsld_activities
- title
- isvisible_p - initial visibility attribute. Initial value: + true
- learning_objective_id - references + imsld_learning_objectives
- prerequisite_id - references imsld_itemmodel
- parameter_id - references imsld_parameters
- activity_description_id - references imsld_items
- complete_activity_id - references + complete_activities
- on_completion_id ** - references + imsld_on_completions
imsld_complete_activities. This is a table where for each + entry is specified when an activity is considered completed
- complete_activity_id
- user_choice - the user specifies that this activity is + completed
- time_limit - references imsld_time_limits. The activity is + completed when the time is completed
- when_property_value_is_set_id ** - references + imsld_when_property_value_is_set
imsld_learning_activity_environments_map This table maps + learning activities with environments
- learning_activity_id - references + imsld_learning_activities
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
imsld_support_activities. This table stores all the support + activities of IMS-LD
- support_activity_id - references imsld_activities
- component_id - references imsld_components
- isvisible_p - initial visibility attribute. Initial value: + true
- title. The name of the support activity
- activity_description_id - references imsld_items
- complete_activity_id - references + imsld_complete_activities
- on_completion_id - references imsld_on_completions
imsld_support_activity_roles_map. This table maps a support + role to an activity
- support_activity_id - references + imsld_support_activities
- role_id - references imsld_roles
imsld_support_activity_environments_map. This table maps + support activities with environments
- support_activity_id - references + imsld_support_activities
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
imsld_activity_structures. This table contains all the + activity structures of IMS-LD. Each entry is one activity + structure.
- activity_structure_id - references imsld_activities
- number_to_select - if not null, the activity structure is + completed when the number of activities completed equals the + number set
- sort - possible values: as-is, visibility-order
- structure_type - sequence or selection
- title. The name of the activity structure
- information_id - references imsld_items
imsld_activity_structure_choices
- choice_id
- learning_activity_id - references + imsld_learning_activities
- support_activity_id - references + imsld_support_atcivities
- unit_of_learning_id - references imsld_imslds
- activity_structure_id - references + imsld_activity_structures
imsld_activity_structure_choices_map
- activity_structure_id - references + imsld_activity_structures
- choice_id - references + imsld_activity_structure_choices
imsld_activity_structure_environments_map
- activity_structure_id - references + imsld_activity_structures
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
imsld_environments
- environment_id
imsld_environmnent_instances
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
- environmen_instance_id
- title
imsld_environment_instance_choices
- choice_id
- learning_object_id - references + imsld_learning_objects
- service_id - references imsld_services
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
imsld_environment_instances_environment_instance_choices_map
- choice_id - references + imsld_environment_instance_choices
- environment_instance_id - references + imsld_environmnent_instances
imsld_learning_objects
- learning_object_id
- class
- isvisible_p - the user decides when the activity is + completed?
- parameter_id - references imsld_parameters
- type - knowledge-object, tool-object, test-object, etc. + (learning resource type from the IEEE LTSC LOM)
- item_sequence_id - references + ims_leanring_object_item_sequences
- schema_sequence_id - references + ims_learning_object_schema_sequences
- item_id - references imsld_items
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
imsld_learning_object_item_sequences: First sequence of the + learning objects
- sequence_id
- title
ims_learning_object_schema_sequences: Second sequence of the + learning objects
- sequence_id
- schema
- schemaversion
imsld_learning_object_item_sequence_items_map
- sequence_id - references + imsld_learning_object_item_sequences
- item_id - references imsld_items
imsld_parameters: Table for holding the parameter values. This + table will possible dissapear, depending if in the development phase + there is the need of storing more information about the + parameters
- parameter_id
- parameter_value
imsld_services. It contains all the services
- service_id
- class
- identifier
- isvisible_p
- parameter_id
- email_service - (send_mail) references + imsld_email_services
- conference_service_id - references + imsld_conference_services
- index_search_id - refernces + imsld_index_search_services
imsld_email_services. It describes all the email + services
- email_id - references imsld_services
- select - all-persons-in-role, persons-in-role
- title
imsld_email_data
- email_data_id
- role_id - references imsld_roles
- email_property_id - references imsld_properties **
- username_property_id - references imsld_properties + **
imsld_email_service_email_data_map
- email_id - references imsld_email_services
- email_data_id - references imsld_email_data
imsld_conference_services
- conference_id
- conference_type - synchronous, asynchronous or + announcement
- title
- conference_manager_id - references imsld_roles
- moderator_id - references imsld_roles
- item_id - references imsld_items
imsld_conference_participants_or_observers_map
- conference_id - references + imsld_conference_services
- role_id - references imsld_roles
imsld_index_search_services
- search_service_id
- title
- index_class - this element selects the calss to make the + index on
- index_element - this element selects the element to make + the index on
- index_type_of_element - type of element to index on
- search - how a user can access the indexed entities
- search_type - type of search facility that is expected at + runtime: free-text-search, index-with-reference, + index-without-reference
imsld_learning_objectives. This table contains all the + different objectives of the different unit of learning and + activities. Each entry of this table is a set of objectives. A set + of objectives is symbolized by an itemmodel_id
- learning_objective_id
- itemmodel_id - references imsld_itemmodels
imsld_methods
- method_id
- time_limit_id - references imsld_time_limits. If not null, + the method is completed when this time has been completed, + otherwise, the method is completed when all the plays mapped to + this method through the imsld_plays_to_complete_method are + completed
- on_completion_id - references imsld_on_completions
- condition_id ** - references imsld_conditions
imsld_plays_to_complete_method. It contains all the plays that + has a method. Each play can be selected in parallel by an user + during the delivering of a unit of learning
- method_id
- play_id
imsld_plays
- play_id
- isvisible_p - the user decides when the activity is + completed?
- title
- complete_play_id - references imsld_complete_play
- on_completion_id - references imsld_on_completions
imsld_complete_play
- complete_play_id
- when_last_act_completed - references imsld_acts. The play + is completed when this act is completed
- time_limit_id - references imsld_time_limits. The play is + completed when this time is completed
- when_property_value_is_set_id * - references + imsld_when_property_value_is_set
imsld_method_plays_map
- method_id - references imsld_methods
- play_id - references imsld_plays
imsld_play_acts_map
- play_id - references imsld_plays
- act_id - references imsld_acts
imsld_acts
- act_id
- title
- complete_act_id - references imsld_complete_acts
- on_completion_id - references on_completion
- when_condition_true ** - references + imsld_when_condition_true
imsld_complete_acts
- complete_act_id
- time_limit_id - references imsld_complete_acts. When not + null, the act is completed when this time has been completed, + otherwise, the act is completed until all role parts mapped to + this complete_act_id trhoug the imsld_act_role_parts are + completed
- when_property_value_is_set_id ** - references + imsld_when_property_value_is_set
imsld_act_role_parts
- complete_act_id - references imsld_acts
- role_part_id - references imsld_part_id
imsld_act_role_parts_map
- role_part_id - references imsld_role_parts
- act_id - references imsld_acts
imsld_role_part_choices
- choice_id
- learning_activity_id - references + imsld_learning_activities
- support_activity_id - references + imsld_support_activities
- unit_of_learning_id - references imsld_imslds
- activity_structure_id - references + imsld_activity_structures
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
imsld_role_parts - mapping table between acts and roles
- role_part_id
- title
- role_id - references imsld_roles
- choice_id - references imsld_role_part_choices
imsld_on_completion
- on_completion_id
- feedback_description_id - references + imsld_itemmodels
- change_property_value_id ** - references + imsld_change_property_value
- notification_id - references imsld_notifications + ***
imsld_itemmodels. This is a table that contains a text and an + id. In conjunction with the tables imsld_itemmodel and + imsld_itemmodel_items_map allow to associate several items to the + same itemmodel.
- title
- itemmodel_id
imsld_itemmodel_items_map
- item_id - references imsld_items
- itemmodel_id - references imsld_itemmodels
imsld_items. Items are used for multiple purposes in other + tables. For example it can describe objectives, prerequisites, + references to files, etc.
- item_id
- identifier. Unique identifier for the IMS-LD
- identifierref. It references the IMS CP
- isvisible_p.
- parameter_id
- title: A text that can represent a prerequisite, an + objective, the name of a file, etc.
- parent_item - references imsld_items. An item can + reference to another item, which is a sub-item or child of the + one referencing it.
imsld_time_limits
- time_limit_id
- time_limit - amount of time in a specific format
- property_id ** - references imsld_properties

Next, the tables necessary for Level A are draw in the + form of an E-R diagram

2. Level B

Level B extends the table email_data and add: username_property_id and email_property_id * Next is shown the E-R diagram for these tables

imsld_properties (add a reference to properties from imsld_components and time_limits *)
- property_id
imsld_loc_locpers_locrole_properties: Combined table for the loc, locpers and locrole properties
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- title. The name of the property
- datatype - references imsld_datatypes
- initial_value
imsld_globpers_glob_property: Combined table for the glob and globpers properties
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- global_definition_id - references imsld_global_definitions
- existing
imsld_global_definitions
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- uri
- title
- global_definition
- datatype_id
- initial_value
imsld_property_groups
- property_group_id
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- title
imsld_group_property_coices
- choice_id
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- proerty_group_id - references imsld_property_groups
imsld_restrictions
- restriction_id
- restriction_type - minExclusive, minInclusive, maxExclusive, maxInclusive, totalDigits, fractionDigits, length, minLength, maxLength, enumeration, whiteSpace, pattern
- restriction
imsld_property_restrictions_map
- restriction_id - references imsld_restrictions
- property_id - references imsld_properties
imsld_datatypes
- datatype_id
- datatype - string, boolean, integer, uri, datetime, file, real, tet, duration, other
imsld_when_property_value_is_set (add a reference to this table from the tables: complete_activities, complete_act, complete_play and complete_unit_of_learning *)
- when_property_value_is_set_id
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- property_value_id - references property_values
imsld_property_values
- property_value_id
- langstirng
- calculate_id - references imsld_calculates
- property_id - references imsld_properties
imsld_change_property_values: A reference to this table must be added from the imsld_on_completion table in level A
- change_property_value_id
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- property_vaue_id - references property_values
imsld_monitors
- monitor_id
- serivce_id - references imsld_services
- monitor_choice_id - references imsld_monitor_choices
imsld_monitor_choices
- choice_id
- role_id - references imsld_roles
- self - references imsld_roles
imsld_conditions: A reference to this table must be added fom the table imsld_methods in level A
- condition_id
- title
imsld_sequences
- sequence_id
- condition_id - references imsld_conditions
- sequence_sort - to know how to evaluate the condition
- if_id - references imsld_ifs
imsld_then_model
- then_model_id
- show_id - references imsld_show_hide
- hide_id - references imsld_show_hide
- change_property_value
imsld_ifs
- if_id
- expression_id - references imsld_expressions
- true_thenmodel_id - 'then', evaluated if the expression is true. References imsld_then_model
- false_thenmodel_id - 'else', evaluated if the expresison is false. References imsld_then_model
imsld_expressions - table holding the expressions. Instead of makin a table for each type of expression, we store the expression_type and according to that value we know what other attributes in the table have to be stored in order to use them
- expression_id
- expression_type - is-member-of-role, is, is-not, and, or, sum, substract, multiply, divide, greater-than, less-than, users-in-role, no-vaue, time-unit-of-learning-started, datetime-activity-started, current-datetime, complete, not
- expression_id - references imsld_expressions
- calculate_id - references imsld_calculates
- expression_one_id - references imsld_expressions
- expression_two_id - references imsld_expressions
- role_id - references imsld_roles
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- time_unit_of_learning_started
- datetime_activity_started
- current_datetime
imsld_calculates
- calculate_id
- right_operand - references imsld_operands
- left_operand - references imsld_operands
imsld_operands
- operand_id
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- property_value - references imsld_property_values
- expression_id - refernces imsld_expressions
imsld_when_condition_true (add a reference from the imsld_complete_acts table *)
- when_condition_true_id
- role_id - references imsld_roles
- expression_id - references imsld_expressions
imsld_show_hide
- show_hide_id
- class
- item_id - references imsld_items
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
- learning_activity_id - references imsld_learning_activities
- support_activity_id - references imsld_support_atctivities
- activity_structure_id - references imsld_activity_structures
- play_id - references imsld_plays
- unit_of_learning_id - references imsld_imslds
imsld_global_elements
- global_element_id
- view_set_property_id - references view_set_properties
imsld_view_set_properties
- view_set_property_id
- type - view-property, view-property-group, set-property, set-property-group
- href
- property_of - self or supporter-person
- ref
- view - value or title-value
- max_transactions
- transaction_type
- notification_id - references imsld_notifications **

Level B

Level B extends the table email_data and add: username_property_id + and email_property_id (**) Next is shown the E-R diagram for these + tables

imsld_properties (add a reference to properties from + imsld_components and time_limits **)
- property_id
imsld_loc_locpers_locrole_properties: Combined table for the + loc, locpers and locrole properties
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- title. The name of the property
- datatype - references imsld_datatypes
- initial_value
imsld_globpers_glob_property: Combined table for the glob and + globpers properties
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- global_definition_id - references + imsld_global_definitions
- existing
imsld_global_definitions
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- uri
- title
- global_definition
- datatype_id
- initial_value
imsld_property_groups
- property_group_id
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- title
imsld_group_property_choices
- choice_id
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- proerty_group_id - references imsld_property_groups
imsld_restrictions
- restriction_id
- restriction_type - minExclusive, minInclusive, maxExclusive, + maxInclusive, totalDigits, fractionDigits, length, minLength, + maxLength, enumeration, whiteSpace, pattern
- restriction
imsld_property_restrictions_map
- restriction_id - references imsld_restrictions
- property_id - references imsld_properties
imsld_datatypes
- datatype_id
- datatype - string, boolean, integer, uri, datetime, file, + real, tet, duration, other
imsld_when_property_value_is_set (add a reference to this table + from the tables: complete_activities, complete_act, complete_play and + complete_unit_of_learning **)
- when_property_value_is_set_id
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- property_value_id - references property_values
imsld_property_values
- property_value_id
- langstring
- calculate_id - references imsld_calculates
- property_id - references imsld_properties
imsld_change_property_values: A reference to this table must be + added from the imsld_on_completion table in level A
- change_property_value_id
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- property_value_id - references property_values
imsld_monitors
- monitor_id
- service_id - references imsld_services
- monitor_choice_id - references imsld_monitor_choices
imsld_monitor_choices
- choice_id
- role_id - references imsld_roles
- self - references imsld_roles
imsld_conditions: A reference to this table must be added from + the table imsld_methods in level A
- condition_id
- title
imsld_sequences
- sequence_id
- condition_id - references imsld_conditions
- sequence_sort - to know how to evaluate the condition
- if_id - references imsld_ifs
imsld_then_model
- then_model_id
- show_id - references imsld_show_hide
- hide_id - references imsld_show_hide
- change_property_value
imsld_ifs
- if_id
- expression_id - references imsld_expressions
- true_thenmodel_id - 'then', evaluated if the expression is + true. References imsld_then_model
- false_thenmodel_id - 'else', evaluated if the expression is + false. References imsld_then_model
imsld_expressions - table holding the expressions. Instead of + making a table for each type of expression, we store the + expression_type and according to that value we know what other + attributes in the table have to be stored in order to use them
- expression_id
- expression_type - is-member-of-role, is, is-not, and, or, + sum, subtract, multiply, divide, greater-than, less-than, + users-in-role, no-value, time-unit-of-learning-started, + datetime-activity-started, current-datetime, complete, not
- expression_id - references imsld_expressions
- calculate_id - references imsld_calculates
- expression_one_id - references imsld_expressions
- expression_two_id - references imsld_expressions
- role_id - references imsld_roles
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- time_unit_of_learning_started
- datetime_activity_started
- current_datetime
imsld_calculates
- calculate_id
- right_operand - references imsld_operands
- left_operand - references imsld_operands
imsld_operands
- operand_id
- property_id - references imsld_properties
- property_value - references imsld_property_values
- expression_id - references imsld_expressions
imsld_when_condition_true (add a reference from the + imsld_complete_acts table **)
- when_condition_true_id
- role_id - references imsld_roles
- expression_id - references imsld_expressions
imsld_show_hide
- show_hide_id
- class
- item_id - references imsld_items
- environment_id - references imsld_environments
- learning_activity_id - references + imsld_learning_activities
- support_activity_id - references + imsld_support_activities
- activity_structure_id - references + imsld_activity_structures
- play_id - references imsld_plays
- unit_of_learning_id - references imsld_imslds
imsld_global_elements
- global_element_id
- view_set_property_id - references view_set_properties
imsld_view_set_properties
- view_set_property_id
- type - view-property, view-property-group, set-property, + set-property-group
- href
- property_of - self or supporter-person
- ref
- view - value or title-value
- max_transactions
- transaction_type
- notification_id - references imsld_notifications ***

3. Level C

Level C modity the imsld_email_data (**), add a reference to imsld_notifications table from imsld_on_completion, imsld_thens and imsld_view_set_properties table (**). Next is shown the E-R diagram that adds Level C

imsld_notifications
- notification_id
- choice_id - references imsld_notifications_choice
- subject
imsld_notification_emails_data_map
- notification_id - references imsld_notifications
- email_data_id - references imsld_email_data
imsld_notifications_choice
- choice_id
- learning_activity_id - references imsld_learning_activities
- support_activity_id - references imsld_support_activities

Level C

Modify the imsld_email_data (***), add a reference to + imsld_notifications table from imsld_on_completion, imsld_thens and + imsld_view_set_properties table (***). Next is shown the E-R diagram that + adds Level C

imsld_notifications
- notification_id
- choice_id - references imsld_notifications_choice
- subject
imsld_notification_emails_data_map
- notification_id - references imsld_notifications
- email_data_id - references imsld_email_data
imsld_notifications_choice
- choice_id
- learning_activity_id - references + imsld_learning_activities
- support_activity_id - references + imsld_support_activities

4. Run Tables

The previous tables are referred to the IMS LD specifications level A, B and C. They have all the information necessary to map an XML conformant IMS LD document to the tables in the .LRN platform. But also, for the ims-ld package to interact with real users, we need additional tables. These new tables are necessary for the execution of the player where the information is sequenced to the student. These tables are described in this Section. Next is shown the E-R diagram for these tables

imsld_party_roles_map. This table maps parties of a .LRN course to the roles defined in the IMS LD document. A party can be either a user or a group. One party can belong to several roles.
- party_id references parties
- role_id references imsld_roles
imsld_parties_property_values_map. This table maps parties of a .LRN course to the properties defined in the IMS LD document. One party can have several property values to establish. The properties can be local or global.
- party_id references parties
- property_id references imsld_properties
- property_value. This is the value of the property for the party in a current moment. The value can change during the delivering of the unit of learning
imsld_roles_property_values_map. This table maps roles of the IMS LD document to the properties of the IMS LD document. One role can have several property values to establish. The properties can only be local.
- roles_id references imsld_roles
- property_id references imsld_properties
- property_value. This is the value of the property for the role in a current moment. The value can change during the delivering of the unit of learning
imsld_property_values. This table stores the values of the properties that are common for all the users of the the IMS LD document. There can be several property values to establish. The properties can be local or global.
- property_id references imsld_properties
- property_value. This is the value of the property for the role in a current moment. The value can change during the delivering of the unit of learninging

imsld_parties_activities_audit. This table stores all the .LRN parties information about the IMS LD delivering that is of interest. related to activities At present we have defined only a little information, but in the future this information may be expanded. Each entry of the table has an activity that has been realized by a party.
- party_id references parties
- activity_id references imsld_activity
- delivering_order. It represents the order of visualization of the activity in the sequence of activities
- selected_p. It is true if the party select by himself the activity. It is false if the activity was sequenced to the party
- start_time. The start time of the activity
- end_time. The end time of the activity
- done_p. It is true if the activity is complete
- act_id references ismld_parties_acts_audit

imsld_parties_acts_audit. This table stores all the .LRN parties information about the IMS LD delivering that is of interest related to acts. At present we have defined only a little information, but in the future this information may be expanded. Each entry of the table has an act that has been realized by a party.
- party_id references parties
- act_id references imsld_acts
- start_time. The start time of the act
- end_time. The end time of the activity
- done_p. It is true if the act is complete
imsld_parties_plays_audit. This table stores all the .LRN parties information about the IMS LD delivering that is of interest related to plays. At present we have defined only a little information, but in the future this information may be expanded. Each entry of the table has an act that has been realized by a party.
- party_id references parties
- play_id references imsld_plays
- start_time.The start time of the act
- end_time. The end time of the activity
- done_p. It is true if the act is complete

Run Tables

The previous tables are referred to the IMS-LD specifications level + A, B and C. They have all the information necessary to map an XML + compliant IMS-LD document to the tables in the .LRN platform. But also, + for the ims-ld package to interact with real users, we need additional + tables. These new tables are necessary for the execution of the player + where the information is sequenced to the student. These tables are + described in this Section. Next is shown the E-R diagram for these + tables

imsld_party_roles_map. This table maps parties of a .LRN course + to the roles defined in the IMS-LD document. A party can be either a + user or a group. One party can belong to several roles.
- party_id references parties
- role_id references imsld_roles
imsld_parties_property_values_map. This table maps parties of a + .LRN course to the properties defined in the IMS-LD document. One + party can have several property values to establish. The properties + can be local or global.
- party_id references parties
- property_id references imsld_properties
- property_value. This is the value of the property for the + party in a current moment. The value can change during the + delivering of the unit of learning
imsld_roles_property_values_map. This table maps roles of the + IMS-LD document to the properties of the IMS-LD document. One role can + have several property values to establish. The properties can only be + local.
- roles_id references imsld_roles
- property_id references imsld_properties
- property_value. This is the value of the property for the + role in a current moment. The value can change during the + delivering of the unit of learning
imsld_property_values. This table stores the values of the + properties that are common for all the users of the the IMS-LD + document. There can be several property values to establish. The + properties can be local or global.
- property_id references imsld_properties
- property_value. This is the value of the property for the + role in a current moment. The value can change during the + delivering of the unit of learning

imsld_parties_activities_audit. This table stores all the .LRN + parties information about the IMS-LD delivering that is of interest. + related to activities At present we have defined only a little + information, but in the future this information may be expanded. Each + entry of the table has an activity that has been realized by a + party.
- party_id references parties
- activity_id references imsld_activity
- delivering_order. It represents the order of visualization + of the activity in the sequence of activities
- selected_p. It is true if the party select by himself the + activity. It is false if the activity was sequenced to the + party
- start_time. The start time of the activity
- end_time. The end time of the activity
- done_p. It is true if the activity is complete
- act_id references ismld_parties_acts_audit

imsld_parties_acts_audit. This table stores all the .LRN parties + information about the IMS-LD delivering that is of interest related to + acts. At present we have defined only a little information, but in the + future this information may be expanded. Each entry of the table has + an act that has been realized by a party.
- party_id references parties
- act_id references imsld_acts
- start_time. The start time of the act
- end_time. The end time of the activity
- done_p. It is true if the act is complete
imsld_parties_plays_audit. This table stores all the .LRN + parties information about the IMS-LD delivering that is of interest + related to plays. At present we have defined only a little + information, but in the future this information may be expanded. Each + entry of the table has an act that has been realized by a + party.
- party_id references parties
- play_id references imsld_plays
- start_time.The start time of the act
- end_time. The end time of the activity
- done_p. It is true if the act is complete

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Before Starting: IMS Learning Design�	Home	�Levels A, B and C

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IMS Learning Design (short introduction)�	Home	�Chapter�1.�Introduction

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Chapter�1.�Introduction�	Home	�Integrating IMS-LD with .LRN

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Introduction�	Home	�Pedagogical Flexibility

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Integrating IMS-LD with .LRN�	Home	�Historical Considerations

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IMS-LD: Integration with .LRN Specification (v 1.1)�	Home	�IMS Learning Design (short introduction)

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Pedagogical Flexibility�	Home	�Competitive Analysis

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Historical Considerations�	Home	�Extensibility

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Competitive Analysis�	Home	�User Requirements

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Architectural Model�	Home	�Chapter�2.�User Requirements

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Authors�	Home	�Interaction Between the IMS-LD package and .LRN Services

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Chapter 2. User Requirements	Home	2. Interaction Between imsld package and .LRN Services

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Chapter�2.�User Requirements�	Home	�Editing IMS Learning Design Documents

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Editing IMS Learning Design Documents�	Home	�IMS-LD Player

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Chapter�3.�Use Cases�	Home	�Final Comments

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Use Cases�	Home	�Chapter�4.�Data Model

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Level C�	Home	�Chapter�5.�Architectural Model