OpenDocument.net
From Bazaar Wiki
Type of application / System Requirements
OpenDocument.net stands for a platform of two server applications each of which is a client-server application itself. That is to say: one server on the web serves as repository server and listens to incoming requests. The other one is optional if you supply your own application (not necessarily client-server based) that is able to send requests to the web server.
So if we assume for the moment that the default web-based application is used, the requirements are different for the various players:
- The repository server needs:
- Apache
- MySQL
- Php 4.3 or higher
- The default application server needs:
- Apache
- MySQL
- Php 4.3 or higher
- The custom application 'server' needs:
- A way to send http packages to the repository server
- The user needs:
- A web browser with support of Javascript
Purpose
The repository offers a place to store and retrieve materials like other repositories. But it is developed in particular for educational materials written in the IMS Learning Design standard. It automatically derives meta data provided in the Learning Design manifest file describing the content and (possible) learning pedagogy of the material. All materials are storesd with a certain Creative Commons license and one can search on materials with a specific license.
What it does
It stores the material uploaded at the file system of the web site of some server and automatically indexes the documents and stores meta data about the uploaded document to be able to retrieve the materials easily. On top of that, every repository server can be a node in a network of repositories all sharing the same meta data about all the material anywhere in the network. This way the user has access not only to his/her own stored educational materials, but also to other materials in the network.
How can it be used for creation of OERs
The repository does not offer editing facilities in general. You can though edit some properties of the material uploaded if you are the owner (have the appropriate rights). At the moment we are working on a plugin to edit the material and also on a plugin to play the Learning Design units.
How can it be used for consumption of OERs
One can apply for a membership which is for free to have full access to all functionality of the software. Guests have read only rights (browsing, searching, viewing) and they can put a comment on material they find. If you are a user you can also download material, as much as you like.
How can it be used for reuse of OERs
Reuse of Open Educational Resources is achieved by enhancing exchange of materials through the network of repositories. Users can browse, search and download any resource in the network in a transparant way while they keep full controll over their own materials physically and intellectually (IPR) by means of attaching a Creative Commons license.
License support
In the repository resources are always stored with a Creative Commons license. This license can vary according to the wishes of the user. The minimal license is to give the resource away for free, only asking to attribute the original creator of the resource. The maximum license is prohibiting commercial use and prohibiting derivations of the resource. When a user uploads a certain resource to the repository, he/she is given the opportunity to change the default settings for the license.
Standards / Compatibility
OpenDocument.net works with or is compliant to the following standards:
- Creative Commons Licensing
- Dublin Core
- IMS Learning Design
- LAMP platform (Apache, MySQL, PHP)
HOW TO USE IT
When you have found some material and you view it, the interface will look like this. The numbers indicate sections as follows:
- Some information on who is logged in, etc.
- The main menu. This will differ depending on the rights of the user and the actual page.
- A bar with a short history of where the user is now. Instead of hitting the back button, the user can get at any point by clicking these crumbs.
- The context sensitive menu.
- The information of an item's license, meta data, plugin information and it's (possible) subitems.
For more information, visit the complete description at [help for users]
Links / examples / Who is using it
Originally this product was developed for the OpenDock Project, a European consortium investigating and promoting the sharing and reuse of educational materials.
Later on it was adopted by the DesignShare project aiming to have a more complete platform for the development of eductational materials written in IMS Learning Design by making a connection between a Learning Design editor and the repository.
Other projects are upcoming. The software will be released in Open Source under the Creative Commons licensing.
Sandbox
A full working demo-version of OpenDocument.net is available on [http://demo.opendocument.net]
Username: demo
Password: try
Comments / Discussion
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