Reload
From Bazaar Wiki
Type of application / System Requirements
Reload is a desktop application which currently runs on top of the Eclipse Rich Client Platform (http://www.eclipse.org).
The tool is multiplatform. Binaries are available for different Windows and different Unix, incluiding Linux. The source code is available and since it is based on Java it could be easily compiled for other platforms.
There are currently several downloads of the editor available from http://www.reload.ac.uk/editor_eclipse.html, namely, for Windows, for Windows with Java run time , for Macintosh and for linux(x86/gtk2). Except for the second download, Java should be installed (or available on the machine). See for instance the instructions in the CopperCore sandbox about the Java installation.
Purpose
RELOAD is a tool that supports the use of emerging Learning Technology Interoperability specifications such as those produced by ADL and IMS. In fact, the current version of RELOAD can be used as: - an (IMS) Content Package and (IMS) Metadata Editor - an (ADL) SCORM Player - an (IMS) Learning Design Editor and Player
Content Package, Metadata, and Learning Design are specifications ffor e-learning produced by IMS (http://www.imsglobal.org); while SCORM comes from ADL (http://www.adlnet.gov).
In this sandbox we focus on the functionality related to Learning Design.
What it does
As an editor, RELOAD allows the user to create a Unit of Learning (a set of learning activities described according to the Learning Design specification). The resources, such as web pages, or documents (Word, OpenOffice, etc.), images, videos, animations, ... have to be created separately. The editor allows the user to articulate them in a (varied) sequence of activities, where different roles can be defined, etc. When this process is finished, the Unit of Learning can be made a “package” in the format of a zip file. Technically, an XMS manifest file is created in this process, which allows a Leaning Design compliant engine to “run” the Unit of Learning.
The current RELOAD version includes a Learning Design player as well, so that the creator of the Unit of Learning can go through the Unit s/he has created following it as if s/he were in each of the roles defined. In the Coppercore sandbox we describe CCRT which gives this functionality in a more enhanced way, although at the cost of more complexity.
How can it be used for creation of OERs
As indicated earlier, RELOAD is mainly used for creating (Learning Design) Units of Learning, although it can be used for Content Packaging, Metadata editor, ... We discuss here the functionality as Unit of Learning editor.
Before starting the creation of a Unit of Learning, the resources have to be created with standard tools, such as OpenOffice or MS Office for creating different types of documents, Gimp or Photoshop for images, etc. It is also advisable to create a diagram of the worflow of the activities, the lesson plan before starting to use the editor.
Technically, Learning Design allows to define how people in roles carry out activities, using resources, according to a workflow. The RELOAD editor provides different tabs where this can be defined.
How can it be used for consumption of OERs
RELOAD is not intended to “consume” Units of Learning. It provides a “player” so that the creator can run the Units of Learning, and if s/he is not satisfied with the results, or wants to improve them, go back to the editing process.
How can it be used for reuse of OERs
The fact that RELOAD is based on specifications allows the maximum re-use of resources which follow these specifications. Existing Units of Learning could be used to create different ones. Future versions of RELOAD under development allow the inclusion of SCORM objects, or the use of Learning Design repositories such as the OpenDocument one (thhp://www.opendocument.net).
Some current systems have a degree of support to Learning Design. Some examples are given below.
License support
The tool is licensed under the MIT License (http://sourceforge.net/softwaremap/trove_list.php?form_cat=188).
Standards / Compatibility
The tool is compliant with the IMS Learning Design specification. It supports connection to other specifications such as QTI, SCORM, CP, Metadata.
HOW TO USE IT
How to install and use the most recent version of RELOAD can be found at http://www.reload.ac.uk/editor_eclipse.html,.
We suggest to go there through the RELOAD project page: http://www.reload.ac.uk/
Links / examples / Who is using it
As we have indicated, the main page of the project is : http://www.reload.ac.uk/. The project is a SourceForge project too: http://sourceforge.net/projects/x4l-reload/. The main contributor has been CETIS (currently Institute of Educational Cybernetics of the University of Bolton, http://www.bolton.ac.uk/IEC/). We suggest to go to the project site http://www.reload.ac.uk/to get updated information of different developments.
The following pictures provide an example of workflow to use with a Unit of Learning, the RELOAD editor in use, and an XMS manifest file.
Workflow with a UoL:
RELOAD editor in use:
XMS manifest file:
A lot of people everywhere in the world are using the RELOAD editor for different purposes of creating and packaging educational material.
Related tools are the Learning Design Engine, CopperCore which is object of another sandbox; and other editors such as Copperauthor. Learning Design has a degree of adoption by existing systems such as MOTplus, LAMS, Moodle, .LRN.
It is worth mentioning other development projects: the COLLAGE editor provides an easier to use editor for collaborative environments based on templates; the OpenDocument project, as indicated earlier, has been linking the repository to the RELOAD editor; a similar undertaking has been carried out by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra, which can be contacted through http://gti.upf.edu.
RELOAD has been developed through several projects supported by JISC, mainly, and the UNFOLD and TenCompetence projects might be relevant as well.
Sandbox
RELOAD can be downloaded (in executable form, for several operating systems) from the main page of the project http://www.reload.ac.uk/ or from SourceForge (the source code) http://sourceforge.net/projects/x4l-reload/.
The project site has a lot of documentation of installation, user manuals, etc.
Comments / Discussion
The project site is the main reference for following RELOAD http://www.reload.ac.uk/, where references to the main concepts related to RELOAD can be found. The JISC/CETIS site (http://jisc.cetis.ac.uk/) is a very good source of complementary material too.
While the editor is more user friendly than an XML editor, it requires quite detailed knowledge of the specification, and currently, only experts can use it; it is far from being usable by teachers. The OpenDock project (contact josep.blat at upf.edu) has developed templates which help users formulate learning activities in a way that can facilitate the task of experts and somehow bridge the usability gap.
