DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE E-LEARNING CONTENT WITH THE OPEN SOURCE eLESSON MARKUP LANGUAGE eLML

eLML, the open source “eLesson Markup Language” has been developed out of the proven XML-based content structure of the Swiss Virtual Campus (SVC) Project GITTA (Geographic Information Technology Training Alliance). This paper presents the eLML structure and how sustainable e-Learning content can be developed, exchanged and employed using eLML. eLML is based on the didactical concept ECLASS (adapted from Gerson, 2000), standing for entry, clarify, look, act, self-assessment and summary. Every self-contained lesson is subdivided into one or more units that are structured according to the didactical concept. To allow different teaching and learning scenarios most of the structure elements are optional or can be repeated several times. The development of a lesson starts with the definition of learning objectives and the planning of content for each part of the didactical structure. This ensures that didactical aspects are considered foremost, in a field where technical problems can sometimes become too prominent otherwise. Storing the content in an XML-based structure provides many advantages, ranging from the sustainable management of a pool of lessons to different presentations of the content according to varying requirements. Out of a pool of eLML-based lessons, where each lesson also contains a glossary, bibliography and metadata section in addition to the actual content, different courses can be assembled. eLML is not a new learning management system (LMS) but eLML-based e-learning lessons can, for example, be transformed into XHTML and be used in combination with a LMS. eLML-based content can also be imported directly into a modern commercial or open source LMS using the IMS Content Packaging Format (CP). The paper presents experiences from the development of eLML itself, the design of e-learning content based on this structure, and the use of eLML-based content in conjunction with a LMS. The current use of eLML in several SVC projects ensures that eLML will be enhanced and kept up to date for future e-learning projects.