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Project Details:

Open University learning design initiative

The project will pilot an approach and methodology emerging from work already underway by the Open University Learning Design Initiative, to align with a new phase in the Open University’s Curriculum...

	100% complete Project Completed Funding period:September 2008 to May 2012 Source:		Organisations: The Open University
	Tags: Curriculum Design e-Learning programme Learning & Teaching Practice Learning Design

Related Projects

Builds on	Comments
Phoebe
Pedagogoic Planner (IOE)
See also	Comments
Planet	They are intending to collaborate with planet particularly wrt the API and tag representation
Web PA	Wrt rights issues
Rights and Rewards in Blended Institutional Repositories	Wrt rights issues
Course Tools	Partner of the 'using KS' project, mainly as a possible candidate for bringing in the pedagogical aspect into the curriculum design process
ATELIER-D	Used Compendium LD software which developed into bespoke version named Compendium DS, also used Cloudworks during project lifecycle
DOULS	Another OU project that works on widgets
PALET	Initial discussions re possibility of using cloud-engine
Personal Actualisation and Development through Digital Literacies in Education	for info on caputuring reflection and evidence
Digitally Ready	some useful resources for use of video for evidence and reflection
Digidol – Developing Digital Literacy	for use of video case studies

Standards

Standard	Comments
IMS_Learning_Design	2012 update -Ulitmately didn't quite match for the project or abstract design level for Compendium LD, or the social sharing aspects of Cloudworks
BONDI	Javascript API that could facilitate the use of cloudworks on mobile platforms. 2012 Update - not had time to investigate fully, but again could have potential for any future mobile developments
iCalendar	Code now in place and will go live Feb/March 2012
RSS	Currently used for syndicating activities, clouds and cloudscapes. To be used for events and discussions in the future
RDF	Potential standard for opening up cloudworks data as a linked data site. 2012 update - not explored further but could be possibility for future developments
SPARQL	Standard that could help make cloudworks' linked data queryable. 2012 update - not explored further but could be possibility for future developments
IMS Basic LTI	Potential means of integrating Cloudworks with a VLE. Already built into Moodle. 2012 update - not used, would need more institutional steer on future Cloudworks/moodle integrations
oEmbed	Main integration system used. It is also used by WordPress. 2012 Update - have used extensively to embed into Cloudworks
HTML5	HTML5 forms to be used with Cloudworks to improve mobile usability. 2012 update - have used for forms and would like to explore more for mobile developments, rich media and embedding
SVG	Prototyped output format for CompendiumLD. Would help with usability and embedability. Currently limited, visual export only, not proper semantic models.
MP3	Video capture
WAV	Video capture
W3C_Widgets	Currently looking at using cloudworks as a widget provider. 2012 update - have worked on more quick win embed features with LAMS and google gadgets (linking to other OU projects) W3C could still have possibilities in the future
OpenSearch
JSON

Technologies

Java	Language used for CompendiumLD
CodeIgniter	Migrated to in about a month (including new features) from Drupal because it is a framework that allows greater flexibility, yet still has many ready made modules. 2012 update - still using as main platform.
Drupal	Cloudworks was initially developed on Drupal, but was later migrated away from because the application is relatively inflexible: it does a specific kind of site well, but only that kind.
PHP	web technology platform used for cloudworks
D2R	Open source toolkit to make relational database contents available as linked data. 2012 update not explored further but could be possibility for future developments
bibtex	Candidate for providing reference import and export in cloudworks. Alternatives actively explored, though. 2012 update, been no further developments.
Cloudworks	Now open sourced as cloudengine. Main platform for the project
LAMS	Potential widget provider. 2012 update LAMS sequences can now be embedded in Cloudworks as well as other sites.
CompendiumLD	Being used in workshops to create design, mac version now available. Investigating simple integraion of Compendium maps into cloudworks. CompendiumLD will be cross-platform i.e. Windows, Mac and Linux. Releases for Mac & Linux will be made once core functionality has been finalised, over the next few months. Now used in ed tech masters course. Looking at providing it with server based storage and sharing facilities. Yet to be open sourced, but this will happen as an Eclipse project
Google forms	Widget provider. 2012 update google forms embeded into Cloudworks
Google_Gadget_API	Also used as a widget technology, mostly because it was already there. 2012 update - have completed a number of google integrations as this fits in with other OU projects and wider OU developments.
Moodle	Main VLE used. Potentially to be integrated with cloudworks
JSON	One output format for the Cloudworks API
XML	Another output format for the Cloudworks API
YouTube	Video reflections from practitioner groups
Vimeo	Video reflections from practitioner groups
TinyMCE	Javascript HTML wysiwyg editor
JQuery
php-gettext	Apache Library
Zend Lucene	used code base
Mollom	spam filtering

Links to e-framework

Framework	Comments
Design for Learning sharing SUM	not applicable in 2012

Comments:

Posted by sheilamacneill at 2012-02-07 15:05:16

Useful blog post:
some of decisions around releasing CloudEngine as open source
http://cloudengineblog.wordpress.com/2010/10/08/making-cloudworks-open-source/

Posted by sheilamacneill at 2012-02-07 15:04:33

Useful blog post:
explaining decision to move from Drupal to CodeIgniter http://cloudengineblog.wordpress.com/2010/10/11/why-we-moved-from-drupal-to-codeigniter/

Posted by sheilamacneill at 2012-02-07 14:17:27

The team are quite interested in exploring linked data approaches in the future, however opening the API, and getting more "quick wins" e.g. various embedding features, use of HTML5, has been more of a priority for the project.

Posted by sheilamacneill at 2012-02-07 14:14:31

In terms of Compendium LD, the team have taken the icons from the tool and converted them into a set of paper based resources for f2f workshops. This is an unexpected additional delivery. The team have found these icons are incredibly useful in f2f session in developing confidence and "design literacy" skills and an important first step for many practitioners. The Compendium LD tool has been found to be most useful for "expert" designers.

Posted by sheilamacneill at 2012-02-07 14:11:57

The open design process the team used was a bit of a double edged sword. They got early feedback but conversely some early users reluctant to continue use as they have made assumptions based on early versions. How do/ can you overcome initial design shortcomings is a key question.

Posted by sheilamacneill at 2012-02-07 14:09:50

How to sustain the momentum built up over the project lifespan is a key issue for the team over the coming months. They feel that the CloudEngine open source code is key, however the are aware of the relative lack of uptake by the wider community. This could be due to the success of the Cloudworks site itself, however they would like to explore further how to develop and sustain the code.

Posted by sheilamacneill at 2012-02-07 14:07:21

Team are planning to blog about their experiences of releasing (and preparing to release) code as open source -and highlight the "gotchas" they experienced.

Posted by sheilamacneill at 2012-02-07 14:06:01

Team are investigating potential sustainability avenues, there is a possibility that the OU may want it's own versions of Cloudworks for both staff and students.

Posted by sheilamacneill at 2012-02-07 14:05:03

Cloudworks has been named within internal development strategy documentation as a key tool for enhancing staff capabilities.

Posted by SheilaMacneill at 2010-01-20 14:31:43

Compendium LD has been used extensively in workshops. Some feasibility work is being undertaken about integration of Compendium maps into cloudworks but this is not a high priority this year.

Posted by SheilaMacneill at 2010-01-20 14:28:26

CETIS to help with links in JISC re possible integration of Intute content into Cloudworks

Posted by SheilaMacneill at 2010-01-20 14:27:51

Interest in exploring linked data approach discussed

Posted by SheilaMacneill at 2010-01-20 14:27:16

CETIS sending further information on reference software. Potential links with Telstar project in this area

Posted by sheilamacneill at 2010-01-18 14:23:18

Now using code ignitor for site development

Posted by sam at 2009-01-29 15:18:53

Also relevant is the D4L "mapping report" which looked at common elements from the "Design for Learning" projects in terms of IMS_LD: http://dfl.cetis.ac.uk/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Posted by sam at 2009-01-29 13:54:57

Possibly important for project to engage with the "CETIS Curriculum Design Working Group" - to work on community driven extension of XCRI for curriculum descriptions...

Posted by wilbert at 2009-01-29 13:41:06

elive suite is a visual learning activity and course modelling tool that is based on IMS LD semantics: http://www.elive-ld.com/content/e56/e61/index_eng.html
Might be of use as an inspiration for CompendiumLD?

Posted by wilbert at 2009-01-29 13:37:23

IMS Learning Design could be useful as a means to make learning designs comparable and relatable to each other. i.e. as a modelling language.

Posted by sam at 2009-01-29 13:31:57

In terms of learning-tech standards probably the most relevant aspect is the design of cloudworks' own API - and it's important to collaborate with other projects in keeping representations harmonious.

Posted by sam at 2009-01-29 13:21:28

Cloudworks is currently based on Drupal. There is a bit of a question as to whether they going to cary on using it. Main issue being structural - and that their project needs a more social model rather than CMS.

Posted by wilbert at 2009-01-29 11:28:54

Given the nature of Java, a cross-platform version of CompendiumLD should be do-able and desirable.

Links, feeds, etc

Project Homepage

Jisc-Page

People:

Developer: Andrew Brasher
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Maintainer: Grainne Conole
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Developer: Juliette Culver
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Programme-Manager: Sarah Knight
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Maintainer: Simon Cross