Dlnet: Creating A Digital Library For Learning Objects In Engineering

Funded by the National Science Foundation, the DLNET project is developing a specialized collection of engineering and technology-related “learning objects” targeted at the practicing engineer and technologist so as to facilitate lifelong learning, i.e., education beyond the classroom, using digital libraries. DLNET will provide an easy and efficient way to collect, review, package, and deliver information from the knowledge developer to the end user. The DLNET portal is a web-based application that will enable content discovery through search and retrieval of local storage as well as repositories in federated libraries. It will also provide mechanisms for submitting, reviewing, ranking, updating and validating of new and existing contents. The DLNET architecture and its services will meet the core standards and specifications adopted by the NSDL-CIS for digital libraries, and will become part of a larger network of learning environments and resources for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education under the NSDL. DLNET is a collaborative effort of four institutions, namely, the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), the Institute of the Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Iowa State University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). It is currently managed by the Alexandria Research Institute at Virginia Tech and will eventually be served by IEEE’s Professional Development Institute. I. Background The National Science Foundation under its Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education initiative is establishing a digital library at the national level that will constitute an online network of learning environments and resources. The National STEM Digital Library (NSDL) is being structured as a gateway to a federation of digital libraries that will aggregate, manage and provide contents with coherent themes or specialties. As a partner in the federation of digital libraries, DLNET will field a collection of engineering and technology related contents targeted at the practicing engineer and technologist. DLNET is a collaborative effort of four institutions, namely, the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), the Institute of the Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Iowa State University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). All come with extensive backgrounds and experiences in hosting and managing online resources for continuing engineering education and distance learning. Examples include ASEE’s www.learnon.org, IEEE’s www.ieee.org/pdi, as well as the joint Iowa State University and Virginia Tech PowerLearn project. The Alexandria Research Institute of Virginia Tech manages the overall project and is responsible for the development of DLNET’s architecture consisting of content receiving, management and delivery subsystems. P ge 737.1 Proceedings of the 2002 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright ” 2002, American Society for Engineering Education Begun in 2001, DLNET is an 18-month project that is drawing to the end of its initial funding period by the National Science Foundation. The project team is meeting the goals of developing and testing tools for publishing learning objects. By the end of the project, DLNET will solicit content submissions through the organizations involved in this project. II. An Overview of DLNET DLNET was conceived out of the need to complement engineering and technology education and in particular, to support lifelong learning activities such as training, self-paced study and literature search. A digital library such as DLNET would provide the necessary resources for advancing the knowledge, skills and competencies of engineering and technology students and professionals, and above all, enable them to stay abreast of developments and challenges of new and emerging systems and technologies in their respective fields. As a digital library, therefore, DLNET will undertake the collection and discovery of content appropriate for educators and learners. More importantly, DLNET is envisaged as a repository of “Learning Objects,” (LO), that will facilitate lifelong learning or “education-beyond-theclassroom” of practicing engineers and technologists by bridging the gap between knowledgedevelopers and end-users. Typical Learning Objects include applets, modules, video segments, narrated PowerPoints as well as other self-contained educational materials or resources that might incorporated into a larger educational scheme, such as a unit or course. To accomplish this objective, DLNET will undertake the tasks of collecting, screening, packaging and archiving of learning objects for easy discovery. Its collection will be developed by acquiring contents through active harvesting and soliciting for submissions.