The research programme integrates with a KTP programme
running at Cànan Ltd [w:www.canan.co.uk],
in Skye. Its main objective is to develop a framework
which will allow niche languages, especially Scots
and Irish Gaelic, to be integrated into a language-learning
environment. The research will involve developing
formal models for the integration of content, into
a reusable, and reconfiguration system. This will
allow educators to formally define language-learning
education environments, which can be easily configured
to create a content-based environment.
The initial part of the research will investigate
formal educational modelling languages, such as
EML (Educational Modelling Language) and the IMS
Standard Packaging System (IMS Content Packaging
Specification, version 1.1 – w:www.imsproject.org).
EML produces browsers that provide a uniform user
interface for online courses that are written in
EML. This work is being undertaken on Edubox at
the Dutch Open University [w:www.edubox.nl]. EML
allows content to be integrated in a browser-independent
way, and is flexible in that it allows the designer
to select from a library of educational component,
such as multiple choice questions, and graphical
picture matching. This research will be built upon
by using standardized modelling abstractions, such
as XML, and will also model formal definitions of
the component parts of a language-learning environment.
As much as possible, a framework will be created
in which reusable media components will be used
to create content, which can be used on other learning
environment.
To evaluate the reusability, configurability, and
overall benefits of the framework, and model, as
compared with other environments; a number of analytical
tests will be conducted, these include:
• Language learning environment analysis.
An appraisal of the new framework and model, as
compared to other learning environments, especially
related to other Gaelic learning packages.
• Content creator analysis. Tests which will
contrast different methods of creating a language-learning
environment, against the reusable system. Environments
will be setup where the language content generator
will create content using the new framework, and
more traditional methods of language-content provision.
The research will evaluate whether the proposed
system allows for faster, and hopefully better,
language learning content, than other systems.
• Content-component analysis. This will involve
testing the media content components for their reusability,
and performance, against standard, non-reusable,
components.
