(In preparation of the JISC CETIS conference)
As noted by the organizers, the educational technology field is still not very mature when it comes to semantic technology applications. I'd like to define three classes of applications from the looking glass of semantic technology:
Applications that rely on non-semantic technologies (typically, XML) for interoperability (syntactic interoperability)
Applications that work with RDF data for interoperability without caring too much about complex reasoning abilities (semantic interoperability)
Applications that live on the “semantic web”, and use distributed vocabularies and ontologies, and use reasoning capabilities to enhance the user experience (semantic “cooperation”)
It's clear to me that most applications that care about interoperability still fall into Class 1. From where I sit, there are several possible explanations for this situation:
Lack of semantics in the base standards used in the educational technology field, such as IEEE LOM, IMS Learning Design, IMS QTI, ADL SCORM etc. (thus, Class 1)
Focus on LMSs and other “silo”-like vertical systems that feel they have little need for semantic interoperability, and others (thus, not Class 2)
Skepticism based on bad experiences with “intelligent tutoring systems” and other attempts at replacing teachers with intelligent machines (thus, not Class 3)
While it's understandable that Class 3 systems are still not ubiquitous due to their complexity, it still surprises me greatly that so few Class 2 systems are developed. In 2001, I wrote a piece for CETIS on the topic: “The semantic web: How RDF will change learning technology standards”, where I discussed the benefits of Class 2 systems for educational technology. The visions described in that article have still not been fulfilled.
The main points of Class 2 applications, as described in that article, are:
RDF allows a single storage model for very different types of data and schemas. For example, storing meta-data from different specifications in the same database is straightforward. To implement searching that includes dependencies between meta-data expressed in different schemas is simplified.
Reuse of existing meta-data standards is greatly simplified – as RDF has built-in support for merging data
The relationship between terms from different standards can be formalized in a machine-readable manner.
Vocabulary description and usage is straightforward in RDF. With RDF specifications such as SKOS, really powerful
RDF vocabularies can be easily extended and refined, and metadata descriptions can be easily extended thanks to the strong support for merging.
None of the above depends on Class 3 applications to be useful.
So, how do we tackle the apparently difficult step from Class 1 to Class 2 applications? My personal approach has been to deal with the base standards. Here's my Plan for Semantic Interoperability in Educational Technology Specifications.
Make sure the Dublin Core specifications are fully RDF-compatible. Progress:
Publication of the new Dublin Core Abstract Model in June 2007, making the underlying model of Dublin Core metadata much more semantics-friendly
Publication of revised Dublin Core terms with much more detailed and machine-processable semantics (domains and ranges) is only weeks away.
Publication of revised Dublin Core RDF expression closes the gap between Dublin Core applications and RDF applications. Weeks away.
Publication of revised Dublin Core in (X)HTML uses the W3C GRDDL specification to provide automatic extraction of RDF metadata from (X)HTML documents – a “semantic stylesheet” for HTML. Public Comment in progress.
Publication of revised Dublin Core in XML with GRDDL support, within a few months
Make sure IEEE LOM is semantics-enabled. Work is in progress in the Joint DCMI/IEEE LTSC Task force to
Publish a formal specification for an RDF vocabulary for IEEE LOM elements. Spring 2008.
Publish a formal specification for a mapping from LOM to the Dublin Core Abstract Model, making LOM both DC and RDF-compatible. Spring 2008
Making sure the LOM XML namespace contains information for GRDDL processors – so that all LOM XML instances can be automatically exposed as RDF. Spring 2008.
Make sure the new ISO Metadata for Learning Resources standard is semantics-enabled
WARNING: this is currently not happening. Help is appreciated.
Make sure the library world is semantics-enabled. Work is in progress with the new version of the Cataloging Rules – RDA (Resource description and access).
There is work in progress on defining a RDA-endorsed RDF vocabulary for the RDA metadata properties and vocabularies. This will essentially semanticize the ancient MARC format. During 2008
Spreading the semantics to other specifications. Which ones are the most pressing?
There is one big thing we will lose when moving from XML-based syntactic interoperability to RDF-based semantic interoperability, and that is syntactic quality assurance. Essentially, RDF currently lacks the necessary specifications and tools for performing any form of validation of metadata instances. The recent work within Dublin Core on Description Set Profiles might eventually provide a solution to that problem.
Hopefully, these developments will act as enablers for semantically enhanced educational applications.
