1 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Dipl.-Ing. Gerd Steinkamp FuXML – A Cross-Media Publishing and Content Management Framework for Course Material 5th Conference on Distance Education: "Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05) Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005

2 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Overview Problem description Requirements Solution Typical workflow Example Prospective developments and current state

3 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Current Distance Teaching Approach Printed course material –Consists of course text, appendices, assignments, solutions –Structured into course units –Shipment by traditional mail On campus events –Seminars, tutorials, labs, etc. Multimedia –Videos, audio tapes, TV broadcast (WDR) –CDROMs (CBT) Elearning –„Virtual University“ –Hypermedia

4 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Lessons Learned in the „Virtual University“ Production of high quality hypermedia courses –is expensive and –requires a team of specially skilled people Students demand a printed version of a course

5 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Solution A Learning Content Management System, that –can be operated with existing personal and financial ressources –fits within the IT-infrastructure of the university –is oriented at the special requirements of content creation and management at the FernUniversität

6 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Requirements (I) Simplification and standardisation Reduction of technical overhead Separation of contents and design Cross-media-publishing –high quality print version (primary medium!) High flexibility –but economical (1600 courses!)

7 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Requirements (II) Support of academic contents –Numbering –Bibliographies –Footnotes, marginal notes –Mathematical expressions Didactical structuring –Two layers Logical content layer (Chapter, Section) Time layer (course units) –Assignments

8 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Make or Buy? Several commercial products available Do these products fulfil the requirements of the FernUniversität? No! Furthermore: –Purchase of a product is not enough –Solution is an evolving and ongoing process Conclusion: own development –FuXML Project team –ZFE (Requirements, application experts) –LGPI (Databases, CMS) –LGKS (XML Publishing)

9 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Media-Concept Evolution of existing courses –Online digital course –Didactical markup Learning objective, prerequisites, example, exercise, hint, note, comment, etc. –Linking of contents. –Utilisation of catalogues Index, glossary, list of abbriviations, etc. –Integration of multimedia elements Animations, videos, simulations,etc. –Technical basis: XML

10 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 FuXML Documents Mapping of the existing course structure –course unit, assignment, prerequisite, learning objective Editorial elements –Paragraphs, sections –Also visual markup (bold, italic) Didactical elements –example, hint, exercise Faculty-specific elements –e. g. law (case, adjudication), mathematics (theorem, proof, etc.) Mathematical expressions –LaTeX syntax Diverse media objects –Images, animations, applets, videos, audio Support of modular contents

11 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 System Overview

12 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 XML Editor (XMetaL)

13 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Web Folder

14 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Web Interface

15 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Cross-Media-Publishing Content  Print  Online CD-ROM techn. Production LMS

16 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Production Component Rule-based Rendering Engine PDFHTML Design Interface config.xmltemplate.htmlstyles.css

17 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Example: Multimediaobject in XML Editor

18 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Example: Multimedia Object in Browser

19 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Example: Multimedia Object in PDF

20 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Prospective Further Developments Open Source Support of SCORM Output to Mobile Devices Support of MathML LaTeX to XML –Hermes Project: Inclusion of interactive exercises (QTI)

21 Gerd Steinkamp: FuXML – A Content Authoring System 5th Conference on Distance Education: “Virtual University: models, tools and practice" (VU'05), Warsaw, June 2-4, 2005 Summary and Current State Properties –High quality output –High flexibility –Good extensibility –But, relatively high complexity Several courses from different departments –Electrical Engineering, Cultural and Social Sciences, Law, Computer Science, Economics System deployed and operated in computer centre Public launch: end of july