North Carolina Learning Object Repository: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:59, 23 June 2009

Latest revision as of 17:03, 12 December 2024

(57 intermediate revisions by 20 users not shown)

Line 1:

{{more footnotes|date=August 2018}}

{{Infobox Softwaresoftware

| name = NCLOR

| logo = [[Image: NCLOR_logo_big_png.png|thumb|NCLOR logo]] big.png

| logo size = 200px

| screenshot =

| captionscreenshot =

| collapsiblecaption =

| authorcollapsible =

| author =

| developer = Team NCLOR

| released =

| latest release version = 36.24 QA5GA

| latest release date = {{release_daterelease date|20092015|066|0127}}

| latest preview version =

| latest preview date =

| frequently updated =

| programming language = [[Equella (programming language)|Equella]]

| operating system = [[Cross-platform]]

| platform =

| size =

| language =

| genre = [[Institutional repository|Institutional repository software]]

| status = Active

| genre = [[Institutional repository|Institutional repository software]]

| license = [[Equella license based on FTE]]

| website = [httphttps://wwwopennccc.explorethelornccommunitycolleges.orgedu/ www.explorethelor.org]

}}

'''The North Carolina Learning Object Repository''' ('''NCLOR) ''') empowersis facultya acrossservice offered by the [[North Carolina byCommunity providingCollege System]] (NCCCS), themthat withprovides a central ___location to manage, collect, contribute, and share digital learning resources for use in traditional or distance learning environments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nccommunitycolleges.edu/it-resources-and-services/vlc-tools-and-resources/learning-technology-resources|title=Learning TheTechnology NCLORResources: isList designedof toNorth increaseCarolina theCommunity efficiencyCollege andSystem productivityWide ofLearning Technology Resources.|last=|first=|date=2017-08-09|website=NC Community Colleges|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref> The NCLOR is available to all K-20 teachers across the state byand providingprovide quality resourcesvendor and bypeer reducingresources duplication of effort associated with coursefor developmentusers. NCLOR participants include the 58 colleges from the [[NCNorth Carolina Community College System (NCCCS)]], [[University of North Carolina]] (UNC ) System]], [[North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities]] (36 private institutions), the [[North Carolina Department of Public Instruction]] (DPI), and [[North Carolina Virtual Public School]] (NCVPS).

== History ==

A centralized NCLOR was conceived in 2006 at the NCCCS to be a repository of digital learning content that will be accessed and utilized by all PreK-20 educational institutions in North Carolina, eliminating the duplicative costs of content development and allowing seamless integration with an LMS.

The NCLOR was conceived in 2006 by Dr. Bill Randall of the NCCCS. At that time, individual institutions had been purchasing or considering purchase of content repositories to serve their own needs without consideration of a centralized, sharable entity, which would drastically reduce the duplicative costs of content development. In addition, individual institutional contracts waste valuable public funding when all institutions in a system could be served via a [[consortium]] contract. The total effect of a shared, system-wide learning object repository would be a repository in which individual content collections could be shared, commercial content could be obtained more economically, content could be enhanced and maintained, and total IT support and hardware costs could be drastically reduced.

Thus, the NCLOR was designed to be a repository of digital learning content that will be accessed and utilized by all PreK-20 educational institutions in North Carolina. Representatives from all NC educational sectors (NCCCS, UNC, Independent Colleges & Universities) participated in creation and development of NCLOR from inception to production. It was conceptualized that the NCLOR would provide the following benefits:

• * Centralize hosting to reduce costs of hardware and IT;

• * Capability for instructors to share [[Learning Object]] (LO) items;

• * Capability for newly developed LO items to be moderated, improved, deployed, and shared;

• * Reduce duplication of effort and save development resources statewide;

• * Integrate easily with a [[Learning Management System]] (LMS) for easyease of course creation

• * The ability to set permissions for client populations;

• * Report and usage capabilities; and

• * Conform to standards governing content, protocol, and federation.

The NCLOR began production in January 2008, fully integrated with course management and data systems, and fully operational for [[North Carolina]] faculty to create and use sharable content.

A [[Request for Proposal]] (RFP) was created and publicized. Several vendors responded with their database products and Equella from The Learning Edge was chosen.

The NCLOR began production in January 2008, fully integrated with course management and data systems, and fully operational for [[North Carolina]] faculty to create and use sharable content.

===Technology===

The NCLOR partners with the North Carolina Office of Information Technology Services (ITS), which provides application hosting and broadband connectivity. The underlying database technology by the Equella software allows easy searching, contribution, and classification by NCCCS staff or partner faculty. Safeguards are implemented to ensure that individual copyright and digital rights are not abused. Integration with an LMS such as [[Blackboard]] or [[Moodle]] allows ease of course creation.

==BenefitsCommunity ==

Supporting the NCLOR effort is the Virtual Learning Community (VLC). The NCCCS awarded grants to fund three VLC Support Centers funded over three fiscal years through 20102011. These grants were awarded to:

Direct benefits to an instructor and college include:

• * [[Surry Community College]] (SCC) for the Quality Assessment and Subject Coordination Task Force Center

• Preservation of resources

• * [[Fayetteville Technical Community College]] (FTCC) for the Technology Center

• Personal exposure to the greater academic community

• * [[Wake Technical Community College]] (WTCC) for the Professional Development Center

• The opportunity to share expertise and materials with peers who could vastly improve their class structure, student interest, and outcomes by using quality resources in their classes

In addition, a Development Center at [[Fayetteville Technical Community College]] was created to develop courses in the following areas:

• [[Collaboration]], leading to cost saving and improved efficiency in teaching endeavors

* 14 STEM courses

• Personal recognition

* 10 Continuing Education courses

• College acclamation

* 5 Business courses

• Alternative to publishing

* 1 Humanities course

• Seamless integration with an (LMS), such as Moodle or Blackboard

==Goals Notes ==

<references />

The goal of the NCLOR project is to provide a viable product that increases the efficiency, interactivity, and interest of courses throughout North Carolina. In an age where students are constantly accessing digitized information, usually in an entertaining format, it is imperative that teachers provide similar capabilities in the classroom. As faculty make significant use of this repository, a culture change leaning toward collaboration and sharing will permeate throughout our educational systems. Our current economic woes emphasize the need for leaner, cooperative ventures. The NCLOR provides that opportunity.

==Community ==

Supporting the NCLOR effort is the Virtual Learning Community (VLC). The NCCCS awarded grants to fund three VLC Support Centers funded over three fiscal years through 2010. These grants were awarded to:

• [[Surry Community College]] (SCC)for the Quality Assessment and Subject Coordination Task Force Center

• [[Fayetteville Technical Community College]] (FTCC)for the Technology Center

• [[Wake Technical Community College]] (WTCC)for the Professional Development Center

In addition, VLC Course Development Centers create and update courses that are part of the [[Community College]] common curriculum for inclusion into the NCLOR. These centers are:

• Wake Technical Community College - STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Center

• Surry Community College - Nursing, Early Childhood Education, Developmental Course Center

• [[Wayne Community College]] - Continuing Education Center

These centers will support the continual development, creation, storage, and sharing of digital learning resources and courses through use of the NCLOR.

== External links ==

* [http://www.explorethelor.org/ North Carolina Learning Object Repository Official website]

* [http://vlc.nccommunitycolleges.edu/ Virtual Learning Community]

* [http://www.equella.com/ ThePearson Learning EdgeEquella]

[[Category:American digital libraries]]

* [http://www.explorethelor.org/ North Carolina Learning Object Repository

[[Category:Education in North Carolina]]

Official website]

* [http://nclor.wordpress.com/ North Carolina Learning Object Repository blog]

*[http://vlc.nccommunitycolleges.edu/ Virtual Learning Community]

* [http://www.equella.com/ The Learning Edge]

[[Category:Institutional repository software]]