North Carolina Learning Object Repository: Difference between revisions

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{{more footnotes|date=August 2018}}

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{{Infobox software

| name = NCLOR

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

| logo size = 200px

| screenshot =

| captionscreenshot =

| collapsiblecaption =

| authorcollapsible =

| author =

| developer = Team NCLOR

| released =

| latest release version = 46.04 QA4GA

| latest release date = {{release 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 =

| status = Active

| genre = [[Institutional repository]]

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

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

}}

'''The North Carolina Learning Object Repository''' ('''NCLOR) ''') is a service offered by the [[North Carolina Community College System]] (NCCCS), that provides 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 Technology Resources: List of North Carolina Community College System Wide Learning 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 and provide vendor and peer resources for users. By reducing duplication of effort associated with course development, the NCLOR user can spend more time on instruction and not course development. NCLOR participants include the 58 colleges from the [[North 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;

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* Report and usage capabilities; and

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

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.

==Benefits==

Direct benefits to an instructor and college include:

* Preservation of resources

* Personal exposure to the greater academic community

* 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

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

* Personal recognition

* College acclamation

* Alternative to publishing

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

==Goals ==

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 engaging 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, more 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 over three fiscal years through 20102011. 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 Coursea Development CentersCenter createat and[[Fayetteville updateTechnical courses that are part of the [[Community College]] commonwas curriculumcreated forto inclusiondevelop intocourses in the NCLOR. These centersfollowing areareas:

* 14 STEM courses

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

* 10 Continuing Education courses

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

* 5 Business courses

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

* 1 Humanities course

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

==Goals Notes ==

<references />

== External links ==

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

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

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

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

[[Category:DigitalAmerican digital libraries]]

[[Category:Education in North Carolina]]