AEP Publishes Guides on Emerging Education Data Initiatives
WILMINGTON, DE, March 20, 2013 – The Association of Educational Publishers (AEP), the professional organization for the educational resource industry, is excited to announce the publication of two new resources: The Content Developer’s Guide to the Learning Resource Metadata Initiative and Learning Registry and The Smart Publisher’s Guide to LRMI Tagging. AEP is co-leader of the LRMI, which is working to create and implement a standard tagging specification to improve the online discoverability of learning resources.
With contributions from Educational Systemics and inBloom (formerly the Shared Learning Collaborative), the Content Developer’s Guide offers an overview of the ways that metadata and paradata (a specialized type of metadata that can be used to describe how a resource has been used, when, and by whom) are changing the educational landscape, with a specific emphasis on why—and how—to effectively implement the LRMI and participate in the Learning Registry. Additionally, the guide aims to break down the complex pieces that intersect various education metadata initiatives and bring clarity to their respective missions.
“The LRMI and the Learning Registry are foundational to the personalized learning movement, which aligns very closely with AEP’s vision of high-quality, accessible learning resources for all students,” said Dave Gladney, LRMI project manager for AEP. “As a thought leader for the educational resource community, AEP is excited to provide guidance on these emerging and impactful initiatives.”
Readers of the Content Developer’s Guide will learn about the LRMI and its origins as well as its importance to the development of individualized and adaptive learning technologies. The guide also includes:
- A metadata backgrounder
- Teacher-specific LRMI examples
- Insight from publishers implementing the LRMI
- Steps for publishing resources to the Learning Registry
- The LRMI specification version 1.1
The companion guide, The Smart Publisher’s Guide to LRMI Tagging, delves more deeply into specifics of tagging based on observations documented during the Proof of Concept stage of the initiative. With contributions from Educational Systemics and Knovation, it outlines best practices for organizing the metatagging process and workflow, including a tagging checklist, issues to consider, and an example of tagged content.
“We strongly encourage publishers and educators alike to review these guides to better understand our mission for improved educational searches and to gain ideas for effective implementation,” concluded Gladney. “Initiatives like the LRMI, Learning Registry, and inBloom gain power only as people actively use them.”
To download the guides, learn more about the LRMI, or read the latest project updates, visit www.lrmi.net. The guides can be accessed in the Resources section of the website under User Guides.
About the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP)
The only professional organization that serves the diverse needs of the entire educational resource community, the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP) encourages and advocates for professional, quality content for teaching and learning. The membership of AEP represents the wide range of individuals, institutions and businesses dedicated to delivering progressive learning resources in all media and for any educational setting. Founded in 1895, AEP now helps its members navigate the global realities of educational publishing in the 21st Century.
AEP is at the forefront of the educational publishing industry, leading initiatives that help drive the future of content development and delivery. It has taken a leading role in many efforts supporting the industry, including the Learning Resource Metadata Initiative (LRMI), which is changing the way educational materials are found on the Internet; Innovation Through Inclusion, promoting industry-wide diversity; and representation of educational publishers on matters such as new legislation and funding. Through its events, publications and recognition programs, AEP works to inform and advance the industry and to define and applaud excellence in the field. For more information, please visit www.AEPweb.org.