IMS Learning Design
IMS Learning Design (IMS LD) is a specification for a metalanguage which enables the modelling of learning processes. The specification is maintained by IMS Global Learning Consortium.
Background
IMS LD has its origins in the Educational Modelling Language developed at the Open University of the Netherlands, with the IMS LD specification being released by the IMS Technical Board in February 2003.
Description
IMS Learning Design is a metalanguage for describing learning designs that claims to be pedagogically neutral (according to their authors, it does not mandate a specific pedagogical approach). The specification can be likened to a stage-play:
- People act in different roles
- Roles work towards specific objectives by performing learning and/or support activities
- Activities are conducted within an environment consisting of learning objects and services
IMS LD is made up of three levels (A, B and C), with each level extending and incorporating the previous:
- Level A contains the core elements of the meta language
- Level B enables the use of generic properties and conditions
- Level C provides the ability to use notifications (enables activities to be set dynamically)
Use
The specification is a method for describing teaching strategies (pedagogical models) and educational goals. The language is represented in XML which makes it machine readable; an IMS LD-aware tool is able to "play" a unit of learning.
Although it is a relatively new specification (published in 2003), IMS LD has a moderately active community, mostly in Europe, carrying out a wide range of research and experimentation.
Implementation – Players
- The Open University of the Netherlands has developed an IMS LD engine for playing LD called CopperCore.[1]
- The University Carlos III of Madrid[2] has developed an IMS LD player into the .LRN[3] Learning platform. It is the first player that has been built completely embedded into an LMS. This player is open source and available from CVS.[4]
Implementation – authoring and export
- The Reload[5] editor can be used to author learning designs in IMS LD format.
- The Graphical Learning Modeller[6] provides an intuitive graphical editing interface that abstracts from the technicalities of the IMS LD specification.
- OpenGLM is an extension of Graphical Learning Modeller, enabling users to retrieve, publish and share resources and learning designs in an open repository (Download link).
- LAMS v2.0 (Learning Activity Management System):[7] LAMS v2.0 can export learning designs in IMS Learning Design Level C format.
- Moodle has changed its current course export format to follow the IMS Learning Design specification in Moodle v2.0 according to the Moodle roadmap.[8]