OS-Organisation working group

eLearning Helpline

The eLearning helpline is a kind of “meta-”competence center which is able to:

• Quickly answer common problems, including (especially ?) technical ones
  • Search for content online and in repositories. E.g. what resources already exist for introductory physics in german?
  • Answer technical questions. E.g. what standard is best to syndicate content from online forums, RSS or RDF? How can I archive a course with a synchronisation of video and powerpoint presentations?
  • Who is an expert in technology X?

• Build and maintain a community of experts in eLearning. The needs for developers/administrators and end-users are rather different. Hence, one could imagine a separate (but nevertheless open) platform for these two target groups.
  • Organisation of meetings, demonstrations, workshops, etc…
  • A community platform
  • An animator / moderator is necessary

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DA : "The helpline e-learning should be assumed by every institution, to its own community of users. In my opinion, no need of a "general national help desk". To build and maintain a community of experts in elearning at a national (international is certainly better) level, no need of a Help line. But could be great to have international conferences on that theme in Switzerland to hel in the exchanges between the main swiss players in eLearning (private, academic, independant...)".

CS: In my opinion, helpline is strongly connected with tools/technologies at the local institution. Therefore, I can not imagine a national helpline. Instead, I would support the idea of a national e-Learning-Portal for a community of experts and of a national content repository.

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Development

Integration of existing services

• AAI identity management (different contexts and roles)
  • e-portfolio (log of credits, courses, …)
  • Context switching to be developed

Development of « middleware » services

• between services implemented by SWITCH and existing LMSs?
  • repository (one button exporter / importer)
  • video-conferencing (launching and joining)
  • e-collaboration (e.g. Breeze, etc.)
  • (ES) e-testing
• between LMS and services not directly supported by SWITCH (webservices, protocols)
  • instant messaging, web-logs, wikis, calendar

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DA : "I have no idea on that topic. Too specific for my poor knowledge in elearning technologies."

CS: Development works concerning integration of switch servcices with local LMS’s : YES Other developments: NO, should be done locally