Enhanced Vetadata Tool - finding learning resources made easy

You’re searching in an online repository for an e-learning resource, and after entering your search term, up pops a list of five relevant resources which meet your education needs.

That’s metadata at work…or, for vocational education and training, Vetadata.

Metadata is literally information about information. It is essentially a data file which provides a structured and consistent description of a learning resource, so that when you search for a resource online, you are more likely to find what you are looking for.

Vetadata is a customised version of metadata, adapted from international standards to better describe vocational education and training (VET) resources. Creating Vetadata for VET learning objects allows teachers and trainers to perform topic-based, training package and competency based searches for suitable resources in online portal LORN, and digital repositories.

The national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), has released an enhanced version of the Vetadata Tool, making it even quicker and easier to create Vetadata for learning resources.

Enhancements to the tool include:

• Multiple classifications can be added to a learning resource, such as competency, education level and discipline.
  
   
• The context-based help function has been updated and simplified.
  
   
• Where specific descriptive terms are required, these have been made available via a drop-down menu.
  
   
• Where specific terms or text can be predicted, these have been pre-populated.
  
   
• The XML output (metadata file) is more conformant to e-standards.

The new Vetadata Tool (v1.4.0) can be downloaded from the ‘Tools’ section of: http://e-standards.flexiblelearning.net.au/vetadata/index.htm. This web page also contains a number of guides, including:
 

• Vetadata Specification - provides the background and rationale for the development of Vetadata; contains detailed technical descriptions of all the elements in Vetadata and refers to recommended vocabularies.
  
   
• Establishing a Vetadata System - provides a business-oriented rationale for the implementation of Vetadata; offers advice on how to establish business processes and information systems for storing and entering Vetadata compliant descriptions of learning resources. This document is intended for managers and IT professionals.
  
   
• Applying Vetadata to Learning Resources - step by step instructions on entering descriptions of learning resources, with extensive examples. This document is intended for content developers, cataloguers and data entry staff.

Important note: The Vetadata Tool currently produces Vetadata for SCORM/Flexible Learning Toolboxes (Toolboxes). The E-standards for Training team will be extending the tool in the near future to produce Vetadata for LORN.

For more information about the Framework, its products, resources and support networks, contact: (07) 3307 4700, email: enquiries [at] flexiblelearning.net.au (Please replace at with @ to use the email address) or visit: http://flexiblelearning.net.au

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Published on 18/06/2009