Educational Modelling Language – Introduction

With EML, educator can specify instructional designs, based on different pedagogical models, for e-learning applications. More than ordering and sequencing resources used in e-learning, EML adds the ability to integrate instructional design to enable more advances e-learning applications. Currently there is no integrative framework to model “units of learning”, integrating all types of learning facilities (tests, communication services, learning activities, learning objects), which one would come across when modelling e-learning applications.

EML could be defined as “a semantic rich information model and binding, describing the content and process within “units of learning” from a pedagogical perspective. A “unit of learning” is the smallest unit providing learning events for learners, satisfying one or more interrelated learning objectives. EML allows to structure the educational entities according to whatever formal or informal pedagogical model.

For real e-learning applications, not only the workflow for students must be modelled in the specification, but the complete flow of events for students and tutors, including the interactions between students, tutors and other staff members. In a learning process, roles can be spit down further to a lot of sub-roles.

In order to be able to codify content, one needs a so called “binding” which complies to the information model stated above. In learning technology, the most used bindings are XML bindings. Creating a binding means nothing more or less than creating an XML DTD or XML Schema.

The most advanced system (Edubox) at the moment converts EML to XHTML.

Source: EML Web Site