Tagging of ECTS courses

Presentation by Tore Hoel, Oslo Uniersity College, Brussels, April 25th 2003

Improving the web mining strategy
A Norwegian Course Description Metadata Framework
Oslo University Prospectus and Course Catalogue - with ECTS Information
To be discussed
Resources

Improving the web mining strategy

Unstructured or semi structured data
Next step - adding more structure to data

A Norwegian Course Description Metadata Framework

» See document: http://www.estandard.no/katalogprosjektet/#english

Scope/background
- Local management systems produce data
- Local catalogues produced
- Harvesting of metadata or all the data
- Assembling of central catalogues and different services
First CDMF in Europe?
Specifying course description metadata to describe courses and programmes.
Include all sorts of course - from a course at a private institution on hairdressing to a course on engineering given by a university
Ensure that the metadata specification is not just Norway-specific.
Ensure that the specification is compliant to international standards, e.g. the IEEE LOM standard
A draft specification September 2003

Oslo University Prospectus and Course Catalogue - with ECTS Information

» See document: http://www.uio.no/english/ects/

http://sgml.uio.no/ects/aktiv/
Example Christian Religion
- Master (hovedfag)
  Christian Religion - hovedfag
  
  ECTS Credits:
  
  120
  
  Language:
  
  Norwegian
  
  Duration:
  
  4 semesters
  
  Prerequisites:
  
  Christian religion - mellomfag, Greek and the cand.mag.-degree
  
  Contents:
  
  Christian Religion hovedfag consists of the following components: New Testament studies, a seminar in hermeneutics, the study of Christian doctrine and philosophy of religion, a chosen specialialisation and a thesis.
  
  Objective:
  
  To prepare students for independent academic work and research, besides training them for teaching in schools and the Church.
  
  Division of credits
  
  The credits for the hovedfag are divided between the different parts as follows:
  
  [Next]
- Module
  New Testament
  
  ECTS Credits:
  
  24
  
  Language:
  
  Norwegian
  
  Period:
  
  Spring and autumn semesters
  
  Duration:
  
  1 semester
  
  Lectures:
  
  6 hours per week
  
  Examination:
  
  Written essay of approx. 15 pages followed by an oral examination
  
  Contents:
  
  Two subject areas and a reading list of approx. 1800 pages: 1) the New Testament in its historical and literary context, 2) interpretation and theology of the New Testament Scriptures.
  
  Objective:
  
  To give the students the ability to work independently with the New Testament in Greek, and to interpret texts in their historical, cultural and literary contexts.
  
  [Next]
Document Type Definition validates data input for the catalogue












<!ENTITY % ectsmal "language|period|duration|prerequisites|examination|contents|lectures|objective|credit|studygroups|basedon|labwork|fieldwork" >











<!ELEMENT ects          - - (%start;, (fagomr|grunniva|hovedniva|ectsfag)* )

                                                          +(%i.float;) >



<!ATTLIST ects          %a.id;

                        %subdocatt;                                    >

<!ELEMENT fagomr        - - ((%start;),( (grunniva | hovedniva)* | ectsfag*) ) >

<!ATTLIST fagomr

                        %a.id;

                        %subdocatt;                                    >

<!ELEMENT (grunniva) - - ((%start;), ectsfag*)             >

<!ELEMENT (hovedniva) - - ((%start;), (ectsfag|master)*)             >

<!ATTLIST (grunniva|hovedniva) %a.id;

                               %subdocatt;                            >

<!ELEMENT ectsfag       - - ((%start;), (%divmal;|%ectsmal;)*) >



<!ATTLIST ectsfag    %a.id;

                     %subdocatt;                                      >



<!ELEMENT (%ectsmal;) - - (%s.zz;)* >



<!ATTLIST language    spraak (norwegian|english|englishonrequest|other)

                        #REQUIRED>
Under the hood - the ugly view
<!DOCTYPE ECTS PUBLIC "-//Universitetet i Oslo//DTD Meta-Studiehandbok//NO" [

<!ENTITY % papir "INCLUDE">

<!ENTITY % web "INCLUDE">

]>

<ECTS ID="philosophy">

<TIT>The Department of Philosophy</TIT>

<INNL>

<ADRINFO>

<ANAVN>The Department of Philosophy</ANAVN>

<BADR>P.A. Munchs hus, 2 et.</BADR>

<POSTBOKS>P.O.B. 1020 Blindern</POSTBOKS>

<PNR>N-0317</PNR>

<PSTED>OSLO</PSTED>

<TLF>+ 47 22 85 69 11</TLF>

<FAX>+ 47 22 85 69 63</FAX>

</ADRINFO>

<A>

<UTH>NB! For information concerning <uth type="halvfet">Examen Philosophicum</uth>, please see special chapter.</UTH>

</A>

<LISTE TYPE="umerket">

<OVERSKR>Departmental ECTS coordinator</OVERSKR>

<PKT>

<A>

<PERSADR>

<FNAVN>Øystein</FNAVN>

<ENAVN>Skar</ENAVN>

<ADRINFO>

<TLF>+ 47 22 85 77 52</TLF>

<EMAIL>oystein.skar@filosofi.uio.no</EMAIL>

</ADRINFO>

</PERSADR>

</A>

</PKT>

</LISTE>

<LISTE TYPE="umerket">

<OVERSKR>Subjects under this department:</OVERSKR>

<PKT>

<A>Philosophy</A>

</PKT>

<PKT>

<A><uth>Examen Philosophicum</uth> (see special chapter)</A>

</PKT>

</LISTE>

<LISTE TYPE="umerket">

<OVERSKR>Department Statistics</OVERSKR>

<PKT>

<A>Number of academic staff: 50</A>

</PKT>

<PKT>

<A>Number of research fellows: 6</A>

</PKT>

<PKT>

<A>Number of administrative staff: 7</A>

</PKT>

<PKT>

<A>Number of students: Ex.phil. - 3000 students</A>

</PKT>

<PKT>

<A>Number of students: Philosophy - 300</A>

</PKT>

</LISTE>

</INNL>

<FAGOMR>

<TIT>Philosophy</TIT>

<GRUNNIVA ID="first">

<TIT>First degree courses:</TIT>

<ECTSFAG ID="grunnfag">

<TIT ALPHABET="LATIN" PURPOSE="NORMAL" SDAFORM="ti">Philosophy - Grunnfag</TIT>

<CREDIT>

<A>60</A>

</CREDIT>

    <language spraak="norwegian">

     <a>Norwegian</a>

    </language>

<PERIOD>

<A>Spring and autumn semesters</A>

</PERIOD>

<DURATION>

<A>2 semesters</A>

</DURATION>

<LECTURES>

<A>8 hours per week</A>

</LECTURES>

<STUDYGROUPS>

<A>2 hours per week</A>

</STUDYGROUPS>

<PREREQUISITES>

<A><uth>Examen Philosophicum</uth> and <uth>Examen Facultatum</uth></A>

</PREREQUISITES>

<EXAMINATION>

<A>For each of the four parts of the philosophy curriculum an

examination (written, 6 hours) will be given, two at the end of each

semester. In addition, a mandatory term paper for each of the four

parts must be approved.</A>

</EXAMINATION>

<CONTENTS>

<A>Four parts: 1) Metaphysics and Philosophy of Mind. 2) Theory of

Knowledge and Philosophy of Science. 3) Ethics and other aspects of

Practical Philosophy. 4) Philosophy of Language and Logic.</A>

</CONTENTS>

<OBJECTIVE>

<A>To provide an introduction to the central issues of Philosophy,

which have concerned philosophers from Antiquity to the present day.

</A>

</OBJECTIVE>

</ECTSFAG>

<ECTSFAG ID="mellomfag">

<TIT ALPHABET="LATIN" PURPOSE="NORMAL" SDAFORM="ti">Philosophy -

Mellomfagstillegg</TIT>

<CREDIT>

<A>30</A>

</CREDIT>

    <language spraak="other">

     <a>Mostly Norwegian. Some courses may be taught in English. Contact

     the institute to find out which courses are taught in English any

     given semester.</a>

    </language>

<PERIOD>

<A>Spring and autumn semesters</A>

</PERIOD>

<DURATION>

<A>1 semester</A>

</DURATION>

<LECTURES>

<A>A total of 30 hours.</A>

</LECTURES>

<PREREQUISITES>

<A>Philosophy - <UTH TYPE="KURSIV">grunnfag</UTH>

</A>

</PREREQUISITES>

<EXAMINATION>

<A>A short term paper of not less than 3.500 words (maximum 5.000

words) and 1 written examination (4 hours); <UTH TYPE="HALVFET">or:

</UTH>A term paper of not less than 5.000 words (maximum 6.500

words). For both alternatives there is also an oral examination. </A>

</EXAMINATION>

<CONTENTS>

<A>One special subject area related to one of the <UTH TYPE="KURSIV">grunnfag</UTH> subjects. Some special area courses are taught through lectures/seminars, others through tutorials. In both cases, students are to a large extent allowed to choose their own curriculum, under the guidance of a supervisor.</A>

</CONTENTS>

<OBJECTIVE>

<A>To give the students a deeper understanding of one of the problem

areas within philosophy, and to help them to acquire a more mature

attitude in their approach to Philosophy.</A>

</OBJECTIVE>

</ECTSFAG>

<ECTSFAG ID="storfag">

<TIT ALPHABET="LATIN" PURPOSE="NORMAL" SDAFORM="ti">Philosophy -

Storfagsstillegg </TIT>

<CREDIT>

<A>30 </A>

</CREDIT>

    <language spraak="other">

     <a>Mostly Norwegian. Some courses may be taught in English. Contact

     the institute to find out which courses are taught in English any

     given semester.</a>

    </language>

<PERIOD>

<A>Spring and autumn semesters</A>

</PERIOD>

<DURATION>

<A>1 semester</A>

</DURATION>

<LECTURES>

<A>A total of 30 hours.</A>

</LECTURES>

<PREREQUISITES>

<A>Philosophy - <UTH TYPE="KURSIV">mellomfag</UTH>.</A>

</PREREQUISITES>

<EXAMINATION>

<A>The same as for the <UTH TYPE="KURSIV">mellomfagstillegg </UTH>

above.</A>

</EXAMINATION>

<CONTENTS>

<A>The curriculum for the special areas in <UTH TYPE="KURSIV">storfagstillegg</UTH> is built up in the same way as <UTH

TYPE="KURSIV">mellomfagstillegget</UTH> (above).</A>

</CONTENTS>

<OBJECTIVE>

<A>To provide the students with an opportunity to further their

studies in another special area subject within philosophy.</A>

</OBJECTIVE>

</ECTSFAG>

</GRUNNIVA>

<HOVEDNIVA ID="advanced">

<TIT>Advanced (hovedfag) courses:</TIT>

<ECTSFAG ID="hovedfag">

<TIT ALPHABET="LATIN" PURPOSE="NORMAL" SDAFORM="ti">Philosophy -

Hovedfag</TIT>

<CREDIT>

<A>120</A>

</CREDIT>

    <language spraak="other">

     <a>Mostly Norwegian. Some courses may be taught in English. Contact

     the institute to find out which courses are taught in English any

     given semester.</a>

    </language>

<PERIOD>

<A>Spring and autumn semesters</A>

</PERIOD>

<DURATION>

<A>4 semesters</A>

</DURATION>

<LECTURES>

<A>The programme of lectures varies from semester to semester. Tutorial

supervision of the <UTH>hovedfag</UTH> thesis is provided.</A>

</LECTURES>

<PREREQUISITES>

<A>

<UTH TYPE="KURSIV">Mellomfag </UTH> in Philosophy.</A>

</PREREQUISITES>

<EXAMINATION>

<A>Two examinations in selected areas, of the same kind as for

<UTH>mellomfag</UTH> (see above), but without the oral examination.

In addition, a thesis of between 60 to 100 pages is submitted, and

provides the basis for a final oral examination. </A>

</EXAMINATION>

<OBJECTIVE>

<A>To enable the student to develop the skills needed for independent

philosophical work.</A>

</OBJECTIVE>

</ECTSFAG>

</HOVEDNIVA>

</FAGOMR>

</ECTS>
Under the hood - example of structure
<ECTS ID="">

<TIT></TIT>

<INNL>

    <ADRINFO>

        <ANAVN></ANAVN>

        <BADR></BADR>

        <POSTBOKS></POSTBOKS>

        <PNR></PNR>

        <PSTED></PSTED>

        <TLF></TLF>

        <FAX></FAX>

    </ADRINFO>

    <LISTE TYPE="umerket">

        <OVERSKR></OVERSKR>

        <PKT>

            <A>

                <PERSADR>

                    <FNAVN></FNAVN>

                    <ENAVN></ENAVN>

                    <ADRINFO>

                        <TLF></TLF>

                        <EMAIL></EMAIL>

                    </ADRINFO>

                </PERSADR>

            </A>

        </PKT>

        </LISTE>



    <LISTE TYPE="umerket">



        <OVERSKR>Subjects under this department:</OVERSKR>

        <PKT></PKT>

        <PKT></PKT>



    </LISTE>



</INNL>

<FAGOMR>

    <TIT></TIT>



    <GRUNNIVA ID="first">

        <TIT></TIT>



        <ECTSFAG ID="grunnfag">

            <TIT ALPHABET="LATIN" PURPOSE="NORMAL" SDAFORM="ti"></TIT>

            <CREDIT></CREDIT>

                <language spraak="norwegian">

                </language>

            <PERIOD></PERIOD>

            <DURATION></DURATION>

            <LECTURES></LECTURES>

            <STUDYGROUPS></STUDYGROUPS>

            <PREREQUISITES></PREREQUISITES>

            <EXAMINATION></EXAMINATION>

            <CONTENTS></CONTENTS>

            <OBJECTIVE></OBJECTIVE>

        </ECTSFAG>



    </GRUNNIVA>



    <HOVEDNIVA ID="advanced">

        <TIT></TIT>



        <ECTSFAG ID="hovedfag">

        </ECTSFAG>

    </HOVEDNIVA>

</FAGOMR>

</ECTS>
Same example tree structure
- Ects
  - Title
  - Intro
    - Addrinfo
      - Name
      - Addr
      - P O box
      - City
      - Tel
      - Fax
    - List
      - Headline
      - Item
        
        Personal addr
        
        Given name
        
        Surname
        
        Addrinfo
    - List
  - Subject area
    - Title
    - Subject
      - Basic level
        
        Title
        
        Ectsmodul
        
        Title
        
        Credit
        
        Language
        
        Period
        
        Duration
        
        Lectures
        
        Studygroups
        
        Prerequisities
        
        Examination
        
        Contents
        
        Objective
      - Main level
        
        Title
        
        Ectsmodul

To be discussed

Other initiatives on Course Description Metadata Framework in Europe?
Are we missing any fields - which are mandatory?
» See also: Educational level
Relation to other Metadata Initiatives
- Relation to IEEEs Standard for Metadata - LOM
  - Educational level
  - Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework describes cognitive level & skills
    - Might serve as a "common spine" which all other systems could be mapped to
  - National apllication profiles (a application profile being the guidelines a community agrees on how to use the LOM)
  - Unique identifiers
- Relationship to Participant information (ISO)/ Learner information (IMS)
- Vocabulatories
  - Socrates subject areas
    - 16 main categories
The process of commenting when we have a proposes specification
How to introduce the ECTS Metadata Framework to the European communities?
- CEN/ISSS Workshop Agreement?

Resources

CUBER - PERSONALISED CURRICULUM BUILDER IN THE FEDERATED VIRTUAL
- CUBER (Europeisk prosjekt - Personilised Curriculum Builder in the Federated Virtual University of the Europe of Region) - Final version of metadata spesification
  » See document: http://www.estandard.no/katalogprosjektet/cuber-d3-3.pdf
- CUBER - Metadata spesification: Forms, menues for description of cources and all other objects
  » See document: http://www.estandard.no/katalogprosjektet/cuber-d3-1.pdf

Please send your comments to Tore Hoel. This document was updated 28.04.2003.