A Use-Case Based Model for Learning Resources in Educational Mediators

In order to exchange learning resources via educational mediators, resources need to be described with metadata in a coherent manner. Metadata for learning resources has become a widely discussed research topic, but the concept is still too loosely defined to provide guidelines for its use. With this paper we aim to contribute to the design of metadata models, which serve as vehicles for defining educational offers in exchange environments. In the context of educational mediators, the learning object notion is clarified using a taxonomy, which differentiates between educational activities and educational material. The model is derived from two exemplifying use cases of educational mediators implemented in the EducaNext portal: exchange of educational material and mediation of cross-institutional educational activities . The paper targets developers and stakeholders of educational mediators as well as educators and technologists dealing with metadata standards in general.