Electronic Learning Object Metadata In Storage And Organization of Iranian Universities’ Organizational Repositories

This paper reports the findings of a research that has examined implementing Electronic Learning Object Metadata Standard (IEEE LOM) for storage and organisation of learning metadata in 18 Iranian universities.

Evaluative method and systematic observation were used. Learning objects were retrieved from the 18 repositories. Then, their metadata elements were extracted and checked for the most widely used standard. Data collection tool was a checklist containing 60 elements in 9 categories adopted from existing metadata standards.

Metadata elements ties varied between 6 and 16 . Findings showed that the number of elements described was very limited compared to the LOM metadata standard. The designed checklist showed that many elements of the desired e-learning standard are not covered, and out of 60 standard metadata elements Learning object (LOM), 25 elements (41%) are covered by the total of organizational repositories. Findings also revealed that this results in less retrieval. Search for educational resources in repositories showed that data elements used do not follow any standard. Some members of staff admitted that no standard was followed in organization of electronic learning objects in the organizational repositories.

Metadata are not implemented in repositories.