Asynchronous eLearning overcomes geographical and temporal constraints transforming learning into a process that can occur at the independently determined convenience of instructor and student. Demand has been developing both by corporations seeking to extend the skills of their employees and by individuals pursuing life long training for the achievement of their career goals. While a wealth of educational material is available throughout Europe, a large number of institutions do not currently offer organized distance education programs. Furthermore, it is desirable to promote existing distance education initiatives through information dissemination. The eCMS project aims to support asynchronous eLearning through an open, federated content management system that facilitates the publication, dissemination, and access to possibly distributed educational content through a single point on the web. eCMS provides content discovery and retrieval services for learners, publication and editing services for content providers, development of structured courses and management services for course managers (course organizers), and repository management and statistics analysis services for administrators. In addition, a basic on-line collaboration environment is available to facilitate the learning process through learner-learner and learner- instructor communication. The core of the system is an open middleware architecture for the publication, discovery, retrieval, and integration of educational content. The system supports the publication of standalone educational modules and structured courses as well as the integration of organized external repositories.  Learners  Content Providers  Course Managers  Administrators The system is implemented as a 3-tier web-based JAVA database application. Minerva Action Project CP GR-MINERVA-M October 2001 – October 2003 eCMS Architecture Services for Implementation Web-based User Interface Content Hosting External Collection Statistics DB Standalone Content Metadata DB search retrieval statistics Retrieval Service Publication Service Collabo ration publication Discovery Service External Collection Content Mgmt Node Contact Information Web Site: Efthimios Providas Hariklia Tsalapata Content Management Middleware for the Support of eLearning across Europe – eCMS University of Thessaly Sor Trondelag University College Education & Culture Metadata Content Apps Server Public Services Provider Services Course Services Admin Services Middle TierBack End Front End Public Providers Course Managers Admins Statistics

University of Thessaly (Coordinator) Telematics Network Center Efthimios Providas, Hariklia Tsalapata Argonafton & Filellinon Volos Greece Tel: Fax: Sor Trondelag University College Faculty of Technology John B. Stav E.C. DahlSgt. 2 N-7004 Trondheim Norway Tel: Fax: University of Northumbria at Newcastle School of Computing and Mathematics Paul Brna Ellison Building Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST England Tel: Fax:  Services for Learners  Efficient information discovery  Repository navigation and browsing  Metadata record reviewing  Content retrieval  Course registration  Collaboration tools  Additional Services for Content Providers  On-line metadata generation  Optional content hosting  On-line metadata management: reviewing, updating, deleting  Additional Services for Course Managers  On-line structured course development  On-line structured course management: publication, editing, integration, sharing  Examination support  Additional Services for Administrators  Indexing  Statistics gathering and analysis  External repository integration  User account management  Collaboration environment management eCMS supports the structuring of independent educational modules into course hierarchies through “contains” relationships and provides support for module reuse. Contact Information Web Site: Efthimios Providas Hariklia Tsalapata Content Management Middleware for the Support of eLearning across Europe Structured Courses eCMS Services Description Partners Compu- ting European History Computer Arch Desktop Tools Computer Basics 15 th Century Imaging Doc Editing Spread Sheets

Asynchronous eLearning overcomes geographical and temporal constraints transforming learning into a process that can occur at the independently determined convenience of instructor and student. Demand has been developing both by corporations seeking to extend the skills of their employees and by individuals pursuing life long training for the achievement of their career goals. While a wealth of educational material is available throughout Europe, a large number of institutions do not currently offer organized distance education programs. Furthermore, it is desirable to promote existing distance education initiatives through information dissemination. The eCMS project aims to support asynchronous eLearning through an open, federated content management system that facilitates the publication, dissemination, and access to possibly distributed educational content through a single point on the web. eCMS provides content discovery and retrieval services for learners, publication and editing services for content providers, development of structured courses and management services for course managers (course organizers), and repository management and statistics analysis services for administrators. In addition, a basic on-line collaboration environment is available to facilitate the learning process through learner-learner and learner- instructor communication. The core of the system is an open middleware architecture for the publication, discovery, retrieval, and integration of educational content. The system supports the publication of standalone educational modules and structured courses as well as the integration of organized external repositories.  Learners  Content Providers  Course Managers  Administrators The system is implemented as a 3-tier web-based JAVA database application.

University of Thessaly (Coordinator) Telematics Network Center Efthimios Providas, Hariklia Tsalapata Argonafton & Filellinon Volos Greece Tel: Fax: Sor Trondelag University College Faculty of Technology John B. Stav E.C. DahlSgt. 2 N-7004 Trondheim Norway Tel: Fax: University of Northumbria at Newcastle School of Computing and Mathematics Paul Brna Ellison Building Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST England Tel: Fax:  Services for Learners  Efficient information discovery  Navigation tools  Metadata record viewing  Access to content  Collaboration tools  Services for Content Providers  On-line metadata submission  Optional content uploads  On-line metadata record management (reviews, updates, deletes)  Services available to Learners  Services for Course Managers  On-line structured course development  On-line structured course management (edits, deletes)  Services available to Content Providers  Services for Administrators  Statistics gathering and analysis  External repository integration  User account management  Services available to Course Managers eCMS supports the structuring of independent educational modules into course hierarchies through “contains” relationships and provides support for module reuse.

The core of the system is an open middleware architecture for the publication, discovery, retrieval, and integration of educational content. The system supports the publication of standalone educational modules and structured courses as well as the integration of organized external repositories.  Learners  Content Providers  Course Managers  Administrators Asynchronous eLearning overcomes geographical and temporal constraints transforming learning into a process that can occur at the independently determined convenience of instructor and student. Demand has been developing both by corporations seeking to extend the skills of their employees and by individuals pursuing life long training for the achievement of their career goals. While a wealth of educational material is available throughout Europe, a large number of institutions do not currently offer organized distance education programs. Furthermore, it is desirable to promote existing distance education initiatives through information dissemination. The eCMS project aims to support asynchronous eLearning through an open, federated content management system that facilitates the publication, dissemination, and access to possibly distributed educational content through a single point on the web. eCMS provides content discovery and retrieval services for learners, publication and editing services for content providers, development of structured courses and management services for course managers (course organizers), and repository management and statistics analysis services for administrators. In addition, a basic on-line collaboration environment is available to facilitate the learning process through learner-learner and learner- instructor communication. The system is implemented as a 3-tier web-based JAVA database application.

University of Thessaly (Coordinator) Telematics Network Center Efthimios Providas, Hariklia Tsalapata Argonafton & Filellinon Volos Greece Tel: Fax: Sor Trondelag University College Faculty of Technology John B. Stav E.C. DahlSgt. 2 N-7004 Trondheim Norway Tel: Fax: University of Northumbria at Newcastle School of Computing and Mathematics Paul Brna Ellison Building Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST England Tel: Fax:  Services for Learners  Efficient information discovery  Navigation tools  Metadata record viewing  Access to content  Collaboration tools  Services for Content Providers  On-line metadata submission  Optional content uploads  On-line metadata record management (reviews, updates, deletes)  Services available to Learners  Services for Course Managers  On-line structured course development  On-line structured course management (edits, deletes)  Services available to Content Providers  Services for Administrators  Statistics gathering and analysis  External repository integration  User account management  Services available to Course Managers eCMS supports the structuring of independent educational modules into course hierarchies through “contains” relationships and provides support for module reuse.

The core of the system is an open middleware architecture for the publication, discovery, retrieval, and integration of educational content. The system supports the publication of standalone educational modules and structured courses as well as the integration of organized external repositories.  Learners  Content Providers  Course Managers  Administrators Asynchronous eLearning overcomes geographical and temporal constraints transforming learning into a process that can occur at the independently determined convenience of instructor and student. Demand has been developing both by corporations seeking to extend the skills of their employees and by individuals pursuing life long training for the achievement of their career goals. While a wealth of educational material is available throughout Europe, a large number of institutions do not currently offer organized distance education programs. Furthermore, it is desirable to promote existing distance education initiatives through information dissemination. The eCMS project aims to support asynchronous eLearning through an open, federated content management system that facilitates the publication, dissemination, and access to possibly distributed educational content through a single point on the web. eCMS provides content discovery and retrieval services for learners, publication and editing services for content providers, development of structured courses and management services for course managers (course organizers), and repository management and statistics analysis services for administrators. In addition, a basic on-line collaboration environment is available to facilitate the learning process through learner-learner and learner- instructor communication. The system is implemented as a 3-tier web-based JAVA database application.

University of Thessaly (Coordinator) Telematics Network Center Efthimios Providas, Hariklia Tsalapata Argonafton & Filellinon Volos Greece Tel: Fax: Sor Trondelag University College Faculty of Technology John B. Stav E.C. DahlSgt. 2 N-7004 Trondheim Norway Tel: Fax: University of Northumbria at Newcastle School of Computing and Mathematics Paul Brna Ellison Building Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST England Tel: Fax:  Services for Learners  Efficient information discovery  Navigation tools  Metadata record viewing  Access to content  Collaboration tools  Services for Content Providers  On-line metadata submission  Optional content uploads  On-line metadata record management (reviews, updates, deletes)  Services available to Learners  Services for Course Managers  On-line structured course development  On-line structured course management (edits, deletes)  Services available to Content Providers  Services for Administrators  Statistics gathering and analysis  External repository integration  User account management  Services available to Course Managers eCMS supports the structuring of independent educational modules into course hierarchies through “contains” relationships and provides support for module reuse.

Asynchronous eLearning overcomes geographical and temporal constraints transforming learning into a process that can occur at the independently determined convenience of instructor and student. Demand has been developing both by corporations seeking to extend the skills of their employees and by individuals pursuing life long training for the achievement of their career goals. While a wealth of educational material is available throughout Europe, a large number of institutions do not currently offer organized distance education programs. Furthermore, it is desirable to promote existing distance education initiatives through information dissemination. The eCMS project aims to support asynchronous eLearning through an open, federated content management system that facilitates the publication, dissemination, and access to possibly distributed educational content through a single point on the web. eCMS provides content discovery and retrieval services for learners, publication and editing services for content providers, development of structured courses and management services for course managers (course organizers), and repository management and statistics analysis services for administrators. In addition, a basic on-line collaboration environment is available to facilitate the learning process through learner-learner and learner- instructor communication. The core of the system is an open middleware architecture for the publication, discovery, retrieval, and integration of educational content. The system supports the publication of standalone educational modules and structured courses as well as the integration of organized external repositories.  Learners  Content Providers  Course Managers  Administrators The system is implemented as a 3-tier web-based JAVA database application.

University of Thessaly (Coordinator) Telematics Network Center Efthimios Providas, Hariklia Tsalapata Argonafton & Filellinon Volos Greece Tel: Fax: Sor Trondelag University College Faculty of Technology John B. Stav E.C. DahlSgt. 2 N-7004 Trondheim Norway Tel: Fax: University of Northumbria at Newcastle School of Computing and Mathematics Paul Brna Ellison Building Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST England Tel: Fax:  Services for Learners  Efficient information discovery  Navigation tools  Metadata record viewing  Access to content  Collaboration tools  Services for Content Providers  On-line metadata submission  Optional content uploads  On-line metadata record management (reviews, updates, deletes)  Services available to Learners  Services for Course Managers  On-line structured course development  On-line structured course management (edits, deletes)  Services available to Content Providers  Services for Administrators  Statistics gathering and analysis  External repository integration  User account management  Services available to Course Managers eCMS supports the structuring of independent educational modules into course hierarchies through “contains” relationships and provides support for module reuse.

statistics collection retrieval Content Managemen t Node Web-based User Interface Content Hosting External Repository Statistics DB Standalone Material Metadata DB resultssearchpresentation metadata importing statistics analysis statistics collection Search Service Retrieval Service Publication Service Collabo- ration submissio n

Web-based User Interface Content Hosting External Collection Statistics DB Standalone Content Metadata DB search & navigation retrieval statistics Retrieval Service Publication Service Collabo ration publication Discovery Service External Collection Content Mgmt Node

Back End Metadata Database Statistics Database Application Server Front End Public Providers Administrators Middle Tier Public Services Provider Services Administrator Services Course Managers

Metadata Content Apps Server Public Services Provider Services Course Services Admin Services Middle TierBack End Front End Public Providers Course Managers Admins Statistics

Compu- ting European History Computer Arch Desktop Tools Computer Basics 15 th Century Imaging Doc Editing Spread Sheets