Work Packages

The project is organized following the ICOPER Educational Framework. To enable competency- based learning within the ICOPER pedagogical model, standards need to be implemented, validated, and improved – those activities are performed by specialised teams in the testbeds described in Work Packages (WP) 2 to 6. The experiences and results from WPs 2 to 6 lead to the construction of the ICOPER Reference Model which is developed in WP 7. This WP covers the process from the initial design until its large scale implementation. Based on the work performed in WPs 1 - 7, WPs 8 and 9 cover the promotion and adoption of the various specifications through dissemination as well as training in the ICOPER Institute. Finally, WP 10 covers project management as the coordination instance.

The following figure illustrates the above mentioned dependencies between the various Work Packages.

Detailed Information of each Work Package

WP 1

This WP will set-up and maintain the Open ICOPER Content Space by analysing alternatives for integrating content starting with several standards and specifications. As a second step, it will integrate content of all forms (offerings of learning opportunities, instructional models, presential and distance learning content, assessment and evaluation items) in cooperation with WP 2 to WP 6. Ultimately, the WP will provide access to this content via a single access point based on a common interface specification. As the project moves on, WP 1 will extend the Open ICOPER Content Space both horizontally (more repositories) and vertically (more tools). In cooperation with WP 2 to WP 6, WP1 will provide the infrastructure for piloting.

WP 2

WP 2 will use competency standards as a starting point in order to develop an approach towards a unified description of learning opportunities based on learning outcomes. ICOPER will attempt to use and/or develop standardised procedures and building blocks for describing relevant artefacts such as learning needs, qualifications (knowledge, skills, and competencies), and context. WP 2 will develop an approach towards the analysis of personal learning needs, learning outcomes, and learning opportunities. Based on standardized specifications the WP will apply and evaluate standardised procedures and building blocks for describing learning needs, learning outcome (knowledge, skills, and competencies), learning opportunities, and context.

WP 3

This WP will propel educational modelling proficiency by investigating technology-supported adoption of generic instructional models in specific instructional contexts. A categorization scheme for instructional models, for example an educational taxonomy, will be developed to provide improved access to instructional models. In a second step we will investigate the potential of the IMS Learning Design specification, as being a promising candidate for providing means for describing instructional models and fostering comparison, re-use and sharing of instructional concepts, to express the contextualized models by evaluating the alignment of a contextualized model and an IMS LD conform model as well as the conversion process (from the generic model to the specific and vice-versa).

WP 4

WP 4 will focus on sharing best practices on content development and re-use. The envisaged contribution to the ICOPER Reference Model is intended to be a living thing that captures the best practices of institutions/individuals who are innovating in their re-use of materials, and in a constant ‘development’ process with their repositories. Some, e.g. SLIDESTAR empower a ‘Web 2.0’ open and continuous uploading of new content, whilst some, e.g. OpenLearn keep core and ‘branded content’ in a closed repository, only updated by a select community. This WP aims to integrate the best practices and experience from both of these ‘open’ and ‘closed’ approaches into a common view while testing the suitability of standards and specifications for content development & re-use.

WP 5

This WP will support the delivery of activity-based learning scenarios with open content. Such scenarios can include several roles like learner, instructor, tutor and peer. Education and training providers shall be enabled to combine instructional models with open content and collaboration services to provide a stimulating learning environment.

WP 6

WP 6 is concerned with tracking the skills acquired and evaluating the quality of the learning delivered. After the analysing of implemented specifications and standards for assessment and evaluation, best practice guidelines for usage of those specifications and standards will be prepared. Also a feedback mechanism will be provided that enables users to give feedback about the quality of content.

WP 7

This WP will design, implement, validate, and adopt the ICOPER Reference Model. Developing a reference model means

• that the model has to integrate several specifications.
• to validate the model in different user communities.
• to improve the model based on experiences, user feedback, and consensus in the standardisation community.

The main objective can be divided into the following sub-objectives:

• to create a conceptual model of the ICOPER Reference Model, linking the standards used in this project
• to integrate experiences from standards adoption
• providing an instrument for integration of standards and specifications
• to validate the use of the ICOPER Reference Model in practice (based on WP2-6 testbeds).

WP 8

The work of WP 8 is twofold:

• building awareness, by disseminating and communicating the results of ICOPER
• developing a roadmap for standardization which will serve as a tool for collaborative strategic planning for the involved community.

To successfully implement these activities it is of vital importance to develop and maintain a specialized community of practice focused on the interchange of experience and collaborative knowledge creation. WP 8 will focus on the following activities:

• Promote vision and project results of ICOPER to the relevant target groups across Europe.
• Develop and promote a knowledge network that gathers and disseminates requirements and views of different stakeholders (bottom-up approach).
• Develop a roadmap for standardization that will assess the maturity of current status, identify current and emerging requirements and capture desired scenarios for creating and delivering competency-driven learning based on interoperable content.
• Bridge the gaps between pre-standardisation, standardisation and standards adoption (top-down approach)

WP 9

This WP will be an important instrument for European-wide consensus building on the adoption and promotion of specifications and standards across Europe through training measures and consulting. The institute will consolidate these activities during the funded period and provide a framework for sustainability when the project is over. The institute will have two core missions: knowledge transfer and training for networking players in the eContent arena in collaboration with WP7 and WP8.
On the more operational level the ICOPER Institute Training & Consulting will play a crucial role in providing, both, online and offline training on standards and specifications validated by ICOPER.

WP 10

WP 10 will establish and maintain the management structures and techniques used in the project.
The following activities will be performed:

• Develop a project performance monitoring system, which is based on WP-specific performance indicators.
• Implement a performance monitoring system based on these indicators. Deviations from plan will hereby immediately be reported to project management, and handled and solved within the executive board.
• Set up infrastructure for coordination so that all knowledge material, either produced within the project (deliverables, reports, meeting minutes etc.) or supportive knowledge material (background material, state-of-the-art material, etc.) will be organised and stored in a shared workspace accessible by all project partners. Communication will be based on regular face-to-face meetings, e-mail communication and regular virtual meetings using for example the FlashMeeting tool provided by OU UK.