Metadata

These recommendations were reviewed and ratified by the E-standards Expert Group in January 2008 for use in the Australian VET system in 2008.

For further information on the topic of Metadata, see background information on Metadata.

Vetadata is the VET system's official metadata application profile, based on the IEEE Learning Object Metadata standard. Vetadata aims to improve interoperability and discovery of educational resources across the VET system.

Using Vetadata

This page provides all the required information for implementing and using Vetadata:

The Vetadata Specification

Vetadata 1.03

The Vetadata specification is available in PDF (491KB) and Word (826KB).

The Vetadata specification was first released in 2005. There have been no major changes to the specification itself since that time and the version of Vetadata remains at 1.0.

A number of improvements and corrections have been made to the documentation to provide better support for users describing adult and community education, state-accredited and mobile learning resources.

The Specification Document is supported by two guides described below. Vetadata includes advice on a number of recommended vocabularies.

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Vocabularies used in Vetadata

Vetadata recommends a number of vocabularies to be used when entering metadata. For more information see Background information and Recommended Standards on vocabularies.

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The Vetadata XML Binding

An XML binding has been developed for Vetadata and is available in two forms:

SCORM 1.2 objects (compatible with Toolbox requirements)

All other types of resources

For information and support in using these XML bindings, please contact our helpdesk.

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Guides

Establishing a Vetadata System

Advice on establishing business processes and information systems for storing and entering Vetadata compliant descriptions of learning resources. Likely audience includes business managers, information management professionals, system developers, resource developers, and technical staff.

'Establishing a Vetadata System' version 1.04 is available in PDF (341KB) and Word (528KB).

Applying Vetadata to Learning Resources

A guide for individuals engaged in describing resources, including authors and developers as well as professional cataloguers. Fifteen steps explain each element, when it is required, and how to enter it.

'Applying Vetadata to Learning Resources' version 1.04 is available in PDF (375KB) and Word (588KB).

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Vetadata Tools

Vetadata Tool (for SCORM objects)

The Vetadata tool creates metadata suitable for SCORM 1.2 Learning Objects. The tool was developed as part of the Flexible Learning Toolboxes project.

Download the Vetadata tool as a ZIP file (3.26MB). To install it, unzip the downloaded file and double click on the "Vetadata editor.exe" file in the "Vetadata v1.3.1" folder. Note: if you need any support using the tool, please contact our help desk.

Reload

The Reload tool can also be customised to create Vetadata-conformant metadata files: http://www.reload.ac.uk. For information and support, please contact e-standards@flexiblelearning.net.au.

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Examples

Here are some Vetadata record examples for a range of different resources. Each example is provided in both text (HTML) and XML versions.

Note the variations in which elements are repeated or omitted, and which vocabularies are used in the Classification sections.

Example Metadata examples View actual resource
A. Plant shrubs and small trees

This resource supports a competency from the Horticulture Toolbox (Certificate ll)		 Text | XML View resource
B. Manage work/life skills

This resource supports a competency from the Human Resources Toolbox (Diploma)		 Text | XML View resource
C. Apply work/life skills to the workplace

This is a learning object from the Human Resources Toolbox: 		Text | XML View resource
D. Life Online

This is a course used in the Certificates in General Education for Adults (CGEA).		 Text | XML View resource
E. Sustaining the Momentum

This is not a learning resource, but a report on directions for interoperability in the VET sector.		 Text | XML Read the report: Sustaining the Momentum – Directions for Interoperability in the VET Sector (Nov 2005)
F. Adult and community education (ACE) example

This example shows how Vetadata can also be used to describe ACE resources.		 Text | XML View resource

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References

The Educational Use vocabulary

This vocabulary was developed as part of Vetadata and is maintained by the Framework. The Educational Use vocabulary is available in HTML and XML.

The IEEE LOM standard

Version 1.0 of the Learning Object Metadata (LOM) standard was adopted as an international standard in July 2002. The standard is IEEE publication 1484.12.1-2002.

http://ieeeltsc.org

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