1. The history of MLO-AD
Erlend Øverby
Tore Hoel
Scott Wilson
Hypatia AS
Åsgårdveien 24
1671 Kråkerøy
Norway
Erlend.Overby@hypatia.no
+47 90129642

3. Hypatia AS
In the beginning
• In Norway
Need for exchange of information about studies
offered at Universitites
Developed the ESU
A XML schema in Norwegian
Translated into English and became CDM
Another XML schema with
• At the same time
Sweden - EMIL
UK - evaluated the CDM
France - had the same needs as Norway
Germany - similar projects – PAS 1068
3

4. Hypatia AS
CEN - WS/LT
• In 2005
Identified a need for harmonisation of existing
initiatives within Europe
Project was proposed
Number 1 for funding
EU - CEN problems with funding
• In 2007
New project proposal on harmonisation of
European activities
Norwegian CDM
France CDM
Swedish EMIL
UK - XCRI
German - PAS 1068
4 other needs identified (Spain/Finland/Greece/Italy)

5. Hypatia AS
CDM - refused
• The CDM did not get funding by DG Industry
(CEN)
• CEN WS/LT agreed that the work was
important and a group of people agreed to do
the work on a unpaid basis
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6. Hypatia AS
The “Athens Declaration” on
Course Descriptions:
1. There is a considerable interest in many countries in Europe in
creating specifications for the exchange of information about
courses and other learning and training opportunities.
2. There is a clear scope for greater harmonization of these efforts
within a European context.
3. All existing national initiatives will benefit from contributing
towards harmonization at a European level.
4. There are sufficient clear commonalities across existing national
initiatives for future European standards to be developed.
5. Harmonization should balance the benefits of common
standardization with the necessity for meeting local contextual
needs and infrastructure.
6. Harmonization efforts should focus on small, simple models
based upon existing commonalities that can be expanded upon
at national or regional level, rather than all-inclusive monolithic
standards.
6 Scott Wilson

7. Hypatia AS
MLO - Project
• Started December 2007
• Agreed on CDM-Core elements
• Changed name to MLO
Metadata for Learning Opportunities
• Collected business cases and use cases
• Focus on Advertising of Learning
Opportunities
Other areas for later projects
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8. Hypatia AS
MLO - work process
• Extensively use of wiki
http://wiki.teria.no/
• On-Line meetings
Scypecast
Flashmeeting
• Face2Face meetings
Co-located with CEN WS/LT meetings
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9. Hypatia AS
MLO-AD – next step
• Will be submitted to CEN TC353 for formal
standardisation at next WS/LT meeting
This Friday
• Then each member body of TC353 can
comment and suggest improvements
• MLO-AD as EN in 2009
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10. MLO details