Tagging Learning Objects with Evolving Metadata Schemas

This paper describes a social approach to tagging learning objects with metadata. In this approach learning objectspsila creators use a metadata schema that is extended with new categories as more and more learning objects are tagged. These new categories are made available for the rest of the creatorspsila community. The approach also lets creators restructure metadata schemas. The mechanism is also powerful enough to reify (and therefore to interoperate with) existing metadata specifications (e.g. LOM). We have tested this approach in Chasqui, a system for the production and deployment of repositories of learning objects in specialized domains, where metadata are exploited during navigation and search.