Project Timeline
The Reload project has recently received further funding and the project will now end in July 2005. The extension will allow us to produce and refine the forthcoming Learning Design tools, as well as continue to support and develop the other Reload Tools.
The following plans show our expected development for all the software we are developing. Although we have not provided specific dates,
Reload Editor
In May 2004 we released a new version of the tools v1.2 which represent the accumulated changes from 6 months work on the Editor. Although stable, the Reload Editor is our most widely used tool and so new features are constantly being added to make it more flexible and useful. We anticipate a minor (maintenance) release in July 2004, but no further major release until at least the end of the year. Currently anticipated improvements include:
- More options for file dependencies when resources added to manifest,
- Internationalisation (from TELCERT contribution),
- XML instance validation (from TELCERT contribution),
- Better profiling (from TELCERT contribution),
- Templating
- Support IEEE LOM 1.0 Binding,
- Support ADL SCORM 1.3 Editing (depends on IEEE LOM 1.0).
TELCERT is a major EU-funded project (http://www.opengroup.org/telcert/) which seeks, amongst other things, to build on the Reload tools to provide further tools specialised for specific user groups. Amongst its primary activities of relevance to Reload will be providing support for application profiles, vocabularies, internationalization and validation.
Reload SCORM 1.2 Player
Work on the SCORM 1.2 Player is also stable. Some architectural changes are currently being implemented (the system is now based on struts technology, for those who are interested) and a new version of the Player (v1.2) is planned for late July 2004. Further integration between the SCORM 1.2 Player and the Reload Editor is also planned.
Reload Learning Design Player and Editor
Our main focus of development is now the Learning Design tools, with parallel development of both an Editor and a Player. Our present plan is to implement the main features of Learning Design:
-
Environment & Services,
- Roles,
- Activities,
- Activity Structures,
- Acts / Role-parts,
- Plays and Methods etc
... via a series of paired editor and player Preview releases over the next several months. (Preview means they will be interim releases (unsupported) for interested people who want early access to the LD editor - they will not be feature complete). These applications will then be refined over the remainder of the project.
