In order to achieve interoperability among learning repositories, implementers require a common communication framework for querying. This paper proposes a set of methods referred to as Simple Query Interface (SQI) as a universal interoperability layer for educational networks. The methods proposed can be used by a source for configuring and submitting queries to a target system and retrieving results from it. The SQI interface can be implemented in a synchronous or an asynchronous manner. SQI abstracts from query languages and metadata schemas. SQI has been evaluated by several prototype implementations demonstrating its universal applicability, and is on the way to being standardized in the CEN/ISSS Learning Technologies Workshop. The latest developments of SQI can be followed at http://www.prolearn-project.org/lori/

1. A Simple Query Interface for Interoperable Learning Repositories Bernd Simon, Zoltán Miklos – Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien / EducaNext Stefaan Ternier, Erik Duval – Katholieke Universiteit Leuven/Ariadne Frans Van Assche, David Massart – European Schoolnet Stefan Brantner – BearingPoint Infonova Daniel Olmedilla – L3S Research Center and Hanover University

3. Motivation for Interoperability: Workplace Learning Today‘s Knowledge Worker Tool: Web Browser + Many Propriatery Web Applications Publishing House Magazins, Journals Online Bookstore Books Intranet Tutorials Intranet Best Practice Studies Online Marketplace Courses

4. Motivation for Interoperability: Workplace Learning Tommorrow‘s Knowledge Worker Tool: Web Browser + Personalized Search Client + Educational Semantic Network Publishing House Magazins, Journals Online Bookstore Books Intranet Tutorials Intranet Best Practice Studies Online Marketplace Courses Interoperable Smart Space for Learning TM Personalized Search Client

5. Basic Problem Query? Results Source Target Query Language, Schema Transport Results Format

6. Architecture of a Solution Query Results Set Query using an agreed Query Language referring to an agreed Schema Transport via Simple Query Interface Protocol Returning Results using an agreed Results Format Based on a Simple Query Interface (SQI)

7. Interoperability Stack Focus of SQI Messaging Service (e.g., SOAP, XML RPCs, JRMI ) Core Services (e.g., Session Management) Applications (e.g., Query, Harvesting) Network Architecture (e.g., HTTP, SMTP; TCP/IP ) Semantic Model (e.g., Common Query Schema)

9. SQI Methods

11. SQI-Enabled Semantic Network for Personnel Development: ELENA’s Smart Space for Learning HCD Online Amazon.com Gateway EducaNext ELENA Smart Space for Learning SQI SQI LASON, Knowledgebay SQI Seminarshop.at Gateway SQI EduSource Gateway Edutella Gateway Universitärer Lehrverbund Informatik (ULI) Clix WU Wien Executive Academy SQI SQI SQI SQI SQI SQI

12. Demo http://www.hcd-online.com | Network Search

13. SQI – Ariadne Ariadne SQI Federated Search SQI Merlot EdNA Online SQI RDN Pond EducaNext SQI ECL SQI ECL Smete SQI ECL SQI EdNA SQI SQI VSQI QEL Gem Voced abcall EdNA EdNA EdNA SQI SQI SQI FedGov EdNA SQI Merlot API

15. Thank you! Comments? Questions?

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