lorn


 * LORN’s value proposition**
 * 1.** **What is LORN’s unique value proposition for the sector?**
 * For the owners of Learning Objects?
 * For the people that want to use Learning Objects?
 * How is LORN differentiated from other offerings across the sector (Resource Generator, TVET repositories, etc)?


 * 2.** **To what extent is LORN a service to the VTE system as compared to a commercial opportunity for content providers?**
 * What would the service component include?
 * What would a commercial component include?
 * Should content providers be free to charge what they like for learning objects?

· Learning objects (content packaged, meta-tagged digital resources for learning)? · Any resource (not packaged, not a learner’s resource, not interactive, not digital)?
 * 3.** **What types of resources are eligible to be part of LORN?**

· Only Australian VTE organisations ? RTOs and agencies? · Other sector organisations? · Commercial publishers · Overseas organisations?
 * 4.** **What types of organisations are eligible to join?**

This is especially relevant to national and other Free for Education resources. Web access potentially allows learning objects to be viewed and downloaded from LORN anywhere in the world. Technological solutions may be able to restrict access. What policies are needed on the rights and/or restrictions for international parties.
 * 5.** **Should there be restrictions or special conditions for international users?**

Governance and operational management are two separate functions. Currently LORN is governed through a project structure under the Australian Flexible Learning Framework. What changes to the current governance structures are needed to move LORN from a project to a sustainable service?
 * Governance Model**
 * 6.** **What governance arrangements will be required?**

Increasing the responsibilities of the central repository (operational) manager has the advantage of reducing the workload on repository managers, but would increase the effort (and cost) of the operational management function. A balance needs to be found that ensures the central operations activity delivers value for money to all repository managers. Finding this balance involves consideration of such aspects as - technical operations - access permission - copyright monitoring - quality control - marketing - transaction capability - statistical collection - other matters?
 * Operational Model**
 * 7.** **What is best handled centrally and what handled at local (repository) level?**

Currently rights of usage are displayed and users are asked to agree. The next step is to allow transactions and separate conditions for different user categories. Further developments may allow tracking and follow up of usage abuses. Is it possible to reach in principle agreement on the ideal level of DRM?
 * Digital Rights Expression/Management (DRM)**
 * 8.** **What level of Digital Rights Expression/Management (DRE/DRM) is desirable?**

· What sources of funding are available to fund LORN? · What revenue models could ensure ongoing sustainability? · What key principles should underpin the revenue model? · Can a preferred revenue model be identified? · Is any other information required to determine an appropriate revenue model?
 * Ensuring ongoing sustainability**
 * 9.** **To become truly sustainable, LORN must secure an ongoing source of funding.**

· Catalogue information? · Preview of resources? · Download of resources?
 * Implementing the business model and encouraging growth**
 * 10.** **What level of access to resources should be available from all repositories in the network?**

National resources have an “S” licence which allows customisation but implies that customised resources belong to the Commonwealth and should be returned for wider use. What policies and practices are necessary to make this happen?
 * 11.** **How can “Share and return” of resources be accommodated?**

This may involve implications for such issues as quality control, copyright control and the possibility of a separate repository for such resources. //Note:// AARNET is looking at a national sharing network and The Learning Federation has commenced planning such a network for schools. Significant enhancements are already planned for the 2007 calendar year: - implementation of e-transactional systems for learning objects - developing appropriate digital rights management models for the LORN environment - implementing a sustainable model for persistent object identifiers - research and possible trial of authentication models such as Meta-Access Management System (MAMS). What other enhancements are mandatory to implement the business model? What enhancements are desirable? Are additional incentives required for content owners to encourage the growth of LORN? What marketing strategies are required? · For users of Learning Objects? · For owners of Learning Objects? · For others? When should the marketing strategies be initiated?
 * 12.** **What place is there for teacher-developed resources in the repository network?**
 * 13.** **What other functionality or changes to LORN will be required to implement the identified business model?**
 * 14.** **How can use of LORN best be encouraged?**