The Learning Resource Exchange (LRE) collects, enhances and redistributes learning resource descriptions. These descriptions (also called “metadata”) are structured according to standards so that machines can process and transport this information to users in a variety of contexts. Using standards to organize descriptive information is one of the essential steps in making learning resources easily findable and seamlessly retrievable from different LRE content providers. For example, LRE metadata records must indicate where a learning resource can be found and in what language, its technical format so that it displays or plays correctly on a user’s machine, whether accessing it requires a login or payment and if it has any other accessibility features.

The second essential component, especially in a multi-lingual context, is the use of controlled vocabularies. Controlled vocabularies are previously agreed upon sets of terms that must be used to describe a particular aspect of a resource in a metadata record. Controlled vocabularies in the LRE take into account the specific needs of educators and European education systems and thus, for instance, allow users to select learning resources that support their particular curriculum requirements. To that end, the LRE also maintains and utilizes a multi-lingual thesaurus (in 15 languages) to standardize the subject descriptions of learning resources.

The third component for supporting successful discovery and retrieval of learning resources is the utilization of user created metadata such as user reviews, ratings and tags. Metadata records that retain this information make it possible for systems to improve search results and to recommend resources. Content creators can also use this user-generated feedback to enhance and create new learning resources.

The Learning Resource Exchange Metadata Application Profile (version 4.5) uses the IEEE LOM Metadata standard and the IMS LODE Information for Learning Object eXchange specification (ILOX) in combination with multi-lingual controlled vocabularies to meet the needs of educators at the K-12 levels in Europe. This document (available below) provides technical guidelines for describing learning resources for inclusion in the LRE. It also explains the conceptual model used to design this system.

Download the LRE Metadata Application Profile 4.5

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LRE thesaurus

The LRE Metadata Application profile supports the use of multilingual vocabularies. Multilingual controlled vocabularies make it possible to automate translation work for learning resources that have been indexed in one language. Therefore, the use of multilingual vocabularies enhances interoperability.

The most extensive of these multilingual vocabularies is the LRE Thesaurus (formerly known as ETB Thesaurus). This vocabulary describes the subject of a learning resource and is continuously used in the European Schoolnet’s services.

The scope of the LRE Thesaurus is:

    * Content of multimedia educational materials
    * Content of teaching, guidance, evaluation and administration supporting materials

The LRE Thesaurus is managed in the Vocabulary Bank for Education (VBE). The VBE provides both a browsable and searchable web application for users to locate, view and download terminology, as well as standards-based machine to machine interfaces. In the VBE, the LRE Thesaurus is available in Danish, German, Greek, English, Spanish, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Dutch and Swedish.

All changes and correction requests should be sent to Elena Shulman (elena.shulman[AT]eun.org)

The LRE Thesaurus is available at http://lre.eun.org/node/87