Mediators for integrating content into service-based e-learning environments

The provision of e-learning content through the emerging paradigm of Web services leads to a number of advantages over traditional, centralized e-learning platforms which store learning objects in their own database. This is on the one hand the timeliness of content since it is stored on remote machines and called on demand only. Decentralized storage makes content improvements readily available for all learners. On the other hand, content is now available for a larger group of users since it is no longer stored in closed platforms. However, the composition of content into courses needs new strategies, as content cannot simply be copied and assembled to packaging interchange files (PIF) as specified by IMS and SCORM. In this paper, we show different ways how a mediator can offer courses that are based on the Web services paradigm. In particular, we describe how a repository in a distributed architecture can be enhanced to provide added value for learners, by offering courses built from content services that are available on the Web.