Criteria 

Rationale

Interoperability of e-Learning content objects

Content objects are shared between users and across systems and domains

Digital Content in a Library (audio, video, multimedia, etc)

Support the discovery of online and offline content objects in some sort of repository. This is similar to a catalogue of content objects.

Physical Library Items (books, periodicals, publications, etc)

Compatibility with Dublin Core

Dublin Core is the base standard for the Government of Canada (a direct mapping of the Dublin Core to e-Learning must be supported)

Learning Domains

Within the Government, Content Objects are going to be used in at least the educational, continuous learning and training domains

Acceptance

The e-Learning Meta Data standard should have a broad base of support internationally and nationally

Multilingual

The e-Learning standard must be available in the languages specified in the Official Languages Act and it must support use of multilingual content objects

Readability of the documentation

Links to other e-Learning Standards/Specifications

This is one gauge of the acceptance of the standard.

Authoring Organization

Which organization is responsible for the standard and how was the standard developed and maintained.

Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights

Does the e-Learning Standard support copyright and intellectual property right protection

International use of the standard

Content Objects are inside the Government and by outside agencies internationally and nationally

Federal/Provincial

Asset formats currently in use

Support current standards for assets (raw digital media)

Costs

Development and deployment costs can be spread over several (international and national) organizations

Durability

Content Objects can persist for several years

Enterprise level learner management

Systems are used to manage content objects and the learning experience for Training, Education and continuous learning domains

Content Management

Must support the management of e-Learning content objects, single source

People Soft version 8.0

This is the standard HR MIS for the Government. Any solution must be compatible with it.

Impact on Canadian Industry

The situation is fluid, the proposed e-Learning Standard should be consistent with the capability of industry to support it

Extensibility

The e-Learning Standard should have the capability to be extended to meet unique requirements

Third Party Off the Shelf tool availability

Availability of Third Party Off the Shelf tools is another gauge of the widespread acceptance of the standard. Having the support of more than one or two tools helps to ensure long term supportability