What is Learning Application Readiness (LAR)?

Learning Application Readiness (LAR) is an initiative of NSDL, designed to develop criteria and guidelines for improving the quality of resources and metadata in the National Science Digital Library.

Definition

LAR refers to how closely educational resources, collections, and their related metadata are aligned to educational goals, curriculum, or professional development needs of users, and how readily those resources and collections can be embedded in tools and services that educators and students use (examples include: Science Literacy Maps, Curriculum Customization Service, content management or learning management systems), where the application uses frameworks that characterize resources by: subject, education level, resource type, audience, and educational standards (educational metadata).

LAR Metadata format

Guiding Principles for Resources

  • 21st century contexts: advance critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and recognize the interdisciplinary nature of knowledge
  • Relevant and reliable for STEM education: authored, meet pedagogical needs of educators and interests of learners
  • Accessible: rights, licenses, permissions, and technical requirements clearly stated
  • NSDL policy and guidelines (Jan 2012): See Collection Policy, Resource Quality Checklist, Resource Metadata Rubric documents available from the Policies page.

Reference

Ginger, K., & L. Goger (2011). Evaluating the National Science Digital Library for Learning Application Readiness. Paper presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Information Science and Technology - Bridging the Gulf: Communication and Information in Society, Technology, and Work.

Available at ASIST2011_NSDL_LearningApplicationReadiness.pdf

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