Learning Object Metadata explained

Early versions of the IMS Learning Resource Metadata (IMS LRM) specification, were based on a version of the LOM that pre-dates the IEEE standardisation. For several years, IMS LRM was the only version of the LOM that had an XML binding that could be implemented by software developers. Many systems, and a large number of metadata records have been written to conform with the IMS version of the metadata model and binding. There is more information about the history of IMS LRM and IEEE LOM in the introduction to IMS's Best Practice Guide to implementing IEEE LOM.

In 2005 the IEEE has released a standard for the XML binding for the LOM, allowing "standard LOM" to implemented and validated. Most systems will support use the standard version of the LOM in the long term, but during the transition period, there is a need to support both models.

The first version of Intrallect's intraLibrary Learning Object Repository was released in 2002, long before the IEEE's standard binding for the LOM was released. For this reason, the system has always used the IMS version of the LOM model, and continues to do so in the version 2.x releases. IntraLibrary versions 2.4 and after support the import and export of metadata in the new IEEE XML binding, but still use the IMS model internally.

It is important to able to map between the IMS and LOM metadata models when configuring application profiles and editing metadata in intraLibrary. We provide the mapping table below to help customers and others manage this issue. Future releases of intraLibrary will use the IEEE LOM as its internal information model, but retain legacy support for IMS LRM.

The following documents relate all the metadata fields in the IMS LRM model to the IEEE Learning Object Model (LOM). The label the field that has historically been given in the intraLibrary interface is shown in the central column. From intraLibrary 2.7 onwards, it is possible to re-configure these labels in any language.

For intraLibrary up to and including v2.8 click here:

Relationship of metadata fields in the IMS LRM model to the IEEE LOM - up to v2.8 (PDF) 34.59 kB

For intraLibrary v2.9-on, click here:

Relationship of metadata fields in the IMS LRM model to the IEEE LOM - v2.9 on (PDF) 36.20 kB