Languages Open Resources Online

Project Outline > Aims and objectives

LORO aims to provide an integrated digital repository for the Department of Languages at the Open University. LORO will be a customised version of Language Box, the lightweight repository for languages (http://languagebox.eprints.org) developed by the JISC-funded EdSpace/Faroes projects at the University of Southampton, and will be fully interoperable with it. Our vision is for an easy-to-use system that will allow users to deposit, share and access language resources.

The DoL repository will allow course developers within the department to store and to deliver tutorial materials to languages Associate Lecturers and will enable languages Associate Lecturers to share materials they have developed themselves. Part of the customisation of the existing Faroes-developed repository will include enabling different degrees of sharing for repository users.

The key objectives of the project are:

• To have a pilot repository that can be used to deliver new tutorial resources to tutors in our beginners' courses by November 2009 (this might not have all the functionalities of the final version of the repository, but should allow tutors to access resources easily).

• To have in place a final version of the repository by February 2010. This should allow all tutors to access resources and to upload their own resources to store or share with others.

• To prepare the LORO repository so that resources stored in it can be easily shared with the Language Box.

• To produce dissemination materials such as case studies, reports, conference papers, etc. and to disseminate project outcomes through the project website and the JISC network.

• To engage Associate Lecturers in dissemination activities, making the most of their connections with other FE and HE educational institutions.

• To support users appropriately (particularly Associate Lecturers) through the cultural change that will result from the use of a repository.