BELLE (Broadband Enabled Lifelong Learning Environment) is a $3.4 million shared-cost project funded under the CANARIE Learning Program. BELLE's objective is to develop a prototype educational object repository. It is a partnership led by Netera Alliance that includes: Banff Centre for the Arts McGill University, Faculty of Medicine Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Seneca@York Sheridan College University of Alberta University of British Columbia University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine University of Calgary Learning Commons University of Lethbridge Vancouver Film School BELLE Site Diagram [79K] Over the course of two years, BELLE is exploring the critical aspects of building object repositories. Specifically, BELLE is investigating four interconnected aspects of establishing this repository. 1. Creating and Cataloguing Educational Objects BELLE is cooperating with other Learning Program projects to develop the "Canadian Core", a set of standards to describe the content of educational objects so that the repositories can be effectively searched. This standard, or protocol, is called metadata. In cooperation with the Learning Commons at the University of Calgary, BELLE is creating tools and methods for automatically generating metadata and optimizing the digital content creation and repurposing process. 2. Pedagogical Models and Peer Review Tim Buell at the University of Calgary is leading the investigation into the pedagogical approaches that are required to establish peer reviewing and quality assessment of educational objects. This is designed to give academic merit to the production of educational learning objects. 3. Evaluation and Support Under the direction of Terry Anderson of the University of Alberta, BELLE is developing a comprehensive set of evaluation tools to assess the value and impact of its components. Netera is also developing a comprehensive structure for the support and dissemination of information about the project. This includes demonstrations, presentations, articles, and support via telephone and email. 4.Testbed Infrastructure Finally, Netera Alliance is working with all its partners to establish a testbed infrastructure of Client Learning Environments, servers and Content Repurposing Facilities. Client Learning Environments are mobile workstations that turn any classroom with a broadband connection into a distance learning centre with H.323 video conferencing, application sharing and multimedia content. Content is served from a variety of servers from companies such as SGI, Callisto and Apple. Content Repurposing Facilities are used to digitize and tag content. BELLE has been asked to share this work with other Learning Program projects through a subcommittee that is investigating the technical requirements of object repositories.The aim of BELLE is to weave these four areas together to make a prototype for an educational object repository. While this prototype will not be a fully functional or complete repository, it is intended to test, evaluate and document the key components of such a structure. CANARIE Learning Program The CANARIE Learning Program, a $25 million shared-cost funding initiative, was launched in September 1999. This competitive program was established with funding support from Industry Canada to encourage the development and use of broadband networks in education and training.