Title: How can directories of open access repositories improve the reuse of learning objects in building engineering?

Authors: Victoria-Eugenia Garcia-Vera; Rosabel Roig-Vila; Pedro Garcia Ferrandez; Pablo Marti

Addresses: University of Alicante, Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain ' University of Alicante, Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain ' University of Alicante, Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain ' University of Alicante, Carretera San Vicente del Raspeig s/n, 03690, San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain

Abstract: This paper studies the use of directories of open access repositories worldwide (DOARW) to search Spanish repositories containing learning objects in the field of building engineering (BE). Results show that DOARW are powerful tools, but deficiencies (indicated in this study) have to be solved in order to obtain more accurate searches, and to facilitate repository-finding for potential users who are seeking learning objects (LOs) for reuse. Aiming to contribute to the promotion of the reuse of Spanish LOs, this study exposes to the academic community all existing Spanish repositories with LOs, and in particular, the repositories that contain LOs in the field of BE. This paper also studies the critical mass of available content (LOs) in the field of BE in Spain. It has been found to be low.

Keywords: repository directories; Spain; open access repositories; learning objects; open education resources; learning object reuse; building engineering.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCEELL.2015.072664

International Journal of Continuing Engineering Education and Life-Long Learning, 2015 Vol.25 No.3, pp.274 - 292

Received: 03 Dec 2013
Accepted: 30 Jun 2014
Published online: 23 Oct 2015 *

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