Overview
EN ISO/IEC 19788-3:2013 / ISO/IEC 19788-3:2011 specifies a basic application profile for metadata for learning resources (MLR). Part 3 of the ISO/IEC 19788 series gives implementers a practical starting point for adopting ISO/IEC 19788 by adding constraints (presence, repeatability, order) to the Dublin Core–based element set from ISO/IEC 19788‑2. The goal is to improve interoperability, discovery and exchange of learning resources across repositories, LMSs and digital libraries.
Key topics and requirements
- Application profile definition: Constraints and usage rules applied to the MLR element set (presence type indicator, repeatability indicator, order indicator) to promote consistent descriptions.
- Core data elements covered: Title, Creator, Subject, Publisher, Contributor, Relation, Coverage, Rights and others (as specified by ISO/IEC 19788‑2) plus locally defined elements such as Date, Description, Format, Identifier, Language, Source, Type.
- Predefined rule sets: Examples include PRS0001 (MLR String) and PRS0002 (Date, e.g. ISO 8601), which standardize formats and value types.
- Vocabularies and mappings: Informative annexes provide controlled vocabularies, a concept map of the application profile, and crosswalks to Learning Object Metadata (LOM) and Dublin Core.
- Normative references: Integrates established standards such as ISO 639‑2/3 (language codes), ISO 8601 (date/time), ISO/IEC 10646 (character set), and ISO/IEC 19788 parts 1 and 2.
Practical applications
- Repository developers & LMS vendors: Implement a consistent metadata profile to ensure metadata harvested from different sources is searchable and sortable.
- Digital librarians & metadata specialists: Use the profile to guide cataloging of learning resources and to map local metadata schemas to MLR for federation.
- Content providers & education platforms: Improve discoverability, licensing clarity and resource reuse by following agreed constraints (e.g., date format, language codes).
- Interoperability projects: Facilitate federated search, harvesting (OAI‑PMH, APIs) and cross-repository exchange by standardizing element usage and formats.
Who should use it
- Implementers of metadata systems in education technology, academic libraries, content repositories, standardization bodies, and vendors of learning platforms seeking consistent metadata for learning resources.
Related standards
Using EN ISO/IEC 19788‑3 helps organizations establish interoperable, search‑friendly metadata for learning resources and aligns local practices with international education technology standards.