My answers are following in the next lines: Q1) Various Metadata standards are available for the description of a learning resource and most appropriate should be used in each case. I have already applied some of them (Bublin Core, IEEE LOM) to the detailed description of learning resources into the bioagro repository (www.bioagro.gr) or the Organic.edunet repository (http://portal-organic.edunet.eu). The most common use metadata elements are the following: like title, author, description, language, keywords, tags, copyright status, format. Q2) Metadata elements are valuable for a Learning repository with a huge number of learning resources. User is able to search for the most suitable learning resource by checking only some of them metadata. Additionally, the cooperation between different learning repositories can be benefited, increasing the access to more qualified and up-to-date information Q3) A reusable and acceptable learning resource should be consisted of high quality metadata. In order to assure the high quality of the metadata, an evaluation process of the learning resource description should be followed, like fulfillment of all the fields of metadata, precise/accurate description of metadata elements, detailed description of the learning resource (metadata value: description). Of course, there is a variation concerning the importance of the metadata elements for the description of a learning resource. Title, description, language, author, keywords and copyright status are the key metadata for the description and search of learning resource. Also the language of the metadata should be taken in concern. Multillinguality into other languages, except from the initial language, is an added value for the quality of the learning resource. Q4) some first thoughts are the following: 1. Categorization of the learning resources per topic/country /audience etc 2. Facilitation of the search of qualified learning resources 3. Easiest way to exchange educational material 4. Provision of the improvement of the already existed / build of new learning resources With kind regards Charalampos Thanopoulos

In the next lines I will try to give some answers to Niko's queries. Q1) Learning Resource is a resource designed with the educational intent. Typically, even if it is hard to find a specific definition on that issue, the learning resources are inextricable part of the process for the creation / development / improvement / evaluation of an educational material Q2) Actually, I use my own defined process for the creation of a new learning resource, which is updated regularly. The following steps are recommended: 1. To define the audience of the learning resource and prepare it according to their expected needs 2. To develop the structure of the learning resource with all the topics, which could be included into the introductive 3. To decide the format of the final learning object (ppt, pdf etc) 4. To search for the most accurate and up-to-dated content 5. To select the most appropriate content (videos, photos etc), in order to make the learning resources more attractive and acceptable for the user 6. To include modern and up-to-date material 7. To evaluate the final learning resource. One of the main criteria is that the learning resource should be based on qualified and certified content in order to meet the high level needs of the audience Q3) The users of the learning resource should be asked if their opinion about the quality and type of content of it. Author's contact details (email) should be included into the learning resource for sending further comments by the user. This will be valuable for further improvement or addition of new topics Q4) Plenty of sources that could be used for the development of the learning resource is available via the internet. Most of them are not freely available and it is hard to be used in practice. Q5) My personal learning resources are freely available via the bioagro (www.bioagro.gr) and Organic.edunet platforms (http//portal.organic-edunet.eu). In all cases, I use Creative Common Licenses and learning resource is free on charge for the public With Kind regards, Charalampos Thanopoulos