A meta-data-based learning resource server for medicine.

The World Wide Web (WWW) promises many advantages in the distribution and presentation of electronic learning modules for medical education. However, there is a well-known obstacle: finding the right offers on demand. We developed a solution based on international standards called Learning Resource Server Medicine (LRSMed), which provides a meta-data collection of electronic learning modules. Based on the meta-data, LRSMed offers a service for the learners to retrieve WWW resources at the time of learning. We used the IMS Learning Resource Meta-data Information Model as suitable meta-data specification, the eXtensible Markup Language (XML) as syntax for interfaces and the Oracle suite for implementation. LRSMed is available at http://mmedia.medizin.uni-essen.de/portal/. More than 260 learning resources are currently registered and described. So far a user-interface has been implemented which allows searching, commenting and editing. In the next future we will add an application programming interface (API) for the integration of LRSMed in portals, learning platforms and information systems of hospitals, medical practices or healthcare networks.