A content management system (CMS) is basically a computer application which is used to create, edit, manage, and publish content in a consistently organized fashion.

It has innumerable business benefits :

Makes the task of putting information on the Web much simpler

Supports the re-use of data by allowing the ready integration of data from diverse sources

Allowing information maintenance to become devolved but at the same time preserving central control.

Permitting some past state of the Web site to be re-created or restored.

To know more about CMS, let us look at the basic functions of CMS.

Figure: CMS Functions

The functions of CMS  can be divided into 4 categories:

Authoring, Workflow, Storage and Publishing

Authoring is the process by which many users can create Web content within a managed and authorised environment, whether it be lines of text, audio or video.

Storage is the placing of the above mentioned authored content into a central repository. There also prevails something known as “Versioning” of the content whereby the access conflicts between multiple authors cannot arise and also so that previous versions can be found and restored if required.

Publishing simply means delivering the stored content onto the internet so that everyone around the globe can view it.

Do remember - “A poor site can keep you hidden, mis-communicate your products and services and even frustrate your clients in terms of gaining access to key information about your products and services“…and that is what Knowledge Hemispheres Ltd. (www.kh-2.com) strongly believes in and makes every effort to elevate the web presence for its clients.

Metadata is defined as ‘information about information’. From a practical perspective it is used to facilitate the understanding, characteristics, and management usage of data. Metadata required for effective management of its referenced data varies with the type of data and context of use. For example, in a library, where the data can be considered as the content of the titles stocked, metadata about a title would typically include a description of the content, the author, the publication date and the physical location.
In the context of eLearning, metadata is especially useful as it has the potential to protect content – aka eLearning assets from a perspective of copyright.

In the context of Podcasting / new media / recorded social media interchanges, attributes associated with its use and ownership are both part of its metadata.

The following diagram shows an example of an eLearning content item and a range of information held about it, i.e: its metadata:

Click here to see the image in a new window.

• Meta data standards are key when repurposing content -for example: Re-use - This borders on the concept of Shared Content Objects (SCOs), for example, a introductory video or audio that is redeployed at the start of every eLearning modules. Or, a corporate / learning podcast
• Naming conventions
• Storage location for content masters
• Subject cross-referencing
• Featured activities
• On-line location of other related eLearning - this is ideal for cross-curricula planning
• On-line location of other related podcasting subjects - ideal for cross-referencing other (inc: other people’s) broadcasts
• Version control
• Content owners - for example, intellectual property rights and re-use rights - imagine a recording of an exclusive interview
• Classification of content - similar to subject categories for library books
• Extent of interactivity expected from the content to be deployed inside an eLearning course or feedback to corporate communications.

If the correct metadata standards are in place with an agreed taxonomy, it is easier to map relevant content items (inc: both video and audio podcasts / new media) and eLearning courses, face-to-face sessions or effective corporate communication campaigns. The importance of record keeping and understanding what was previously released can also ensure:

• Good archiving disciplines
• Good cross-referencing
• Good strategies to avoid duplication

Content re-purposing has two related elements – Re-use and Remediation.

Re-use refers strictly to the recompilation of existing content into a usable manner. Remediation is focused on revisiting the relevance of available eLearning content.This often leads a pathway of investment in re-development. For example revisiting and establishing:

• Instructional standards
• Refreshed content as it maybe out of date – especially true when syllabuses or course knowledge changes / Or, over time new synergies between course elements is identified as facilitating efficiency. The need to add course prerequisites that are technical and knowledge based.
• The relevance of content originally deployed
• Accessibility standards.
• New Branding

An input to re-purposing could include surveying legacy eLearning course users to capture areas of refinement.

Increasingly, as content requires updating or a refresh there will need to be the need for an effective methodology to assure that lessons learnt whilst using content are not lost and the original messages can be enhanced.