Digital Information Services Sponsored by the U.S. National Library of Education : ERIC・AskERIC・GEM(<Special Issue>Technology-based Learning Networks and Communities of Practice)

Abstract

The development of high-quality digital information networks is indispensable for global sharing of digital educational materials in supporting ICT-based learning in Japan. The trend is toward implementation of the global metadata standard in sharing high-quality educational materials worldwide. This article introduces three information services sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education including (1) the ERIC database developed to facilitate international sharing of research outputs in the domain of education, supported by a distributed network of the ERIC system, (2) the AskERIC Question-Answering Service provided on the Internet to respond a variety of educational questions, supported by the Virtual Reference Desk (VRD), and (3) Gateway to Educational Materials (GEM) established to provide a one-stop shopping site for educational materials distributed on the Internet, with its supportive network of GEM consortium. Metadata standards developed by these three information services are described. Finally, the role of government in educational information resource sharing is discussed, using the three information services as a model