3. What is the RLO Specification Tool?

The RLO Specification Tool is a web-based digital tool which allows authors to create, collaborate and share their RLO specification. It allows RLO authors to work through the content of their RLO one section at a time, adding text and image(s). The Specification Tool also offers the ability to explore a growing catalogue of interactive activities which have been developed for other RLOs, giving the author the opportunity to consider the pedagogical objectives that may be aligned with the RLO.

The RLO specification tool allows editing and re-editing of content as well as reorganisation of content in response to the RLO writing process. There are opportunities to provide “Author’s notes” which can expand upon aspects of the content and can be useful for the reviewer and developers in their respective involvement with the RLO development process.

One of the truly unique features of this digital tool is the ability to switch view from that of the RLO author to the view of an RLO user. The tool takes the specification and presents it as a multipage resource which looks and functions much like a developed RLO. This allows the author to consume their content as a user, thus applying all of their experience as a user feeding this in to the specification development process.