A Dynamic Workflow Management Framework for Digital Heritage and Technology Enhanced Learning

Workflow management systems have become an integral part of most enterprise projects for the production of various tools concerning data and control flow management for more than a decade now. Despite the large number of workflow systems none have been applied to the digital heritage e-Learning domain. This paper represents an optimised solution for customising the architecture of workflows in order to improve productivity (effectiveness) in a service-oriented digital library and technology enhanced learning system. This paper presents the application of workflows to e-Learning and digital libraries within a dynamic workflow management framework. Our workflow solution is described and analysed by considering a typical use case scenario. Particular emphasis is placed on examining how the new workflow model can improve the speed and increase the efficiency of a digital library focused on e-Learning. Our service-oriented digital library architecture is demonstrated by integrating four main components using web services: 1) digital content creation, in for example 3D content creation, 2) archival, i.e. storage and management of this 3D content for use and re-use, 3) organisation of digital heritage content into an e-Learning exposition or package and 4) final presentation of this content that exploits innovative visualisation and interaction techniques based on social networking, which allows incorporation of user defined content in a virtual and augmented reality Web 2.0 mashup. Other technologies exploited in this scenario include a web service-based Grid solution for generating 3D animations from the 3D content.