Contributing resources to DLNET, and hence to the NSDL community, will earn contributors recognition and esteem akin to that obtained from publishing on a respectable journal. For organizations and institutions in particular, the benefits of allowing the discovery of their Engineering and Technology collections through the DLNET and NSDL portals can be both rewarding and productive. These include, to list a few:

• increase in the institution's visibility resulting in potential growth in memberships and subscriptions,
  
  
• increase in transfers and sales of engineering and technology contents and related products resulting from the exposure to the NSDL community,
  
  
• increase in knowledge and technology transfers resulting in more scholarship, research and development activities.
  

  *    NSDL stands for National Science Education Digital Library
  **  STEM stands for Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics

• Submitting a URL of the resource:
  Contributors submitting a link to their learning resource will be required to fill out an online submission form. The form contains queries on the metadata elements listed above. The information entered in the form will be used to create a metadata record of the resource that will facilitate its discovery over DLNET and the NSDL. The creator of the metadata, if different than the creator or author of the resource, is required to fill out his/her name and email.
  
  
  
• Uploading a complete learning resource:
  Resources for contribution must first be processed into a format that is archivable by DLNET. The format is based on the DLNET's concept of Learning Objects in which the metadata (information about the resource) are bundled with the resource into a packaged interchage file. DLNET has prepared a Learning Object Packaging Tool to assist in processing the resource. Once the resources have been converted into Learning Objects, they can be uploaded to the DLNET for archival. Contributors must login to upload their learning objects.
  
  The Learning Object Packaging tool has dual objectives: (i) to collect metadata (information) about the content being submitted and, (ii) to prepare and package the content for upload to DLNET. Both processes are based on IMS Specifications for Learning Object Metadata and Content Packaging.

  Contributing content to the DLNET collection is a three-step process:

  1. Create a new folder on your drive containing only the content files to be submitted. If the content can be converted to HTML format, do so now. Remember to name the folder and files appropriately, i.e., do not use special operating system characters such as open space and : \ / * ?.
     
     
  2. Download and invoke the Learning Object Packaging Tool provided by DLNET. The tool will assist in creating metadata, validating and packaging the learning resource in a learning object.
     
     
  3. Once the resource has been converted into a Learning Object, it may be uploaded to the DLNET for archival. To upload, login at DLNET and go to the "Contribute/Review" page and click on the "Upload LO here" icon.
     
     For detail information on what the Tool does and on how to download and use it, click here. Additional context-based help is also provided in the Tool's Help section.
     

The following metadata elements have been selected by DLNET as core metadata needed for archiving and searching contents. DLNET core metadata are based on the IMS Meta-data Specification, Version 1.2.1. A description of the metadata elements is included in the submission processes.

• Author Name
• Email Address
• Department
• Organization

• Title
• Language
• Description
• Keywords
• URL Address
• Date of Creation

• Interactivity Type
• Learning Resource Type
• Interactivity Level
• Intended User
• Context of Use
• Learning Duration

• Format
• Rights
• Classification

Contributions to DLNET must meet the requirements listed in the Collections Scope Document. In general, contributions to DLNET must:

• be classifiable under Engineering and Technology,
  
• exhibit exceptional quality, integrity and educational/pedagogical value,
  
• be copyright-free for personal and educational use and distribution.