JISC

The initial objectives of the project were to test the interoperability of IMS specifications in a Virtual Learning Environment that was designed to apply and function under University for Industry (UfI) specifications.

Executive summary

Reduction to the project budget resulted in a reduction to the scope of project activities. Our research revealed some areas of lack of compatibility between IMS specifications and Solstra, the VLE with which we were working. Some of these problems were overcome in the course of the project while others are still to be resolved. The project enabled us to assess the developments necessary to transfer content from one VLE to another.

Contact with other project teams has proved extremely valuable to our technical developers. As a result of the project, we expect to be able to disseminate content among other project partners in the future. We experienced some setbacks during the project, largely due to differing priorities among project partners. Despite initial interest, the Vendor of Solstra, the VLE with which we were working, decided for strategic reasons not to proceed with research and development at this time.  

uture work in this area depends on establishing secure partnerships with organisations who are committed to development in the FE sector.  The lack of an adequate funding model from LSC is a  barrier to organisational commitment to e-learning within colleges.

Read the final report below