Ridge Danyers College Interoperability Report
The project set out to investigate, identify, resolve and document the organisational and technical issues that have to be addressed in order that a key component of the college VLE (Granada Learnwise) can interface with the current college student record system (Capita Dolphin) to achieve interoperability.
Executive Summary
Interoperability matters
This series of projects has put interoperability on the further (and higher?) education agenda. Specifically interoperability is now an explicit component of Ridge Danyers College’s Strategic Plan. More generally, Colleges considering the purchase of a VLE are being asked to consider interoperability as a factor in their choice of system.
Interoperability can be achieved
We have demonstrated that at least some transfer of data can be achieved between two key components – Student Record System (SRS) and Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) of the Managed Learning Environment (MLE). This is a first step but can form the foundation for future development.
Collaboration can work
We have, in this project, shown that collaboration can be achieved between colleges and two vendors. More widely many vendors and colleges have collaborated. The “honest broker” role of JISC (representing the sector) has been key here.
Security and access issues
The Managed Learning Environment (MLE) includes personal information which we should keep secure (e.g. personal student information). This is often stored in the Student Record System (SRS). The MLE also includes information which we may wish to broadcast over the Internet (mainly in the VLE). However, there is a need to link these sets of information and, therefore, to resolve the associated security and access issues.
Culture issues
We are, perhaps, embarking on the greatest change in Information and Learning Technology in the last 2500 (or more) years. This is happening in the context of a Further Education sector which feels under-appreciated. This inevitably leads to real culture issues.
Wider implications
The interoperability project has concentrated on a measure of interoperation between the Student Record System (SRS) and the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE. We need to develop the interoperability between these components of the MLE but also between other components of the MLE including Attendance, Registration, Timetabling and Tracking systems.
Standards
It is difficult to imagine interoperability between large numbers of players without some agreed standards. The IMS standards are probably key here. In addition, there are other benefits of standards. For example IMS standards are encouraging the designing in of Accessibility during system development rather than mere “bolting on” after the event
Mapping of Student Record System to VLE data
Further Education Student Record Systems are (because of the paramount driver of funding) student-qualification oriented. For example, the centre of gravity is the student and the “complete” qualifications they are studying or have completed … e.g AS Level Physics, A Level English, GNVQ Advanced Health and Social Care. We are not at the stage (we may never be / wish to be) where a VLE topic (the largest element in our VLE - Granada Learnwise) maps to one of the complete qualifications (AS, A, GNVQ in the previous paragraph. This is one manifestation of the “granularity” issue. What levels of granularity are best for student learning and progress in the VLE. How do these map (or equate to) the levels of granularity specified (arbitrarily) by the Learning and Skills Funding Council.