JISC

Overview

There is an institutional need to move towards a distributed, service-oriented architecture with the ability to deliver services via browsers and other mechanisms (such as RSS) on a variety of platforms and devices. The OU infrastructure needs to migrate from a web-delivered model to become a consumer and provider of data services. This will enable users to interact with the VLE from external systems and platforms such as Google Apps for Education, widgets/gadgets and mobile applications.

This project will take place within a wide-range of developments; adding functionality, features and services to meet the need for a more distributed VLE.

Aims and objectives 

Aims:

1. Enhance the OU learning systems, with applicability to other institutions
2. Understand implications of  the provision of cloud services alongside institutional VLEs
3. Enhance several key areas of learning systems functionality
4. Develop interfaces between the VLE (Moodle) and externally-hosted systems such as Google Apps.

Objectives:

1. Explore integration between learning systems and Google Apps
2. Identify features and functionality in OU learning systems that could utilise a distributed approach
3. Develop services to provide data to external systems
4. Develop applications for third-party platforms that interface with OU learning systems
5. Evaluate end-users experience of the solution.

Project methodology

We will research the needs of end-users and investigate technical models, ensuring the solution is achievable and fit for purpose.

We will utilise user-centred design, running regular sessions with end-users to assess requirements and receive feedback on developments.

We will use iterative software-development techniques, producing, testing and releasing features in a staged approach. We will release software to the community along with associated documentation.

We will engage with the community, primarily, through the project website and JISC events. A dissemination event at the end of the project will share the final outputs, approaches, documentation, developments and ideas for the future.

Anticipated outputs and outcomes

• Personas and user scenarios
• Technical model
• Report on key functions, roles, activities and ICT at the OU
• Report on vision for future learning systems – based on desk research, technical investigations and evaluations, user research and consultation events
• A range of open source widgets for distributed learning systems, along with code and developer guidelines to allow integration between Moodle, Google Apps and Facebook
• Associated documentation to be made available to the JISC community
• Regularly updated project blog, reporting on project progress and lessons learnt
• Internal staff workshop and dissemination event to JISC community

Technology / Standards used (if applicable)

• (X)HTML
• RSS
• SOAP
• REST
• HTTP
• JavaScript
• W3C Widgets Family
• Google Gadgets
• OpenSocial