JISC

Overview

This project is aiming to map and output our institutions proprietary learning structures (awards, modules, learning outcomes, etc) to an XCRI-CAP schema conformant catalogue. This catalogue will then be exposed for consumption of an aggregator to be produced by the XCRI support project. The project will examine the suitability of the XCRI specification and examine the availability of data from University business systems and processes to populate it.

Aims and objectives

The aims of this project are to map out the locations and processes around the information within the institution, identify what can, or cannot, be internally aggregated and then develop a mechanism to expose it in the XCRI-CAP schema.

The specific project aims are:

• Document the range and depth of this available information, including UCAS entry profiles, and distinguish between catalogue level information and further detail.
• Identify the sources of data and map available data held in corporate systems to the XCRI schema
• Develop a service to export this data and expose it for consumption by an aggregator
• Report on tests carried out with the aggregator
• Produce a report

Project methodology

The project will involve three primary stages.

Stage 1: Information and Process Mapping

This will be the first stage of the project and involve a number of meetings with key stake holders from around the institution who have an involvement in the major business processes which fit around the management of course information.  The key areas which will be targeted will include academic facilities, quality services, marketing, admissions and student records departments.  This stage will aim to address the first two aims of the project.

Stage 2: Development

During this stage a system will be designed and developed which will attempt to produce the XCRI-CAP documents.  This development will most likely be in Java and utilize an existing open-source framework such as Apache XMLBeans (http://xmlbeans.apache.org/) to provide Java->XML mapping.  This stage will aim to address aim 3 of the project.

Stage 3: Testing and Reporting

During this stage the output of the system developed in stage 2 will be tested using the online validation service and aggregator provided by the XCRI support project.  A report will then be produced on these tests and comments about the suitability of the XCRI-CAP schema.  This stage will aim to address aims 4 and 5 of the project.

Anticipated impact

This project will provide feedback on the XCRI-CAP schema which will help to shape and define it suitability for more widespread usage.  The process mapping of the information and processes across the institution may also reveal issues which could exist in other institutions and may be of interest to others.  All software developed by the project will be made available as open source and may be of use either as a complete product of as a reference to others undertaking similar developments.

The potential which XCRI has for use by both internal and external stakeholders is seen as a very positive step as the streamlining of the exchange of course information has the potential to offer enhanced course location and selection services to potential students.

Updates on the project will be available on the project blog: http://webpac.staffs.ac.uk/blog/index.php?blogId=13