JISC

MLE Enigma Project - Creating an Interoperability Engine Prototype  

Background and Context 
Aims and Objectives
Project Design 
Implications / Deliverables / Stakeholders 

Background and Context

The consortium's strategic vision is to create an interoperability engine which will not only work with any VLE and student record system but will also allow other business applications such as finance, personnel, timetabling, library systems, content repositories etc. to interoperate and exchange data in a standardised format.

A key objective will be to prove that inter-operability can be achieved between the VLE and SIS using the Enterprise IMS specification. During the project the vendors will refine the design of an existing product, namely Capita's MLE Link and test that it works with the systems specified and can be adopted to accept the as yet undefined FE extensions. The academic partners will work with the vendors to implement the prototype and trial its use in “real” teaching and learning situations. The partners in this bid all share the same student record system, namely Dita but have differing VLEs namely LearnWise and WebCT. This will allow the investigation of interoperability over multiple systems in multiple environments.

Aims and Objectives

The aim of the project is to prototype a data transfer engine which has been developed by Capita to allow course and student information to flow freely between existing virtual learning environments and existing student records systems used by academic partners to create the beginnings of a managed learning environment. Predetermined test criteria will be set out which will be used as a framework for both technical and pedagogical testing and evaluation of the system.

The specific objectives are: 

• To evaluate the translator provided against the IMS Enterprise specification + FE Extensions and identifying refinements that need to be made. Deliverable would be a Refinements Specification.

• To refine the translator provided in accordance with the refinements spec. Deliverable would be an Alpha version of the Translator that is IMS+FE Extensions compliant.

• To define test matrix for vendors and college partners. Deliverable would be the Testing Matrix that will be used in the project as the testing and evaluation framework. The test matrix will provide test criteria for both technical and pedagogical evaluation.

• To have each VLE vendor work with the SIS Vendor to test the translator in pre-defined simulated data exchange situations between the VLE and the SIS. Deliverable(s): Definition of the data exchange rules to be tested by the vendors, Test Results from each trial.

• Further refinement of the translator resulting from test results. Deliverable would be a Beta Version of the Translator.

• For each academic partner to trial the use of the Translator using pre-defined test strategies and data exchange situations. Deliverable: Test Results from Each Academic Partner.

Project Design

The project will be managed using PRINCE 2 methodology and the following teams will be set up to ensure the project is a success:

• Project Board - to set the scope of the project and monitor progress
• Technical Project Team - responsible for the development and testing of the interface, make changes at the micro level and report to the Project Board
• Implementation Team - responsible for the rollout of the Alpha, Beta and Final product release and for the construction of the testing matrix

Implications / Deliverables / Stakeholders

The project will be strictly evaluated and the findings will be submitted to relevant parties within the consortium and the JISC to allow the project partners a chance to comment on the results. The Scottish Further Education Unit will then assist in the dissemination of findings to the community of Colleges within Scotland in parallel with any identified JISC dissemination programmes. It is the intention of the project to provide not only all documentation and technical information to the JISC and the community but to also provide an initial copy of the software. The software will be further developed by the partnership in order to satisfy the strategic goals laid out by the project board and providing funding streams are available.