JISC

A number of Colleges in Scotland have adopted TekniCAL's virtual campus as their virtual learning environment. A number of different Student Record Systems are used in these colleges. The integration of these MIS systems with virtual campus is necessary operationally and the project seeks to unify the mechanisms and data formats for this and explore the appropriate extensions to these for the Scottish FE Sector.

Aims and Objectives

This project will investigate and seek to resolve the technical issues that have to be addressed in order that TekniCAL’s Virtual Campus (as the VLE) can interface with SITS Vision and Capita's UNITe as the student record systems in use within the consortium. 

The specific objectives are to: 

• To build on previous interoperability projects.
• To contextualise interoperability to Scottish FE.
• To use IMS specifications to resolve interoperability issues.
• To ensure standards based solutions work in Scottish FE.
• To ensure standards based solutions work across different systems.
• To ensure interoperability solution meets the needs of Scottish FE stakeholders, ie Student Records departments, teaching departments, VLE administrators, tutors and students.
• Develop FE extensions for IMS Learner Information Package Specification.

Project Design

Definition Phase – Months 1-5

• Identify required data elements of LIP
• Describe vocabulary for data elements, including required FE extensions
• Model XML schema for this implementation of LIP
• Define specification for software developers
• Develop model data sets for testing

Milestone:  Specification and model data sets delivered to software developers. 

Development Phase – Months 6-7

• Develop data export routines in Student Records System to generate learner records that conform to the XML schema specified in Definition Phase
• Test export routines using model data sets
• Develop data import routines in VLE to import learner information packaged according to the XML specification specified in Definition Phase so as to create/update learner records in the VLE that are associated with the appropriate learning opportunities
• Test import routines using model data sets

Milestones: Student Record System developers demonstrate creation of properly packaged learner information files from model data sets; VLE developers demonstrate creation of valid learner accounts linked to correct learning opportunities by importing model data sets in the VLE. 

Working Model/Proof of Concept Phase – Months 7-8

• Create working model of data export and import processes in Student Record System and VLE
• Test working model on colleges’ installed Student Record Systems and VLEs

Milestones: VLE and Student Record System developers demonstrate interworking of process to create properly packaged learner records that are imported into the VLE to create user accounts; VLE and Student Record System developers and college MIS and VLE staff demonstrate interworking on college systems.     

Live Testing Phase – Months 8-9

• Trial working system on live college systems
• Develop operation procedures and protocols specific to each colleges’ stakeholders’ needs
• Prepare for post-project implementation phase.

Milestones: College MIS and VLE staff demonstrate creation and import of learner records on colleges’ live systems; Colleges’ produce institution-specific procedures and protocols for use of interoperating systems; College’s produce post-project implementation plans. 

Extension of Model – Months 8-9  

Concurrent with the Live Testing Phase the project would extend to other Student Record Systems in use within the consortium

• Develop data export routines in Student Records System to generate learner records that conform to the XML schema specified in Definition Phase
• Test export routines using model data sets
• Create working model of data export and import processes in Student Record System and VLE

Milestones:  Second Student Record System developers demonstrate creation of properly packaged learner information files from model data sets; VLE and Student Record System developers and college MIS and VLE staff demonstrate interworking on college systems.

Implications / Deliverables / Stakeholders

Summative evaluation will based on the following criteria:-

• Critical understanding of the key interoperability issues, strategic, operational and technical
• Establishing the benefits of interoperability datasets, automation and functionality
• Assessing the appropriateness of IMS LIP specification for data exchange within a college MLE
• Investigate the development of common standards -based data exchange between diverse college systems.
• Evidence of the depth and ongoing commitment to working partnerships in a diverse marketplace
• Insight on how far it is possible to achieve the following key college ICT strategic objectives:-
• Automated exchange (MIS to VLE) of basic student and associated course/curriculum datasets
• Automated visibility rights to course material for students mapped to the curriculum.

This will be undertaken in partnership with JISC, the RSCs, the college consortium and commercial partners.