JISC

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

Background and Context

The term Lifelong Learning implicitly incorporates all adult learning. FE is just one of the providers in the Lifelong Learning market. Many providers operate in parallel or in partnership with FE colleges and are increasingly delivering content and course management online. In order to create effective online Lifelong Learning Records it is essential that the systems used for this purpose must be capable of carrying an individual learner's record throughout the Lifelong Learning process. In practice, this means that such systems must be able to interoperate and transparently migrate a learner's record between appropriate systems as they move within the market or undertake learning activities with other providers.

Aims and Objectives

This project will implement IMS Learner Information and Competency Definition specifications within a new 'Personal Development Record', currently being developed to support the online delivery of vocational training within Wales and, in partnership with the vendors, investigate and recommend the appropriate implementation of those specifications within the Learndirect Lifelong Learning Log and the Teknical VLE, operating within the FE sector. 

Specifically the project will investigate the interoperability of Lifelong Learning Records, VLE systems and other stakeholder systems, using IMS LIP and RCD specifications, at three levels:

• For the migration of the individual learner's record between Lifelong Learning Records
• For the transfer of data on individual learning activities from FE and FE partner organisation to Lifelong Learning Records.
• For the publication of pre-defined competency frameworks for use in Lifelong Learning Records

Project Design

The project will be undertaken through several phases:

• Research on the appropriate implementation of the IMS specifications within Lifelong Learning Record systems operating within the FE and vocational training sectors.
• Development of new messaging interfaces to a Lifelong Learning Record system that comply with the adopted standards and enable communication with other compliant systems.
• Consultation with the vendors of the associated systems on the appropriate implementation of the resulting standards within their own products.
• Trials to demonstrate the transfer of appropriate learner information and learning activity data between the Lifelong Learning Record and the vendors systems.
• Dissemination of the work through appropriate reporting, through the project and programme web sites and other through appropriate acaemic forums.

Implications / Deliverables / Stakeholders

The project represents an early implementation of the IMS LIP specification within Lifelong Learning Records and associated systems, including Records of Achievement and Personal Development Planning systems. The results of the project will provide recommendation and feedback on the appropriate adoption of the specifications and a firmer understanding of the issues of interoperability within this field, of benefit to a wide range of providers and users of online learning systems.