Implementing E-learning Framework and tools Steve Jeyes ISIS and ASSIS projects steve.jeyes@edexcel.org.uk

Technical Development Projects – web service toolkits Brockenhurst College - Enterprise and Timetabling Uni of Oxford (LTG) – Search + Resource List Uni of Oxford/Liverpool – Personal Development Planning (PDP) UK / Dutch Open University – Activity management, (IMS Learning Design) HE Academy/ Learning /Teaching Portal ‘Connect’ – portal services embedding University of Edinburgh – Resource Discovery University of Hull, Icodeon –Simple Sequencing + Content Packaging (ISIS), University of Strathclyde – Assessment APIS (IMS Question and Test)

International approaches to integration ELF bottom up with Toolkits providing structure Sakai (Michigan, Stanford, MIT, Indiana etc) top down via uPortal framework SEPP influential JSR168 -> WSRP and includes Hull, Cambridge, Lancaster etc Next year should overlap in the middle

Supporting Studies The Review and mapping of e-learning development activity to ELF (Uni Oxford TALL unit ) Including:- e-Learning Implementations :- UK E-universities, UFI,  Uportal, SAKAI, Blackboard Building Blocks, WebCT Vista, Collaborative Online and Information Services, Lionshare ioNodes, Carnegie Mellon (LSAL) Learning Services Architecture   Specifications and Standards initiatives :- Open Knowledge Initiative (OKI) , electronic-Government Interoperability Framework (e-GIF), Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF), IMS Abstract Framework   Technology platforms:- Microsoft reference architecture (.Net), Sun ONE platform (J2EE)

Technical stuff -A Little look under the bonnet

NIMLE Development Process Assemble and study known good versions of the WSDLs and XSDs using CETIS Enterprise Web Services (http://sourceforge.net/projects/cetis-es/) Build development environment OS (Solaris/Linux) Apache Tomcat + AXIS Database (MySQL) Others (uPortal)

WS Approach UDDI WSDL (xml) WSDL (xml) Apache Server Client Flash Java Java2WSDL WSDL2Java Apache Server Client Tomcat Axis Flash Java Java UDDI

JISC Outputs E-Learning Framework (defined services, their spec/standards/, OS toolkits, supporting documentation, pointer to project/applications/etc ) Distribution Kit (OS toolkits open source applications, and supporting documentation,) basic structure of an e-Learning system or MLE. E-Learning InfoKIT ( ‘Creating MLE InfoKit’ style resource, containing ALL programme output and outcomes, with practical advice and guidance

ELF Developer Forum JISC proposing CETIS organised forum for developers of the services to solve problems and support each other might do Running discussion forum Up-dating resources and information Organising meetings Maintenance of software toolkits

Consultation process Seek feedback from expert community Consensus on service factoring Feedback to Standards bodies

ELF Launch Conference November Interoperability conference Day One – Show case Day Two – ELF development

ISIS Overview uPortal Icodeon Framework Tool Hull’s portal and used for SAKAI framework Visualiser Player Icodeon Simple Sequence Engine Tool

Why ELF ? JISC work in MLE development has shown very bespoke, institutional specific, Battle of giant system (VLE, LMS, SRS ) duplication of functionality Complicated and expensive Very limited transfer of development outcomes lack of pedagogical flexibility and innovation in the design of e-learning tools, environments and architectures.

International development Current partners in ELF DEST, Industry Canada, LSAL/ADL SOA co-ordination group Redwood group – Sun, Microsoft, Sakai, SIF, OKI, European school net

Benefits of ELF To teachers and learners : Supporting pedagogic diversity Enabling pedagogy-driven implementations To institutions by Making collaboration between institutions easier Providing better returns on technology investment Enabling faster deployment of technology Providing a modular and flexible technology base. To JISC + dev community Production of architectures based on standards which enable interoperability; Provide a common basis (understanding) for future developments; Identify gaps or major barriers to progress (pain points) on which to focus development activity.

E-Learning Programme The JISC Committee for Learning and Teaching (JCLT) is funding a new e-Learning Programme to run until August 2007. The overarching aim of the e-learning Programme is to identify how e-learning approaches might be used to facilitate learning and to advise on how these approaches might be effectively implemented. The Programme focuses on three areas: Pedagogy; Technical Framework and tool; Innovation and Distributed e-Learning

Programme Structure Development Activity Technical Dev project strand (800K) 3 x 6mth pure technical development Not creating application, but integration toolkits Output Open Source toolkits for community re-use Demonstration project strand (600k) 3x6mth (?) testing toolkits in anger implement and pilot toolkits in or between institutions Small applications/tools appropriate – join with Pedagogy element (?) Supporting Studies

Programme Support Functions Standards Implementation – support projects use, test and develop spec and standards, manage consultation process Program Journalist and editor - rapid dissemination programme outputs, developed pack concept, manage consultation process Technical web support - provide development bay comms tool, references, SW toolkits,Test facilities, on-line plug fests