The Educom NLII Instructional Management Systems Project Thomas D. Wason, Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Project Objectives Goal: develop an open architecture for on-line learning Deliverables: create freely distributable specifications and software that enables the development, use, and management of Internet- based learning environments Model: HTTP + Mosaic de facto standard, led to explosion of content, new markets

Education members CSU, Collegis Research Institute, UNC, U. of Michigan, Miami Dade, CIC (“Big Ten”), Buena Vista University, George Mason University, JISC Commercial members Microsoft, Apple, IBM, Sun, International Thomson Publishing, Collegis, Farance Inc., KPMG, NIST, Department of Defense, Unisys, Oracle, Asymetrix Cooperative creates open specifications and prototype, members create products IMS Members Parts of the prototype are being developed by Blackboard LLC

Specs, Code, and Market Development IMS Members, Testbed, Developers Network, Public Work Process IMS Staff (14 full-time) IMS Members Funding and requirements Permanent Stds. body Specs

Initial dissemination/support Developers’ Network –Technical support for IMS developers –Marketing opportunities Testbed –10 sites: BVU, IDC Herzliya, MDCC, NPS, Penn State, UCF, Hawaii, Michigan, UT Knoxville, Twente, Virginia

Convergence Airline Industry CBT Consortium (AICC) Dublin Core LOMG ADL IEEE ARIADNE GEM

Interchanges L Peer-to-Peer Interchange T C P Learners Teachers Coordinators Providers

Back office Collaboration Tools Authoring Tools Learning Resources Off Campus Student CD On campus Student Teacher IMS Mgmt System IMS Campus Environment IMS Campus Environment

Technical Overview Scope of Specification –Profiles –Metadata –Content –Management (Content, Course, Collaboration) –External Services

IMS Profile Specification Educational records “Wallet” Mobile Contains –Personal information –Performance information –Portfolio –Preferences

Metadata Specification

Metadata benefits Find and organize materials more easily Helps in automating some authoring tasks Enables customized learning experiences

Metadata Extensibility IMS CORE METADATA Title: Author: Learning Level: Keywords: and more…. AICC EXTENSIONS Airframe type: …. BIOLOGY Extensions Phylum: ….

IMS Metadata Specification IMS Metadata Search/Query Demonstration – IMS/NIST Metadata Repository –dictionary of terms for describing content –supports group specialization –can be queried/browsed with modified authoring tools

IMS Content Specification Supports technical interoperability of –assessment –sequencing –reporting data –bookmarking –notification –metadata

IMS Interoperability JAVA/Corba-based Content and Tools ActiveX/DCOM- based Content and Tools HTML/CGI-based Content and Tools ex. HTML and PERL

Management Specification Manages –Content –Courses –Collaboration Interfaces –Database, Security, Access control, HTTP/CGI, tracking, session management, DCOM/Corba message bridging ….

Content Distribution and Access SchoolPublisher Content SchoolPublisher Content Content Reference Option 1: Distribute Content Option 2: Provide Access to Content

External Services Specification Specifies technical interface to campus IT infrastructure –student records –billing/commerce –library

IMS Project – Mark Resmer Technical – Steve Griffin Market Development – Denis Newman Metadata – Tom Wason Project Information