Improving Integration of Learning and Management

SystemsPaul Shoesmith

Director of Technical StrategyBecta

Improving the integration of learning and management systems

Director, Technical Strategy

Paul Shoesmith

Strategic Technologies

Some key data challenges facing schools today

•Learner centric v institution centric•Out of the office and into the classroom and beyond• Interrogating data across functional areas• Interoperability – context of collaboration

Some key data challenges facing schools today

•Building Schools for the Future•Reporting to parents•System issues – workforce issues•Data security•Culture change

The big challenge

•Ensuring that the right data is available to the right people at the right time and in the right place, and securely

Becta’s functional specifications

•Learners and educators shall be entitled to a working environment that allows flexible access to curriculum and administration resources

Becta’s functional specifications

•Learners and educators shall be able to access appropriate curriculum resources and administration data from all computers in the institution and from all learning spaces within the institution• Institutions shall provide secure access to curriculum and administration data from remote locations

The wider ecosystem

What is the scope of the “education enterprise” for the school, college or training provider?

•Not just the management information system (MIS)•Not just the MIS and learning platform•The whole superset of applications and technologies that allow institutions to support their core mission of teaching, learning and research

Why is this important?

•Real time availability of information–Systems no longer in silos–Customer expectations have changed

• Integration and interoperability allow a focus on business processes, not transactions•Reduces data entry requirements

Why is it hard?

• Incompatible schema•Multiplicity of methodologies•Multiplicity of technologies

Why standards?

•Standards represent a contractual agreement among adopters

Standards: the impact

•For suppliers:–a single supportable reusable integration

solution–Reduced maintenance and development–Focus on innovation–Greater customer satisfaction

Standards: the impact

•For users–increased stability and support–Common framework–Interoperability–Greater reusability, reduced costs–Increased choice (offers exit strategy from products

that you no longer need)

Standards: the vision

•Full interoperability: plug and play• Integration as an appliance•Break down the monolith

Standards: the obstacles

•Participation–standards are only standards if everybody

uses them

•Adoption–standards are only standards if everybody

adopts them

How do we overcome the obstacles

•Educate end users (users don't care about standards, just about the problems they see)•Understand the return on investment for suppliers, and help users to understand the ROI for themselves

SIF: Systems Interoperability Framework

•Ministers have agreed that Becta issue a statement of intent as the lead national partner •National policy is to achieve interoperability using vendor-independent solutions and to adopt SIF as a national standard subject to further work by Becta and final decisions in, or before, 2010

SIF: Systems Interoperability Framework

•Stakeholders and partners will continue to be engaged including commercial suppliers•The Information Standards Board for the education, skills and children’s services system and its technical support service will inform direction and decisions

SIF: Systems Interoperability Framework

•Safe and secure systems are paramount and SIF and associated processes will meet all appropriate data security standards•SIF has proven potential to deliver a wide range of benefits working alongside other standards - SIF is not a stand-alone solution

Data security

•High profile since loss of data in a number of government departments•Cabinet Office guidance published June 2008•Applies across government and agencies•Becta asked to provide advice for schools

Data security

•Not changing the rules•Clarifying the law and best practice•Data should be stored and used securely•Outcome should be data available to those authorised to use it, where and when they require it

Other relevant work

•Content interoperability – packaging, sequencing, runtime•Assessment and integration• Identity management and assurance•Employee/citizen authentication

Summary

•Are your schools’ systems secure?• Is data available to those that need it from anywhere in school?• Is data available securely outside school?•What processes are in place to ensure this?

Improving the integration of learning and management systems

Thank youDirector, Technical Strategy

Paul Shoesmith

E: paul.shoesmith@becta.org.uk