SIF Basics - Building a Working Knowledge and Vocabulary

Examples in Illinois

IASBO 2010Pheasant Run Resort

Welcomeand

Introductions

Agenda

•Overview•Software Components

•ZIS •Agents•Applications

•SIF Data Objects•School District Examples•Getting a bang for your buck – ROI and SIF

SIS

Network Accounts

Cafeteria

LibraryTransportation

• The situation in many schools and school systems is that there are a series of software applications which all may require the same data, but which have no way to talk to each other.

• It may be possible for one or two applications to share data through proprietary methods, but open, dynamic and synchronized data sharing does not occur.

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Traditional Data Systems

SIF Overview

DirXML Network Account

H.R. &Finance

DataWarehouse Instructional

Services

Library Automation

SIS

GradeBook

Transportation Zone Integration

Server (ZIS)

SIF Agents

Applications

SIF Data Objects

Software Components of a SIF Implementation

Zone Integration Server (ZIS) – The central point of data exchange in a SIF implementation. Provides queuing, security, and communication services to Agents. Software vs. HardwareSIF Agents – Software which allows an individual

application to communicate via the SIF Infrastructure. An agent can publish and/or subscribe data. It sits on top of EACH application and is typically different from application to application. Multiple agents (at least 2) are needed in order to implement SIF.

Zone Integration Server (ZIS)

Routes messagesControls access – which agents are

allowed to see which messages and request which information

Persists messages when agents are asleepConfigure HTTP or HTTPS transportHealth of Zone and Monitoring

Agents: The Universal Translator

SIF Agents have 2 “faces”

Translate between the application and the SIF data model

Responsible for generating and processing SIF objects

ZIS

Application

Application “Native”

SIFData

Model

Agent

SIF Agents

Publisher and Subscriber Agents• Publish – Events that may be published

(currently) include Add, Change, and Delete.

• Subscribe – The process of “listening” for and processing SIF Events.

Integrated vs. Standalone• Contains core business logic of

Subscribing application

Applications

Applications – Specific software for a particular department or internal client. Typical SIF applications include SIS, Directory, Transportation, Food Service, Library Science, Assessment, etc.

Determining “SIFAbility” of Applications in your networkSIF Certified vs. SIF “Compliant”

• SIF Certification – Part of SIF’s product standard that includes 3rd party verification that the Application and Agent conform to the SIF specification. Certification includes a legal component that guarantees vendors will adapt their software to meet requirements, if needed.

• SIF Compliance – A general term used by software vendors that are not Certified. Such agents may work with SIF, but lack third party and vendor guarantees of interoperability.

Find your Application• http://certification.sifinfo.org/cert_prodlist.tpl• How to siphon what you need

SIF Data Objects•SIF Data Objects – A logical grouping of fields (similar to a database table) within an application that can be shared among applications. SIF’s Data Model defines Data Objects using XML Schema Definition language.

•The data exchanged using SIF standards•Objects comprise the schemas that define information managed by the applications•Objects contain specific data elements that serve to characterize them.•For example, the StudentPicture Object shown below is made up of three data elements.

Other SIF Concepts

SIF Zone Logical group of applications, their agents and the ZIS

services that manage them Data for the SIF zone is private to the zone

Request/Response SIF’s Request/Response protocol allows for data to be

requested in its entirety, or filtered via query mechanisms. Used in Synchronizations

Event Processing SIF’s Event protocol enables an application to notify other

applications in the Zone when something changes. Daily transactional processing for adds, changes, deletes,

etc

District Examples

St. Charles District 303

Huntley District 158

Tinley Park District 146

Huntley District 158

•Student Population – 9013•Public Schools – 8 total schools (2) K-2nd grade, (2) 3rd grade – 5th grade (1) K-5th grade, (2) 6th grade – 8th grade (1) 9th -12th High School•Implementation Type – Horizontal•Interesting Fact: Since 1996 the school district has grown from 2 to the 8 schools we currently have.

Copyright © SIF Association

Implementation Details

• CPSI ZIS• Power School Student System • AD and Exchange 2003• Follett Destiny • SchoolLink Technology – WinSNAP• VersaTrans

Copyright © SIF Association

Implementation Goals

• Simplify the multiple data entry processes

• Gain consistency in data between the various applications

• Decrease the amount of time trouble shooting bad data

Lessons Learned

• Important to have clean data coming from the Primary Publisher

• You will find more data inconsistencies between the systems then you originally thought were out there

Tinley Park District 146

•Student Population – 2400

•Public Schools – •Central Middle School•Fierke, Fulton, Kruse Memorial Elementary

•Implementation Type – Horizontal

•Interesting Facts: •Curriculum and Instruction•Capital Improvements•Technology Goals

Copyright © SIF Association

Implementation Details

• Edustructures ZIS • Power School Student System • Active Directory• Follett Circulation Plus• VersaTrans• Future

• EasyIEP and Behavior Plus• Assessment implementation• Human Resources and Budgetary

Copyright © SIF Association

Implementation Goals

• Manage data from a single entry point

• Provide consistent data throughout the District and beyond

• Use the data for informative decision making

• Continue to expand data and its sources

Lessons Learned

• Have a vision

• Select a competent and experienced partner

• Planning, Planning, Planning

• Stay the course

St. Charles CUSD #303

•Student Population – 13700•17 Schools Buildings•Implementation Type – Horizontal•Interesting Facts:

• Library System supported by RoE• New SIS (eSchool Plus) this year• Directory • NetChemia this year• Outsourced most SIF effort to Integrity• Additional non-SIF integration

Getting the most bang for your buck with SIF - -

Projecting ROI

Benefits of SIF

• Data is entered only once, into the authoritative source system, and is shared seamlessly & immediately with other applications

• Data is exchanged automatically and thus more effectively, without manual import and export processes

• Near real-time access to important information for better data analysis and information dissemination

• Ease the burden of vertical reporting to the State

Cost-Benefit Example

Network Account Creation and ManagementSIF capability

• Student directory accounts created at registration into SIS

Example• SIF is used to create and manage user

accounts and home directories, eliminating the additional manual step as the student is enrolled

Benefit• Huge time savings to I.T. departmentDoes your I.T. staff have more

valuable ways to spend its time?

Cost-Benefit Example

TransportationSIF capability

• Data accuracy & Saved data entry timeExample

• SIF is used to update the transportation system data from the student information system as the student is enrolled in school

Benefit• Real time communication of bus stop

information is possible for every student• Potential liability issues are avoidedHow many phone calls could be saved?How much bad publicity could be

avoided?

Cost-Benefit Example Food Services

SIF capability

• Data accuracyExample

• SIF is used to update the student management system with meal status information that is stored in the food services system

Benefit

• Accurate free/reduced lunch count possible.

How much additional funding could be generated?

Cost-Benefit Example

Assessment ReportingSIF capability

• Data integrity and accuracyExample

• SIF is used to intersect demographic data stored in the student management system with state and local assessment results

Benefit• Administrators, principals and teachers can

run reports that utilize the most accurate set of demographics for students

How accurate are your current reports?How much time does it take to generate

reports?

Cost-Benefit Example Library

SIF capability

• Near real time information disseminationExample

• SIF is used to update the library system with up to date student information from the SIS

Benefit

• The media specialist who used to spend 4 hrs a week updating student information and class lists on the computer can reallocate that time towards students

• (ROI can be seen in better utilization of resources as well as bottom line numbers)

SIF Benefits

Teachers Real-time access to critical

information

Better data analysis

Teachers time better spent

Students & Parents

Improved teaching and learning processes

Availability of school andstudent data

Increased efficiency

IT Departments Reduced support costs

Reduced time needed to manage multiple data sources

Save money using existing systems and infrastructure

Administrators Increased efficiency

Reduced redundancy & errors

Reduced compatibility issues

Contact Information Christine Haeggquist Kirtley Technology Corporation

1-888-757-0778 Haeggquistc@kirtleytech.com

Questions and Answers