Framework and tools strand Aims -

• Develop a generic technical framework for e-learning that supports a wide range of pedagogical models and institutional types.

• Develop open source toolkits and interfaces to facilitate implementation at an institutional level.

• Establish institutional pilots to evaluate the generic technical framework and the tools that facilitate implementation.

• Develop practical guidelines and toolkits to enable institutions to install and implement the technical framework as the basic structure of an e-learning system

Aim

• producing and testing a common technical framework to underpin e-learning system and developing integration toolkits to support the frameworks adoption.

Strand Structure

1) Develop and refine the Framework throughout strand lifecycle in collaboration with broader e-learning and educational technology development community.2) Fund an interactive cycle of technical development projects to produce software libraries that enable developers (from commercial as well as open-source communities) to create applications that ‘Provide Services ’ and ‘Consume Services’ defined within the framework. 3) Fund a cycle demonstrator projects are aimed at testing the service definitions and toolkits in actual use. 4) Commission a series of supporting studies to support frameworks development.

Framework Approach

• Breaks MLE function into smaller components call ‘services’

• Organise into layer model, dependant on service they offer (Service Orientated Architecture )

• Use ‘web services’ and open standards to integrate components

The ELF Today http://www.elframework.org/

Progress to date

• First 8 integration toolkits released• First Demonstrator projects selected• 2nd round of Toolkits selected • Framework website • ELF developer forum launched • Linked to DEL – call for ELF reference

models• Expanding ELF to cover research and

introducing stewardship model • Rename – Open Technology Framework

Programme Structure 1

Development Activity Short (6mth) iterative development cycles Technical Dev project strand (800K)• 3 x 6mth pure technical development • Provide libraries (not complete applications) to support

deployment of services and service consumers • Support development of both commercial and open-source

applications• Enable deployment of service-oriented architectures within

education• Aim to demonstrate practical web service architectureDemonstration project strand (600k) • 3x6mth of test toolkits to link systems• implement and pilot toolkits to join-up or enhance functionality

of e-learning system • to trial toolkits (that is install, test, demonstrate and evaluate),

lead to improvements Supporting Studies (3x30k)

1st set of Toolkits

• Assessment (IMS Question and Test)-APIS (Assessment Provision through Interoperable Segments)

• Enterprise and Timetabling - SWEET.net and CETIS IMS Enterprise Toolkit

• Simple Sequencing -  ISIS (Integrating Simple Sequencing)

• Learning Design- SLeD (Service-based Learning Design) & Coppercore

• Resource Discovery -D+ (Brokerage for Deep and Distributed e-Learning Resources Discovery) and MDC (Middleware for Distributed Cognition) & JAFER

• Personal Development Planning (PDP) -WS4RL toolkit (PDP)

• Portal Services - PSE (Portal Services Embedder)

2nd round of toolkits

• Assessment + Marking QTI – Strathclyde x 2– Cambridge

• Resource Lists – Edinburgh

• Learning Design– Open University

• Registry + attendance– Brockenhurst

1st Round of Demonstrator

Assessment APIS Kingston

Enterprise Sweet.net Brockenhurst

Enterprise CETIS Ent UHI

Learning Design SLeD Open University

Simple Sequencing ISIS Hull University

Learning Design SLeD Liverpool Hope

Resource Discovery

D+ Staffordshire

Simple Sequencing and Assessment

ISIS and APIS Heriot Watt