ioNW2 Case Study

Source http://www.jisc.ac.uk/ 

Overview

The three fully funded Lifelong Learning Networks in the NorthWest region, involving nine universities and a larger number of FECs, are working in partnership through this project to provide support to the vocational learners who are part of their client groups. This project will enable all these institutions to share information about their learning opportunities so that learners can easily search for suitable courses from a single portal. One aspect of this will be the investigation of a means to represent the skills acquired through studying a course so that this can be part of a learner’s search strategy. These learners will quite often take courses from more than one institution in their region, some of these accumulating credits  towards a single qualification. The project will provide tools to assist with the tracking of these learners across learning episodes in more than one institution, a task presenting significant difficulties for LLNs.

Aims

The overall aim is to consolidate and enhance the ioNetwork software suite so that it can be more easily taken up by institutions and configured into networks servicing Lifelong Learner activities, and then to deploy the technologies across the institutions involved in the work of the three Lifelong Learning Networks.

Objectives

To enhance the set of software tools with management interfaces that will provide the functionality needed to track learners through learning episodes
To investigate how information about the skills addressed by a course can be represented within the XCRI schema, and incorporate data preparation tools for this aspect
To continue work to allow interoperability between institutions’ management systems and ioNetworks, and to build a pool of expertise
To package and document the software set so that it can be more readily installed and updated by institutions, and configured into network arrangements
To monitor and support institutions in putting the interoperable network, Interoperable Network North West, in place and in using its functions to administer learners

Project methodology

Project work will build on technology developed in the course of the earlier Learning Matrix project on Merseyside. The open-source, standards-based approach was developed by Phosphorix ltd who are partners in this project. The work during the project will move the software along an “open-source maturity” path so that it can be deployed independently by institutions. The project will collaborate with continuing work on the XCRI specification for course description, particularly in the area of skills metadata.
Anticipated impact

The project work will be a key element in the LLN partners’ strategy for learner administration, and for presenting information about learning opportunities to learners served by the LLNs. The evaluation and reporting of our experience will provide lessons of potential value to LLNs in other regions. The further articulation and maturing of the software base (ioNetwork) will provide alternative solutions for those grappling with similar problems of supporting learners in cross-institutional contexts. The interoperable network put in place by the project will enable other inter-institutional activities to go forward. The project work will further develop the XCRI specification through experience of its use in a live context.

Lead institution

Manchester Metropolitan University

Project partners

Cheshire and Warrington Lifelong Learning Network, Greater Manchester Strategic Alliance, Greater Merseyside and West Lancashire Lifelong Learning Network