LETSI

1
LETSI

• Learning Education and Training Systems
  Interoperability

2
Background

• SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model)
  developed and maintained by the U.S. DoD Advanced
  Distributed Learning initiative (ADL)

3
Need for Global Stewardship

• International adoption of SCORM
• Importance of global reference models with local
  implementations
• Complexity and importance of individualizing
  online learning
• A confusing landscape of organizations involved
  in LET standardization
• Enormous diversity among communities of practice
• Individualization is an educational imperative
  and economic impossibility Michael Scriven,
  1975

4
Steps Taken

• Prospectus released in February, 2007
• Interested organizations are invited to
  participate in the formation of a
  future-oriented, global collaboration to advance
  the interoperability of technical systems
  enabling learning, education and training (LET)
  through the use of reference models based on de
  jure standards.

5
The purpose of LETSI is
to enable organizations with a material interest
in learning, education, training (LET) who agree
to accept a set of organizing principles to
participate in evolving broadly applicable LET
Interoperability Reference Model(s) informed by
shared priorities and requirements based
initially on the Sharable Content Object
Reference Model (SCORM) and to define and
actualize related events, publications,
technologies, and services through a process
that is transparent, democratic and sustainable.
6
Principles

• There are societal, economic and educational
  benefits to establishing a global
  interoperability framework for technology-enabled
  learning, education and training (LET).
• 2. Technology-enabled LET encompasses many
  diverse and unique communities of practice and
  must accommodate this diversity and the financial
  realities of the various communities.
• 3. A key to establishing a global LET
  interoperability framework is to define broadly
  applicable reference models that
• support and promote interoperability for LET
  technology
• may be easily profiled by LET communities of
  practice
• are based on de jure standards
• may be obtained and implemented without
  royalties and
• are adequately supported through events,
  technologies, and services.
• 4. The first successful and broadly applicable
  LET reference model is the Sharable Content
  Object Reference Model (SCORM), which should
  become the first of many anticipated reference
  models in an evolving, overarching LET
  Interoperability Reference Model.
• 5. It is necessary and desirable for
  organizations with a material interest in LET to
  collaborate and to coordinate their efforts in a
  manner that
• promotes understanding of the principles and
  importance of LET systems interoperability
• is accessible to members from all nations and
  actively encourages participation
• follows a democratic process based on
  consensus, openness, balance and due process
• develops and implements a sustainable business
  model.

7
Developments

• Conference on global governance of standards held
  in London in March, 2007
• Separate meeting on LETSI held (40 people, 17
  countries, governments, corporations,
  not-for-profits, SDOS)
• 6 Sponsors pledged 10K to be at the organizing
  table
• MedBiquitous
• Booz Allen Hamilton
• Masie Learning Consortium
• Fraunhofer Institute Digital Media Technology
• ILCE, Latin America
• KIEC, South Korea
• Plus
• Stephen Molyneux (private individual)
• ADL Initiative
• Sponsor Executive Committee has formed and is
  working

The above plus the IEEE LTSC and AICC
8
What is happening next?

• Examples of issues being addressed by the initial
  sponsors
• IP policies for LET standards
• Coordination among SDOS
• Charter for LETSI (governance model, business
  model, operational model etc.)
• Future of SCORM (and LET Standards in general)
• Important LETSI is not yet another
  organization. Its role is to coordinate,
  facilitate, harmonize, and actualize across
  international boundaries and communities of
  practice but not to replace or compete.

9
Opportunity

• Join list of initial sponsors
• Benefits e-learning efforts
• Places IEEE CS in leadership role
• CS could play an operational role
• Why?
• The IEEE Computer Society's vision is to be the
  leading provider of technical information,
  community services, and personalized services to
  the world's computing professionals
• The Society is dedicated to advancing the theory,
  practice, and application of computer and
  information processing technology