IMS Europe

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IMS Europe

• Kevin Riley
• IMS, European Development
• kriley_at_imsproject.org

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Introduction to IMS

• The who, what, why and how of IMS

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Who

• Academic institutions
• Consultants
• eLearning service providers
• Government agencies
• Publishers
• Software/Hardware
• Trainers.
• Contributor Members 37Developer Network 258

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What
IMS is a non-profit consortium that defines
XML-based technology specifications for
integrating eLearning solutions.
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Why

• Common goals
• Ensure effectiveness of eLearning
• Specifications with global reach
• Reduce costs
• Increase certainty
• Integration of diverse systems
• Explore new approaches
• Drive research agendas.

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How

• IMS specification development process
• Cooperation with sector communities
• Effective dissemination.

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Development Process
User Needs, Technical Means, Practical Constraints
Specification Development Scope ? Base ? Public
Draft ? Final Release
IMS Members
Technical Board
Products, Services, Practices
Working Group
Tests and Trials
IMS Developers,Adopters
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Cooperation

• Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL)
• Department of Labor (DoL)
• Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI)
• Education Network Australia (EdNA)
• Gateway to Educational Materials (GEM)
• Industry Canada
• Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC)
• Managed Learning Environment (MLESG)
• National Learning Network (NLN)
• 5th Framework ET programme

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Dissemination

• Public web-site
• European news email list (116 subscribed)
• email lisa_at_imsproject.org to join
• Public drafts for consultation
• Publicly available specifications
• Dr Tom FAQs
• Developer Network
• Workshops.

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IMS Specifications
Harmonisation, Consistency
Meta-data
Multimedia Content
Enterprise Systems
Packaging
Use Environ-ments
Data Sharing
Management
Information Exchange
Evaluation
Learner/Group Information
Assessment
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Further Specifications

• Accessibility
• Competency modelling
• Content repositories and e-publishing
• Digital libraries
• Instructional design.

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The Specification to Standard Lifecycle

• Learning by doing before casting in stone.

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Specifications are not Standards

• Specifications
• Capture rough consensus
• Evolve rapidly
• Are enabling
• Manage short term risk
• Are experimental
• Are broad in scope

• Standards
• Capture general acceptance
• Evolve slowly
• Are regulatory
• Manage long term risk
• Are conclusive
• Are narrow in scope

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Spec to Standard Lifecycle
Possibly a group of vendors, user community or an
individual company
The Concept
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Spec to Standard Lifecycle
Consensus driven within a consortium e.g. IMS,
OpenGIS, W3C
The Concept
Specification
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Spec to Standard Lifecycle
By committed vendors within the consortium
Specification
The Concept
Implementation
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Spec to Standard Lifecycle
By communities and user groups tracking specs
e.g. ADL, JISC, Ufi
Evaluation
Specification
The Concept
Implementation
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Spec to Standard Lifecycle
Conclusions are gathered from user groups and
implementers
Feedback
Evaluation
Specification
The Concept
Implementation
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Spec to Standard Lifecycle
Specification undergoes iterative refinement as
it matures
Feedback
Evaluation
Specification
Implementation
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Spec to Standard Lifecycle
Mature spec emerges from the consortium effort
Specification
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Spec to Standard Lifecycle
Mature spec addresses a real need, is already
implemented by vendors and is in use amongst user
communities
Adoption
Specification
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Spec to Standard Lifecycle
Mature spec taken by its supporters to formal
standards groups e.g. ANSI, CEN, IEEE, ISO/IEC
Adoption
Specification
Standardisation
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A Process Model for Standards Evolution
Spec Consortia
Labs Testbeds Markets
Standards Bodies
Spec Consortia
Spec Consortia
Labs Testbeds Markets
Standards Bodies
Spec Consortia
Labs, Testbeds, Markets
Approved Standards
RD Concepts
Specifications
Reference Models
Standards
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The Standards Roadmap
ADL
ISO SC36
IETF DC W3C OMG Microsoft ISO (BSR)
Ufi
GEM
JISC
ALX
CEN/ISSS
AICC
PROMETEUS
IMS
SIF
5th Framework
European SchoolNet
Commercial Companies
BSI/NIST
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More Information
Kevin Riley European Development IMS Europe Web
http//www.imsproject.org Email
kriley_at_imsproject.org Tel [phone]
5516 Mob 44 (0)7740 586 469