A British Standard for Interoperability between Curricula, Syllabi and Competency Maps

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A British Standard for Interoperability between
Curricula, Syllabi and Competency Maps Patrick
Towell, Chief Executive - Simulacra Media, Vice
Chair IST/43 E patrick.towell_at_simulacramedia.com
Ian Huckvale, Analyst e-Government Learning -
Simulacra Media E ian.huckvale_at_simulacramedia.com
t 020 7613 4600 David Keech, Secretary
IST/43 E david.keech_at_bsi-global.com
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The current situation

• National and international educational metadata
  systems are being developed by standards
  organisations and industry consortia
• Localised implementations of these metadata
  systems are being deployed within the UK to allow
  resources and learner information to be connected
  to curricula, syllabi and competency maps.
• Current projects include DFES Curriculum Online,
  UFis Learndirect, NGfL Scotland, and DENIs
  Classroom 2000
• It is difficult to share information and map
  equivalences across projects as the metadata
  systems are not interoperable

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Who benefits?

• Software vendors can reduce development overhead
  and maximise reusability of software tools
• Learning content owners enable new markets for
  their products and services
• Awarding/Assessment bodies can map equivalences
  between qualifications, give accreditation for
  prior learning, and expand the market for their
  services across geographical boundaries
• Government and public sector can commission and
  regulate content more effectively and can
  join-up educational initiatives
• Corporate HR depts can map competencies from a
  multitude of qualifications and accreditations,
  and simplify procurement of MLEs
• Learners are to choose courses that are right for
  them, knowing that the skills and competencies
  gained are transferable and accredited

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Who will use the standard?

• Strong interest has been expressed by many
  organisations, including
• Industry
• Microsoft, Oracle, Research Machines
• Government
• QCA, BECTA, UFi, LSDA, NTO for the Arts (Metier)
• Publishing
• OUP, Nelson Thornes, EPC, BIC, NCS Pearson
• Awarding Bodies
• City and Guilds, Edexcel

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How will it work?

• The standard is split into three parts
• Part 1 - Specification for mappings between
  established learning metadata systems
• Part 2 - Code of practice for development of
  localised educational metadata systems
• Part 3 - Code of practice for interoperability
  between systems, including guidance to allow the
  relevant UK regulatory authorities to set up
  mappings between controlled vocabularies
• It will minimise, not remove, the need for human
  intervention in transfer of information between
  systems

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How will funding be used

• Tender for consultant to draft the standard
• Facilities for meetings provided through members
  of the panel
• Marketing the draft through panel members

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Timescale

• Mar 2002 - Issue ITT for drafting
• Apr gt Sep 2002 - Initial workgroups and drafting
  
• Oct 2002 - Issue DPC
• Oct gt Mar 2003 - Gather feedback and agree final
  text
• End Mar 2003 - Publish Standard
• Mar 2003 onwards -gt Market standard

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