March 19, 2001 1

Open Knowledge Initiative: The Saga Unfolds

Mike Barker

Lois Brooks

Jeff Merriman

March 19, 2001 2

Today’s Agenda

• What are the most important LMS features you would pick to support World-Class Education?

• What are the needs at Stanford and MIT?• What is OKI?

– Architectural Specifications, Reference Implementation, and Support Strategy

– Learning Summit and Residency Program– Partners, Early Adopters, and Interoperable Vendors

• Questions and Answers

March 19, 2001 3

How Do You Answer the Question?

How can we provide web-based support for educational initiatives across the Institute?

• Scalable (both large and small)

• Sustainable (at least 5 years!)

• Security, Privacy, Intellectual Property

• Integrate with existing systems

• Provide strong pedagogical support

March 19, 2001 4

Four Key Areas for Learning1. Learner-Centered: what you already know

shapes what you can and will learn

2. Knowledge-Centered: build knowledge and understanding, not just a catalog of disconnected facts

3. Assessment: test for understanding and knowledge, and encourage improvement

4. Community-Centered: when the people around you value learning, you will too.

(How People Learn, National Research Council, 1999)

March 19, 2001 5

What are the most important features you would pick to

support World-Class Education?

March 19, 2001 6

Stanford Needs

Lois Brooks

March 19, 2001 7

Stanford’s Needs

A new approach:– Rather than straightjackets and stovepipes,

integration and flexibility– Collaboration – Cost effective, sustainable decisions

March 19, 2001 8

Stanford’s Needs

• Flexible features for a diverse and innovative instructional staff

• Ability to add new features very quickly

• Sustainability and supportability

• Integration with infrastructure--course data, libraries, authentication and authorization standards

March 19, 2001 9

MIT Needs

Mike Barker

March 19, 2001 10

Key Tools• Content Creation, Management, and Presentation:

Showing Materials to People• Collaboration Tools (Discussion board, chat, etc.)

Helping People Work Together• Assessment Tools (quiz, test, survey, etc.)

Checking How People are Learning• Assignment Handling Helping with Homework

handling• Gradebook Keeping Track of the Work

March 19, 2001 11

Process Components

 Registration(authentication, user profile,

class signup, list management)

Content Presentation

(syllabus, calendar, table of contents, course portal)

Collaboration(discussion board, email, chat)

Administration(grade book, calendar)

Content Management

Assessment(quizzes, exams, course

evaluations)

Setup(create course, course templates)

Content Creation(digitization and consumption)

Renewal(re-use, archive, portfolio)

March 19, 2001 12

Requirements (1)

• Open Architecture: Database, web server, language, APIs, documentation

• Open Integration: other systems, additions, enhancements

• Pedagogical Models: Not Neutral, Actively Supporting!

• Intellectual Property: content ownership, protection, services

March 19, 2001 13

Requirements (2)

• Operation and Maintenance: hosting, service, support, etc.

• Features: 9 Boxes

• Costs

• Schedule

• User Support

March 19, 2001 14

Requirements (3)

Scalable Usability Reusable Content

Sustainable Open Interfaces Portal Integration

Security Accessibility Flexible Graphics

Privacy Logging Navigational Design

Stability Customizable “Look and Feel”

Continuing Improvement

March 19, 2001 15

Open Knowledge Initiative

Jeff Merriman

March 19, 2001 16

OKI• What is it?

– Learning systems specification• Standards based• Pedagogically driven

– Reference implementation• Open source

– Development Strategy– Support strategy

• Mellon Foundation Funding– Vijay Kumar – PI

March 19, 2001 17

OKI Learning Specifications

Users Content

Process

OKI “Core” Reference Architecture

ComponentSpecification

Quiz

White Board Virtual Lab

Portfolio Management

Content Outline

User InterfaceSpecification

Enterprise Data Exchange

Specification

DigitalAsset Exchange

Specification

List Management

EnterpriseInformation

--Student

Information Systems

AssetManagement

--Digital

LibraryInitiatives

AuthenticationServices

Modular Authentication

March 19, 2001 18

OKI Core Collaborative

Partners

MIT

Stanford

Other

Other

Other

March 19, 2001 19

OKIOKI

OKI Connections

CorePartners

MIT

OtherOther

Other Stanford

Projects:IMS,

uPortal,I2

etc.

Early Adopters

VendorsInfluence/Collaborate

Extended Community

OpenSourceSupport

LMSAdvisory

TechAdvisory

OtherInst.

March 19, 2001 20

Learning Systems Summit

• Assessing the Learning in LMSs:– Gather current knowledge about technology mediated learning

• How do existing LMSs implement and support different pedagogical approaches?– Differentiating tools for communication, collaboration content

delivery, etc.

• Outcomes:– White paper– Inform direction of OKI 1.0 and beyond– Development guidelines for supporting diversity in teaching styles

• When? Mid April

March 19, 2001 21

OKI Residency Program

• OKI Fellows join MIT-based team– OKI partner desired competencies

• Pedagogical Research (OKI-Teach)

• Architecture/Design

• Development Resources

– Two Phases of Residency• 1: Architecture, design and development

• 2: Implementation and Support

MIT

OtherOther

Other Stanford

March 19, 2001 22

OKI Core TimelinesMIT

Stanford

CourseWork

MIT

Stellar

Summer 01

Other Implementations?

ParallelEfforts

March 01

OKI SpecSept. 2001

OKIReferencePlatform

Other

Other

OKI

MIT

Stanford

Other

OKI SpecSeptember 01

March 19, 2001 23

Your Questions?

March 19, 2001 24

Stay Tuned!Open Knowledge Initiative Web Site

<http://web.mit.edu/oki>

Write us at oki-suggest@mit.edu

Contact us:

Lois Brooks <lbrooks@stanford.edu>

Jeff Merriman <merriman@mit.edu>

Mike Barker <mbarker@mit.edu>