The Link2ICT Repository Model

David Farrell

Who are we?

Link2ICT is a division of Service Birmingham, an innovative strategic partnership between Birmingham City Council and the Capita Group.

Link2ICT provide IT solutions and support for Schools, Adult and Youth, Libraries, Museums and Arts.

Developers of AQUA MIS and modules. AQUA is recognised as a market leader in supplying Adult Education software to local authorities in England.

We have a close partnership with external agencies such as Becta, DCSF, LSC , MIAP.

Collaborations

Giunti Labs /HarvestRoad Open University SIFA, Visual Software, Edustructures Catalyst consortia for BSF JISC MIAP RSC Moodle Community Zimbra Community Joomla Community Shibboleth UK Federation RM (IDM)

Our Philosophy

To support cradle to grave learning, inclusivity, personalised learning and employability.

Accessible, Adaptable, Flexible.

Not about technology.

Essential to core delivery.

Affordable.

Our Vision

Create seamless learning and employability network across City - all learners access from school, adult learning, home, specialist areas.

Develop a model that can be replicated across UK.

All content - learning/employability/portfolio held within a federated repository at core.

To use open standards and best of breed applications.

Our Vision

History - 2006

Pilot a VLE for Adult Education

Architecture – separate content from delivery

HarvestRoad Hive 2.6 repository

Moodle 1.5

NIACE Incorporating Learning Platforms Phase 2 Case Study

Benefits of using a UFR A centralised location for the storing of digital assets Ubiquitously available, federated Tagged, indexed ,discoverable, searchable content Supports Collaboration, facilitates sharing Asset Management Work flow Version control/meta-tagging/ copyright management Granular Access control Extendable, scalable, upgradable storage platform Assets not locked into Virtual Learning Environment/provider Bulk uploads using Hive Explorer Reuse/repurpose assets, store once use efficiently Multiple interfaces Standards conformance

History - 2007 AQUA MLE – Managed Learning Environment HarvestRoad Hive 3.0

History - 2007 AQUA MLE – links Moodle to AQUA MIS.

Benefits of using a MLE Administer VLE from MIS – course creation/deletion, account creation,

learner enrolment, tutor allocation

Clone many peer reviewed VLE courses from standard templates – content in UFR , uniform layout , quality and accessibility

Quality not quantity - only expose useful content. Keep content visible and up to date.

Maximise local content and content creation specialists input in addition to existing purchased or open content

Democratic - independent of specialist tutors

Link to online enrolment Course Finder

History - 2008

Single Sign On development

Portal Development (Liferay)

Schools Pilot

Schools Support VLEs

Local Group VLEs

2009

IDM

Schools Rollout (100 new primary school Moodle/Hive instances by Xmas 2009)

SIF Moodle Provisioning Agent

AQUA Learning Network (An association of AQUA MIS customers also utilising Moodle/Hive/AQUA MLE and Zimbra)

Local Groups – Worklessness, Aston Pride

Future

Portal with Shibboleth SSO based on SIF/IDM - Keep VLE light use portlets to personalise interaction

Zimbra Collaboration Tools

HarvestRoad Hive 4.0

Mobile Delivery

E-Portfolio

Content Creation – Giunti Labs Packager

IDTV

Issues

Change of culture

Training

IPR

Simplify Metadata Tagging

Security

Changing learning cultures e.g. Diplomas

AQUA Portal

Example Links

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/46.cfm http://moodle.myvle.org/cherryorch/ http://www.learnsafl.ac.uk/ http://tutors.learnbaes.ac.uk/ http://www.knowledgesphere.org/ http://moodle.myvle.org/lpsg/ http://moodle.myvle.org/transition/ http://www.aqua.birmingham.gov.uk/demo_mle_194/

Questions? David.Farrell@servicebirmingham.co.uk