30 November 2004

JISC Circular 10/04Circular for the Specification of e-Learning Framework Reference Models

To: Heads of Higher Education Institutions funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and Heads of Further Education Colleges in receipt of HEFCE Funds

Electronic Copies:

Directors of Information Services Learning Resource Managers JISC Committee Members JISC Executive Staff JISC Regional Support Centres JISC ServicesNew Technology InstitutesOpen UniversityCETISCETIS SIGs

Introduction

1 This circular, funded by the Distributed e-Learning Programme invites proposals to specify reference models for the e-learning framework. Projects will start no later than March 2005 and run until 31 March 2006. Further information about the programme and the e-Learning Framework can be found at: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/programme_edistributed.html and http://www.jisc.ac.uk/elearning_framework.html respectively.

2 Total funding of £750,000 is available for this work, with up to £150,000 available per project.

3 Each project is expected to:

· Produce an e-learning framework (ELF) reference model in line with the domain areas described in this circular:

i. define the scope of the application domain to be addressed;ii. gather a portfolio describing current practices, processes and

systems that address this application domain of use cases and scenarios of the domain;

iii. identify the shortcomings to be addressed and produce a gap analysis of the domain area;

iv. map the application domain to the services defined in the ELF;v. define a common solution pattern for the application domain;vi. develop use cases describing the use of systems within this pattern;vii. define which ELF service definitions are best to be used to support

the pattern, if necessary defining application profiles of existing specifications, or new service definitions.

· Produce a reference model implementation(s) that support(s) the development of the reference model and/or provides proof of concept.

· Provide supporting information and advice to related Distributed e-Learning Programme Regional Pilot Projects http://www.jisc.ac.uk/programme_edistributed.html.

· Work closely with the relevant CETIS Special Interest Group(s) (SIG).

· Collaborate with other projects funded by this call.

4 The deadline for receipt of proposals is 1300 hours on Monday 24 January 2005.

5 This circular is supported by the following documents:

· Service Orientated Frameworks paper (S. Wilson, K. Blinco, D. Rehak, ALTiLab, July 2004) http://www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents/AltilabServiceOrientedFrameworks.pdf

· A Technical Framework to Support e-Learning paper (S. Wilson, B. Olivier, S. Jeyes, A. Powell, T. Franklin, Feb 2004) http://www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents/Technical%20Framework%20feb04.doc

· The Draft JISC Open Source Software Policy. Prospective bidders should be aware that this document is not yet finalised and some aspects are liable to change. Further information on the policy can be obtained from the Programme Manager.

· Other information relating to the ELF can be found at http://www.jisc.ac.uk/elearning_framework.html

Background

6 This circular builds on the work of the e-Learning Framework and Tools strand http://www.jisc.ac.uk/elearning_framework.html of the e-Learning Programme http://www.jisc.ac.uk/programme_elearning.html

7 The ELF is currently at a stage of development where it requires the development of reference models for a number of e-Learning domain areas. This exercise will enhance the degree of specificity of the ELF for JISC and provide support to a number of Distributed e-Learning Regional Pilot projects that will be running in parallel with these projects.

9 Developing reference models will help identify and understand where gaps currently exist in the ELF and prioritise future work.

E-Learning Programme – Distributed e-Learning (DeL) Programme

10 JISC’s e-Learning Programme aims to identify how e-Learning can facilitate learning and to advise on its implementation. It focuses on four areas: e-Learning and pedagogy; technical frameworks for e-Learning; innovative use of technology for learning and teaching; distributed e-Learning. The DeL Programme also supports the growing regional aspect to HE.

11. DeL is the effective use of technology to assist learners to access, piece together and manage the learning they do throughout their life, in a range of institutional, informal and work-based settings.

12 The DeL strand of the e-Learning programme has been funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to facilitate lifelong learning and wider participation in HE by providing learners with:

· a more seamless learning experience;

· better learning tools;

· easier access to personal learning information such as portfolios;

· access to greater quantities of quality-assured learning materials.

13 Teachers will also benefit from guidance on how to use e-Learning resources within appropriate systems.

14 The aims of the Distributed e-Learning strand are:

· To develop models to show how local, regional and national systems will work together to provide coherent access to e-Learning resources.

· To establish regional pilots to evaluate the integrated use of e-Learning systems, tools, repositories and content to support widening participation and lifelong learning.

· To extend the generic e-Learning technical framework for use at regional level, and develop national services to support region use, eg repositories and question banks.

· To develop tools for teachers and learners to support lifelong learning, and to develop content to populate the repositories and question banks.

· To develop practical guidelines for implementing e-Systems and sharing e-Learning content to support widening participation and regional partnerships.

15 A strategic overview of the Distributed e-Learning strand is available on the JISC website at: www.jisc.ac.uk/uploaded_documents/eDistributed-strategic-overview.doc

e-Learning Framework (ELF)

16 The ELF is a factoring of the functionality and data that networked applications can either provide or consume from elsewhere. The functionality and data are expressed in services, most of which are likely to take the form of web services.

17 The ultimate aim of the Framework is, for each identified service, to be able to reference the open specifications or standards that can be used to implement the service, or, where necessary, to develop new ones. The aim of the JISC e-Learning programme as a whole is to provide open-source implementation toolkits such as Java and .Net code libraries to assist institutions in the implementation of these services.

18 The intention is not to provide a blueprint for an open-source solution, but rather to facilitate the integration of commercial, home-grown and open source components and applications within institutions and regional federations, by agreeing common service definitions. The current state of the ELF and details of the service definitions can be found at http://www.cetis.ac.uk:8080/frameworks

Service orientated architecture

19 A service-oriented architecture (soa)1 is a collection of services that communicate with each other. The communication can involve either simple data passing or it could

1 Further information on service orientated architecture can be found at: http://www.service-architecture.com/web-services/articles/service-oriented_architecture_soa_definition.html

involve two or more services coordinating some activity. Some means of connecting services to each other is needed.

20 A service is a function that is well-defined, self-contained, and does not depend on the context or state of other services. soa defines a service using Web Services Description Language (WSDL)2. A looser sense of web services would also include those that do not make use of WSDL, for example REST based web services deployed by Amazon and Google.

e-Learning Process Model

21 The e-Learning Process Model represents the relationship between activities required to support the learning cycle and support the teacher, organisation and learner.

e-Learning Process Model

Project Proposals

22 Proposals are invited to undertake a project that:

· Produces an ELF reference model in line with the domain areas described in this circular. The Specification for Developing ELF Reference Models R1 (Oct 04) is appended and provides guidance for the development and content of an ELF reference model. Projects are expected to take an evolutionary approach to the development of their ELF reference model. This process will involve iterating cycles of reference model development that include:

i. outlining the required steps to develop an ELF reference model; ii. overseeing the development of the reference model on behalf of the

development community with the relevant CETIS SIG;iii. producing a reference model implementation(s) that support(s) the

development of the reference model and/or provides proof of concept;

iv. producing a gap analysis of the domain area in relation to the reference model.

2 Further information on WSDL can be found at: http://www.service-architecture.com/web-services/articles/web_services_description_language_wsdl.html

· Disseminates and embeds the reference model into the ELF.· Provides supporting information and advice to related Distributed e-Learning

Regional Pilot Projects3.· Works closely with the relevant CETIS Special Interest Group(s) to validate

the reference model with the community.· Collaborates with other projects funded by this call.

23 The domain areas for the ELF reference models are aligned with the CETIS Special Interest Groups (SIGs). Projects are expected to work closely with the relevant SIG in the development of the ELF reference model and any reference model implementation. The domain areas and relevant SIG are listed below:

Domain Area

Scope e-Learning Process Model Scope

CETIS SIG Sample Reference Projects

Assessment The creation, execution and recording of electronic assessments which are accessible across institutions and to the lifelong learner.

Assessment Assessment SIG Coordinator Rowin Young

TOIA

APIS

ASSIS

Learning content

The design, construction and execution of learning activity that can be used and shared by multiple institutions and the lifelong learner.

Sequencing of learning content,Learning Activity management,Interoperable learning, content packaging.

Educational Content SIGCoordinator Sheila MacNeill

X4L

RELOAD

Enterprise The sharing of data between and within institutions and the lifelong learner.

Student Records,Management Information Systems,Enterprise Integration.

Enterprise SIGCoordinator Vashti Zarach

SWEET.net toolkit (Enterprise)

IMS Enterprise SDK

3 Further information about the Regional Pilots can be found at: http://www.jisc.ac.uk/programme_edistributed.html

Personal Development Planning

The creation, recording and sharing of PDP and ePortfolio information that supports the lifelong learner.

PortfolioProfile

Learner Information Packaging SIGCoordinatorPeter Rees Jones

MLEs for Lifelong Learning

WS4RL toolkit (PDP)

DeL eTools

Achieving Sustainable Lifelong Learningin the Context of Europe – Appendix B

Personal Learning Environments

The learning process from the perspective of the lifelong learner

Whole e-Learning Process Model

Pedagogy ForumCoordinator Lisa Corley

DeL and Toolkit Personal Development Projects

DEL and ToolkitPortfolio projects

EPed programme (LAMS evaluation)

Resource repositories

This ELF reference models for this domain area are not funded under this call. A JISC Digital Repository programme is due to begin in 2005 and will fund projects that explore repositories from the teaching and learning perspectives.

24 Project proposals are expected to include iterative cycles of development/implementation to support and provide proof of concept for the reference model. These activities may include:

· Identifying and documenting relevant use case or scenarios (eg UML use cases).· Defining ELF service definitions:

· Scope· Data model· Behaviour (eg API, WSDL)· Data representation (eg XML).

· Writing/defining/contributing to the specification/standardisation process of service definitions.

· Implementing the reference model (in part or whole) in order to further develop the reference model or as proof of concept.

· Developing software to address gaps in the reference implementation model.

25 Each iterative cycle of reference model development should be separately budgeted for the purposes of the proposal. As the project progresses each cycle will be costed and specified in detail prior to its initiation.

26 Each project is required to support the iterative cycles with a core supporting strand which should be budgeted for separately. The supporting strand will be responsible for:

· Project Management and coordination of the reference model

· Planning, initiating and evaluating the iterative cycles of reference model· Developing and validating the model with the wider community.· Dissemination and embedding of the reference model into the ELF.· Liaison with CETIS SIGs, JISC and other projects.· Providing supporting information and advice to the DeL Regional Pilots.

27 The supporting strand should be separately budgeted to the iterative cycles (point 25) for the purposes of the proposal.

Example Structure of a Reference Model Project

28 All projects will be expected to work in collaboration with other relevant JISC projects; attend collaboration meetings to share their work and identify areas of mutual development; provide supporting information, guidelines and tools to the regional pilots and other development projects.

Deliverables

29 The key deliverables of the projects are:

· ELF reference model in the form specified by the Specification for Developing ELF Reference Models R1.

· ELF reference model implementation(s). Any software developed by the project must be open source and comply with JISCs draft Open Source Policy and the draft Software Quality Assurance Policy and Guidance.

Terms and conditions of grant

30 As a general rule, JISC does not seek to retain intellectual property rights (IPR) in the project deliverables created as part of its programmes. However, funding is always made available on the condition that project outputs are made available, free at the point of use, to the UK FE and HE community and Specialist Colleges (as defined by the JISC) in perpetuity, and that these may be disseminated widely in partnership with JISC.

31 It is extremely desirable that any software components of the deliverables are released under appropriate open-source licences to ensure that they can also be freely shared with organisations and communities with which JISC has close working arrangements. All software that is developed will be expected to be made available free of charge to the education community in perpetuity and all code developed will be made available through open-source models. Projects should license outputs under an Open Source Agreement that promotes their reuse (eg LGPL for data libraries, GPL for applications). For information on these licences, see: www.gnu.org/licenses/licenses.html

32 It is intended that the deliverables created as part of this programme will, as appropriate, be deployed by JISC as part of a long-term strategy for providing access

to community resources and, where this is possible, arrangements for archiving deliverables will be set in place. However, wherever possible, projects will be encouraged to set in place mechanisms to ensure the continued availability and currency of deliverables after funding has ended. In the majority of cases JISC will not be able to commit to the long-term delivery or maintenance of project outputs after the end of the programme, though guidance will be given about opportunities for continuation funding and embedding within institutions.

33 JISC will undertake programme-level evaluation in partnership with the funded projects, which will be required to cooperate with the programme evaluation. Each project will be required to build in project-specific evaluation and (where appropriate, eg for software deliverables) testing activities in its project planning. The scale and nature of this evaluation and testing will naturally be dependent on the size and scale of project activity, and should be appropriate to programme aims.

34 Institutions should note that staff may be required to spend limited amounts of time on programme-related activities in the year following the end of the funding period. This time might be needed for cooperation with the programme evaluation, or for writing reports or providing input to JISC publications. It is expected that this staff time should be provided as an institutional contribution to the project and will not be additionally funded by JISC. This is typically 5–10 days of staff time.

35 JISC will draw up an overarching dissemination strategy in partnership with the projects and other JISC initiatives. However, projects will be expected to engage in project-specific dissemination to the post-16 education sector as appropriate (see paragraphs 38-39 on Public Relations).

36 JISC will look for phased outcomes as the projects progress. The nature of the project outputs will be expected to:

· Provide a lasting benefit to the community.

· Have a scale and nature concomitant with the level of funding provided.

· Contribute to achieving JISC's strategic aims. The JISC Strategy can be viewed at: www.jisc.ac.uk/strategy_0406.html

37 Projects will be expected to adopt the JISC programme management guidelines (available at www.jisc.ac.uk/proj_manguide.html). These include IPR and copyright guidance, adherence to good project management practices, regular reporting and participation of projects in steering committees. A Programme Manager based in the JISC Development Team will provide management support to projects.

Public Relations

38 JISC endeavours to ensure that a coherent message is given to the community covering the breadth and depth of its activities. Projects must adhere to JISC PR Guidelines. These include advice on developing publicity materials and producing press releases, and will be issued to funded projects.

39 Each project must create a web page or website to explain the project aims and objectives and to disseminate information about project activities and results. The Project Management Guidelines give guidance on the scope, content and design of websites. Where appropriate, project deliverables and core project documents may be posted on the website. As the project website is primarily a dissemination vehicle, deliverables and documents posted are considered to be copies, and the masters will be deposited in the appropriate JISC repository. The lead institution or one of its partners must agree to host the website on their server for a minimum of 3 years after the end of the project and to assist JISC in archiving it subsequently.

Timetable

40 Proposals must be submitted by 1300 hours on Monday 24 January 2005. Projects should start no later than March 2005 and run until 31 March 2006.

41 The key stages during the bidding process are as follows:

· Submit proposal by Monday 24 January 2005.

· Successful bidders will be notified by late January.

· Project start no later than 1 March 2005.

Eligibility

42 The funds for this programme have been made available by the HEFCE, and proposals are invited from any HE institution funded by the HEFCE, any FE college in receipt of HEFCE funding or a consortium/partnership, (which can include other HE institutions, FE colleges or other learning organisations based in or outside the UK) led by an insti-tution funded by the HEFCE. 

Funding available

43 Funding of up to £150,000 per project is available.

Briefing arrangements

44 Queries concerning this circular are being handled on an individual basis via the relevant CETIS SIG coordinator (see paragraph 23) or the programme contacts listed in this circular (see paragraphs 50 and 51).

Bidding process

45 Proposals, of no more than 14 pages of A4, typeset in Arial or a similar font at 10 point size in Word or Pdf format, should be submitted both as a single-sided, unbound hardcopy, and as an electronic copy via email. Both copies must arrive by the deadline. In addition to the 14 page maximum, proposals must include the completed cover sheet at Appendix A to this circular, a letter of support from an authorised senior manager from the lead institution (and each partner if appropriate) and the CVs of project staff.

46 Proposals must be received no later than 1300 hours on Monday 24 January 2005. Faxed or late proposals will not be accepted. Both email and hardcopy proposals should be sent to:

Ann Lloyd, JISC Executive, Northavon House, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QD. Tel: 0117 931 7111. Email: a.lloyd@jisc.ac.uk

Structure of proposals

47 The content of the proposals should reflect the evaluation criteria set out below. To assist in the assessment of all proposals against a common baseline, proposals should be structured as follows:

Cover Sheet Proposal to be headed with the cover sheet included in this circular at Appendix A.

Project Outline (up to 4 sides of A4 text, excluding any diagrams):

· The application domain to be addressed.

· Summary of cost, start date and completion date.

· The need for and benefits of the proposed reference model.

· Approach of the project:

o Working with partners (if any)

o Working with the JISC

o Working with CETIS

o Working with domain bodies and the wider community.

· Outline of the proposed reference model.

· Specifications used:

o Existing specifications to be used

o Any specification profiles to be developed

o Any new specifications to be developed.

· Existing JISC or other developments (if any) to be included in a reference implementation and any additional work needed on them.

· New developments (if any) to be undertaken in the creation of a reference implementation.

Project Plan The project plan should include:

· Initial breakdown of actives and timelines. This can be presented as a Gantt chart or in work packages. Proposed number of reference model development iterations with the first iteration specified in detail. (up to 3 sides of A4).

· Risk analysis (1 side of A4).

· Quality plan (1 side of A4).

· Project management approach (1 side of A4).

Budget (1 side of A4). A summary of the proposed budget which in broad outline identifies how funds will be spent over the life of the project. Staff costs, equipment and consumables, travel and subsistence (if applicable), dissemination, evaluation and other costs should be itemised and an indication of any institutional contributions (eg overheads, equipment, staff time) should also be provided. The budget should be broken down separately, show costs associated with the supporting strand and every iteration of reference model development.

Relevant Experience/Knowledge (1 side of A4). Demonstrate experience/knowledge of the ELF, soa, software development, e-learning and project management.

Project Team (1 side of A4) – Names, roles and experience of staff expected to contribute to the project. For each member of the project team list any other projects/commitments they will be assigned to during the life of the project. Full CV details to be include in the appendix.

Evaluation Criteria for Proposals

48 Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

Quality of proposal and project plan The depth to which the proposal addresses the requirements outlined in the call, demonstrates an understanding of a service oriented approach and the ELF and shows innovation as appropriate. The quality of the proposal will be assessed on the basis of the deliverables identified and the evidence provided of how these will be achieved. An assessment of the risks involved in the successful completion of the project must be included. (30%)

Impact The extent to which the project outcomes will deliver a useful ELF reference model and reference model implementation. (20%)

Sustainability The extent to which the proposal supports any outputs such as the software component. (10%)

Partnership and dissemination The degree to which the proposal demonstrates an openness and willingness to work in partnership with JISC in forward planning, dissemination and evaluation, and the potential for extended partnership beyond the funding period. (10%)

Value for money The value of the expected project outcomes vis-à-vis the level of funding requested, taking into account the level of innovation, chance of success and relevance to the target communities. (10%)

Experience/Knowledge Evidence of the project team's understanding of the technical and/or management issues involved, and of its ability to manage and deliver a successful project, for example through work done to date in the area or in related fields. (20%)

49 Notwithstanding the weightings of the evaluation criteria, proposals that fail badly on any one criterion may be rejected, and proposals showing exceptional strength in one or more areas with serious weaknesses in others may be funded. In making awards under this call, JISC will take into account the need for an appropriate, varied and affordable portfolio of projects and partners. It is not, therefore, necessarily the case that the projects with the highest raw scores will be those funded in all instances.

Further Information

50 Enquiries about the Distributed e-Learning strand and this call for regional pilot projects should be addressed to:

· Richard McKenna, Programme Manager, JISC Executive, University of Bristol, Beacon House, Queens Road, Bristol, BS8 1QU. Tel: 0117 954 5076 or 07785 518564. Email: richard.mckenna@bristol.ac.uk.

51 General enquiries about the proposal submission process should be sent to:

· Ann Lloyd, JISC Executive, Northavon House, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QD. Tel: 0117 931 7111. Email: a.lloyd@jisc.ac.uk

JISC ExecutiveNovember 2004

Appendix A

Cover sheet for proposals (All sections must be completed)

ELF Reference Model ProjectDistributed e-Learning programme

Name of lead institution/organisation

Name of proposed project

Project partners

Full contact details for primary contact

Name:Position: Address:

Email:

Tel:

Fax:

ELF Reference Model Domain Area

Appendix B

Achieving Sustainable Lifelong Learningin the Context of Europe

FLOWCHART

Technology Enhanced Learning Conformance; European Requirements and Testing http://www.opengroup.org/telcert/

Further information contact Peter Rees Jones LIP SIG Coordinator.