Introduction to Learning Information Services
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Transcript of Introduction to Learning Information Services
Learning Information Services
Phil Nicholls Learning Impact 2012
Part One • Introduction to Learning Information
Services (LIS) • Conformance • Links / Q & A
Introduction: Me • “LIS Guy” / Tech Facilitator • Software Developer since ’95 • Interoperability Standards for most of that
time • Broke into IMS via Telcert Project in 2004 • Based in Sheffield, UK • www.linkedin.com/in/philnicholls • @psydevuk
Introduction: LIS • Final (2.0): April 2012. • APMG open to members / affiliates. • LIS is a set of services that allows
software systems to exchange information about people, courses, groups, memberships and outcomes.
• LIS specifies how to transfer “live” data as well as bulk data.
Introduction: LIS • A provider of information is termed a
“reference agent”. • A consumer of information is termed a
“synchronisation agent”. • Information moves from a reference agent
to synchronisation agent(s). • Specifications are WSDL / SOAP based.
Typical LIS Scenario
Conformance • The need to make sure that messages
from one vendor system can be consumed by a different vendor system.
• Challenge: Services vs Data / Packages. • Challenge: Need to test RAs and SAs. • Challenge: Data model very “optional”.
Conformance • Vendor community beginning to undergo
conformance testing. • Help with conformance is free via the LIS
Alliance. • Issues being tracked via APMG. • Goal to extract “common” data model. • Bulk Data conformance testing planned.
Part Two • What LIS Provides • Thoughts on LIS Deployment • Links / Q & A
What LIS Provides • Automated, reliable movement of learning
data between different systems.
• Automate use provisioning, enrolment, grade reporting…
• An end to manual work around scripts. • Frees IT departments from integrations;
lets them concentrate on adding value. • Reduces single vendor lock in.
What LIS Gives You
Thoughts on LIS Deployment • LIS is enterprise software. • To reap the full benefits, and reduce
migration risk, you need to engage with your vendor.
• Do not simply ask “do you support LIS” on an RFP.
Vendor Engagement Engage vendor on five key questions:
• Will it work with my other systems? • What extra work must I do? • What happens if it goes wrong? • What if it is too expensive? • Is it future proof?
Does it work with my other systems?
• Beware of “Yes – next question!” • Check versions. • Check conformance. • Beware of pairwise integration statements.
• Psydev can help to LIS enable systems (legacy or otherwise).
What extra work must I do? • LIS provides 80% of what you need; the
other 20% is in local factors. • Data semantics. • Security. • Hosting environment.
• Psydev can assist with working out what might be missing.
What happens if it goes wrong? • RISK: Supplier 1 blames Supplier 2 who
blames Supplier 1. • Diagnosis tools. • SLAs.
• Psydev have worked with the major vendors, and we have a range of tools available to support ‘debugging’.
What if it is too expensive? • LIS is still quite new in its current form. • Do you need all of LIS, or just the profile? • Do you need both Reference and
Synchronisation agents? • Lots of help available from IMS.
• Psydev offer software and consulting to provide vendors with a head start.
Is it future proof? • Standards do evolve. • APMG. • Use common version of LIS if possible. • Check upgrade path of all systems. • Backwards compatibility.
• Psydev software handles changes to the standard.
Conclusions • LIS presents an opportunity to save many
hours of staff effort • Proprietary-only integrations eliminated • No more scripts / spreadsheets /
workarounds • Deployment for your organisation requires
some careful thought • Plenty of help exists
Further Info: • Psydev: www.psydev.com • IMS: www.imsglobal.org/lis • Alliance: www.imsglobal.org/developers/
lisalliance • Our LIS White Paper:
www.psydev.com/free-resources
twitter: @psydevuk mailto: [email protected]