About the IIS&R (COLIS Phase 2) Project
IIS&R Substitutability Project 2003 - 2004
The Substitutability project is drawing to an end as the final substitutions are being completed. In total there were 12 projects across 4 of the 5 functional slots. The table below gives you the details of who was involved.
Access Management |
Federated Search Gateway |
Learning Object Exchange |
Learning Object Management System |
Learning Management System |
| Sun Microsystems |
Ex Libris |
|
Harvest Road |
WebCT |
| Novell |
Endeavor |
|
Concord |
Myinternet |
| Ebullient |
|
|
|
Blackboard |
| Microsoft |
|
|
|
CECIL |
| |
|
|
|
Oracle |
Whilst there were three access management solutions started only the Novell and Microsoft ones were completed. Both of these organisations provided elegant solutions with quite differing themes. What stood out most with these solutions was the vast speed improvement over the original Libproxy system due to a more sophisticated design and the use of page caching.
Both of the federated search gateway substitutions were still being completed at the time of writing. The feedback is mainly positive from the developers although we will have to wait and see how the final products look.
Whilst the IntraLibrary product is not truly a substitution as it was a replacement for the previous product, it has proved to be strong in demonstrating the features one expects of a ‘national repository’. In effect it is a learning object repository rather than an exchange. After the usual installation issues especially surrounding its integration within COLIS the product has performed strongly.
The learning object management systems are also still being finalised. The HarvestRoad Hive product has undergone most testing except for some final work on displaying digital rights information. The Masterfile application has only just been installed and incorporated into the Libproxy environment.
The learning management systems have all been tested and each have performed well against the criteria. With the only IMS standard that they need to conform to is the ability to deliver an IMS CP as delivered by URL from the LOMS each product acquitted themselves well. What is striking is the different approach each application takes to the delivery of courseware. With the tested products covering the K-12, Higher Education and Corporate markets, it is probably not surprising though still noteworthy. Each product was also evaluated against other criteria including the ability to import an IMS content package directly, using URL’s to deliver search results and the capacity to deliver Learning Federation and SCORM packages.
The projects should all be completed before the Christmas break enabling a full report to be delivered early in the New Year. This report will provide a much more detailed analysis of each substitution and will be made available to anyone on request.
Any queries about this information should be directed to Jonathan Clare
Project manager presentations:
Substitutability Project - Jonathan Clare:
July 2003 - Substitutability Overview (.ppt 1707kb)
December 2003 - Substitutability Report (.ppt 1804kb)
Substitutability Project Report (.pdf 1.89mb)
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