Ensuring your data is in the right place at the right time

John Chapman Senior Architect: Information Management

14-19 Diplomas: Learning the lessons of the new operating model24 November 2008

Presentation 7: Standards Interoperability Framework

SIF explained

SIF explained

• The SIF Association

• SIF

• The strategic view

• Next steps

What is SIF?

Not a product, but a technical blueprint for education software

Designed for education technology suppliers and educators

Manages data within the education environment

Enables diverse applications to interact and share data

Systems

What is the SIF Specification?

Data standard

Document that defines accepted rules

Describes the data (what) + infrastructure (how)

Provides a complete set of rules from start to finish

Systems

Components of SIF

Network Account

14 to 19

Data Analysis

& Reporting VLM

Library

Moodle

Meals

MISZone Integration Server• Software• Routing• Access Control

SIF Agents• Communicate with ZIS• Assemble and process

messages

Data Objects• Sets of information• XML

SIF ZonesLibrary

Meals

MIS

Network Account

VLM

MIS

School Zone

LA Zone

Logical grouping of applications, agents, and ZIS

Highly flexible and scalable

No predefined size or structure… specific to your implementation

Event Messages

Network Account

14 to 19

Data Analysis

& Reporting VLM

Library

Moodle

Meals

MIS

Types:AddChangeDelete

ZIS broadcasts to subscribers

Real time communication

Request and Response Messages

Network Account

Data Analysis

& Reporting

Library

MIS

Moodle

Meals

Initial loading

Synchronization

VLM

14 to 19

We have been actively engaged in finding open approaches to enable the easy flow of data between multiple information services, systems and products regardless of who produces or supplies them. A high degree of compatibility - interoperability in the jargon - is the foundation for effective, efficient and economic information management. It means - subject always to the primacy of information security considerations - better collaboration between partners, more agile applications, getting better returns on software investments and, most importantly, better meeting the needs of users whether they be teachers, learners, decision makers or others through, for example, joining up learning platform and management information system functions.

Becta, the lead national partner for educational technology, has identified and researched the Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF). Becta is clear that SIF has proven potential to deliver a wide range of benefits at the front line and at local and national levels, and now recommends SIF as a preferred solution. Proof of concept projects and other development work continues. But the expectation is that the SIF standard will be adopted by local authorities and system suppliers to meet specific local business needs over the next 18 months or so. These activities will mainly focus on front-line service delivery.

The current view of SIF is both optimistic and positive. At this stage we believe that SIF has much potential as a universal national standard - "schools" in the title refers to SIF's origins not its limitations. For obvious reasons we need to be sure before such adoption. So we will continue to consult and work with partners; including engaging the system-wide Information Standards Board and its Technical Support Service and assessing the impact on business processes. We are unlikely to make critical decisions before 2010 but it is our presumption that, providing it does not cut across other objectives, the sector will use this platform to work towards a national deployment of SIF. 

To summarise, we see SIF as being the direction of travel unless any as yet unforeseen and insurmountable barriers come to light.

Statement of intent

Further work and drivers• Birmingham National Pathfinder• LGfL pilot• Norfolk pilot• EMBC PoC• SWGfL – Merlin• Data protection and security issues

• 14-19• Awarding bodies – JCQ• QCA - Diploma Aggregation Service• MIAP

• Quarterly Meeting: 3-4 December (Manchester Airport)

For more information:

• SIF Project Team–John Chapman - Senior Architect: Information Management,

Becta–john.chapman@becta.org.uk

–Penny Murray – Project Adviser, Information Management–penny.murray@becta.org.uk

• SIF Association UK website–www.sifinfo.org.uk

• For further information on SIF Association UK, please email:–sifauk@becta.org.uk