Learning Information Services

Exchanging Data BetweenEnterprise Systems

About Me

• Bruce Phillips (bphillips@ku.edu)• University of Kansas Information

Technology• Responsible for integrating our

Student Information System (Campus Solutions) with our Learning Management System (Blackboard)

References

• http://www.imsglobal.org/lis/ • http://www.imsglobal.org/lis/lisv2p0/L

ISv2p0SpecPrimerv1p0.html

• http://www.imsglobal.org/lis/lisv2p0/LISv2p0ProfilesPrimerv1p0.html

• http://www.imsglobal.org/lis/lisv2p0/LISv2p0BestPracticev1p0.html

Requirement

• Integrate a Student Information System (SIS) with a Learning Management System (LMS)– SIS is system of record for classes,

enrollments, grades– LMS is system students and faculty use

to assist learning and instruction– LMS needs data on people, classes, and

enrollments

Learning Information Services

• Vendor-neutral standards– Sponsored by the IMS Global Learning Consortium

• Specifies data formats and services related to the data– Person– Course– Member (enrollment)– Group (term)– Outcomes (grades)– Bulk (initial load)

Learning Information Services

• Specifies data exchange methods– SOAP – Simple Object Access Protocol– LDAP – Lightweight Directory Access

Protocol (future)

• Version 2.0 released June 2011

LIS Standards

• Data fields used for each type– required and optional

• Allowed values and data types• XML Schema Definition (XSD) • Web Services Description Language

(WSDL) documentation

Vendor Supported

• Student Information Systems– Oracle Campus Solutions (AKA PeopleSoft)– Banner– Jenzabar

• Learning Management Systems– Blackboard– Canvas– Moodle– Desire2Learn– Sakai

Learning Information ServicesProfiles

• A specific subset of data and services supported

• Vendors are free to implement the standards to support a specific core profile

• Almost no vendors support the entire LIS 2.0 standard

• Ensuring that your SIS and LMS vendors support the same profile in the same manner is key to interoperability

Core Profile

• Data and services for– Person – Group (Term)– Course section– Enrollment (Membership)

• Provisioning data includes– Full batch snapshot (bulk)– Incremental snapshot (since last update)– Event-driven via SOAP web services

• Near real time

Additional Profiles

• Final grade reporting• Combined sections • Full course hierarchy

Core Profile - Person

• Data elements include– Name, Address, ContactInfo,

Demographics, UserId, InstitutionRole• Complex data types that are broken down into

multiple parts

• Services include– Create, Update, Delete

• http://www.imsglobal.org/lis/lisv2p0/PMSv2p0InfoModelv1p0.html

Core Profile - Group• Data elements include– Group, GroupType, Relationship, Org, TimeFrame– Complex data types that are broken down into

multiple parts• Services include– Create, Update, Delete

• http://www.imsglobal.org/lis/lisv2p0/GMSv2p0InfoModelv1p0.html

Core Profile - Course

• Data elements include– title, catalog description, location,

timeframe, org, notes, default credits, academic session

• Services include– Create, Update, Delete

• http://www.imsglobal.org/lis/lisv2p0/CMSv1p0InfoModelv1p0.html

Core Profile - Membership

• Data elements include– Member, role, timeframe, membership

• Services include– Create, Update, Delete

• http://www.imsglobal.org/lis/lisv2p0/MMSv2p0InfoModelv1p0.html

How Does KU Use LIS 2.0?

• Provide data from our Student Information System to our Learning Management System– Campus Solutions             Blackboard– Core profile data only

• Groups (Terms), Courses, Enrollments• Initial load of data

– Bulk snapshot

• Changes updated once per day– Incremental snapshot

Flow of Data – Bulk Processing

SIS

LMS

Web Server

Data File (1)

Data File (3)

SOAPMessage (4)

SOAPMessage (2)

1 – SIS creates LIS 2 data file and places it on web server

2 – SIS sends LMS SOAP message announcing data file is available

3 – LMS picks up data file and processes it

4 – LMS sends SIS SOAP message that it is finished processing data file

Questions To Consider

• How is data selected in the SIS for inclusion in the LIS 2.0 feed?

• What is the timing of feeds from SIS to LMS?

• Does the Learning Management System enable pre- and post-processing of LIS 2.0 data?

Questions To Consider

• What is the effect of LIS 2.0 data values and operations in the LMS?

• What data should instructors be allowed to change in the LMS?

• If the LMS supports merging courses what is the effect on processing the LIS 2.0 feed from the SIS?

• How to detect and correct errors?

Questions To Consider

• What LIS 2.0 data and service is generated by the Student Information System for each type of action performed by students and staff?

• What are the known bugs related to LIS 2.0 data exchange for both the SIS and LMS vendor software?

DisadvantagesLearning Information Systems

• Vendor systems must agree on how the standards are implemented

• Many hidden aspects of vendor implementation

• Limited support beyond core profile• Error checking/reporting is undefined

– vendor specific

Advantages of Learning Information Services

• Reduces vendor lock-in• Can save time and money vs.

developing a custom integration solution

• Can support multiple systems• XML processing is widely supported