Interoperability

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Interoperability SIFUpdate

• October 2006
• Tim Riley, Birmingham
• Nick Barron, Becta
• Peter O'Hagan, Serco

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What is Interoperability?

• Systems communicating
• Systems working together
• Data flowing freely between them

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• Why Interoperability?
• DfES and LAs and Schools will benefit by reducing
  their activity in the collection of data.
• Cut down on the time schools spend on vertical
  reporting.
• Allows horizontal reporting within schools,
  seamless integration for applications.
• Potential to improve work flows.
• Reduce integration burden with other agencies.
  (e.g. IS index)
• GIVE TEACHERS MORE TIME TO TEACH

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What is SIF?

• Schools Interoperability Framework
• It is not
• A product
• An application
• A software package
• It is
• An international standard consisting of
• A recognised regional data model
• Robust and flexible transport mechanism

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Why Schools Interoperability Framework?

• Already proven
• Provide an open standard for data transfer
• Improve standards in data authoring and quality
• Quality Assured Products
• Secure asynchronous transport protocol
• Stakeholder driven Governance
• The SIF community is an international community
• we are able to draw on best practice from around
  the globe.
• we have a valuable contribution to make.

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Vertical Reporting? Horizontal Reporting?

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Components Working TogetherHorizontal
Interoperability
Student Information Services

• Zone Integration Server (ZIS) (Located at LA)
• SIF Agents
• Applications
• SIF Data Objects

Network Account
Library Automation
H.R. Finance
Food Services
Data Analysis Reporting
Grade Book
Instructional Services
SIF Zone
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Components Working TogetherVertical
Interoperability
Government
LA
LA
LA
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NC District Results

• New learner Registering for Enrolment into
• Student Information System Directory Service
  Application
• ID Card System Library Automation System
• Cafeteria Management System
• Typical School SIF School
• - 49 minute task - 4 minute task
• - 10 times data entered - 1 time data entry
• 45 minutes/student X 18,000 students
• 6 FTEs!

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Wyoming Results on State Reporting

• Reallocation from State Reporting
• Eliminate 23 Aggregate Reports
• Reduce 8 hours per school per report
• Reduce hours per district per report
• 70,000 hours school staff time
• 18,000 hours district staff time
• 1,760,000 est. state savings

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Making it Real the UK Proof of Concept
(Birmingham)

• Becta
• DfES
• Capita
• Serco
• Netmedia
• Arete
• Link 2 ICT
• Birmingham LA
• Edustructures

• James Brindley Hospital School
• Ninestiles Community Technology College
• Kings Norton Boys School        
• Longwill Primary School for Deaf Children
• Castle Vale School and Specialist Performing Arts
  College
• Whitehouse Common Primary School
• Goodway Nursery
• Gossey Lane JI Nursery School
• English Martyrs Catholic Primary School
• Calthorpe School SSC

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Birmingham SIF POC indicative timetable
2006
2007
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
90 days
Certification Processes in place
SIF 2.0 spec ratification
Agent development kits available
SIF 2.0 spec published
Data movement and process review
Agents certified
SIF 2.0 agent development
POC closure
POC Data Model ratification

• Initial end-to-end data movement trial
• Implement agent in 1 school
• add Arête agent
• synchronize agents

UK / Birmingham data definition

• Add DfES agent
• Run vertical report

Governance

• Roll-out x 9 schools
• End-to-end testing

ZIS set-up
Final ZIS config
Workflow / process baselining
Implement
Plan
Review
Build
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Recent Milestones

• Data model draft received 03/10/06.
• ZIS installed in Birmingham.
• Welsh Assembly and NI joined SIFA. Scotland Nov.
• Becta Elected to SIFA Board.
• Agent development underway. CP2 Connection test
  completed.
• Initial meetings with the IS index.
• Second POC Bids under consideration.
• Governance structure populated.

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SIFA Board of Directors
International Sub-Committee

• Promote the current and future development and
  utilisation of the SIF standard
• Represent members interests and the deliverables
  from the defined work groups
• Deliver technical recommendations to the
  International Sub-Committee that will inform the
  Board of Directors
• Propose and implement new Work Groups to the
  International Sub-Committee
• Actively support pilot implementations including
  gathering shareholder involvement and feedback

• DfES (Chair) Mark Phillips
• Becta Paul Shoesmith
• Welsh Assembly Emma Williams
• Scottish Executive TBC
• Northern Ireland Mary Mallon
• Birmingham Tim Riley
• Serco Peter OHagan
• Capita Ian ODonoghue
• NetMedia Steven Threadgold
• Arête Tony Brown
• School user x 2 (one Capita school and one Serco
  school)

Executive Director
SIF UK Board
Tech Board

• Gatekeeper for the UK data set e.g. CBDS, CTF
• Develop UK version of SIF2 data model
• Develop change control processes in the context
  of areas of responsibility
• Develop business rule framework to ensure data
  integrity and standards
• Develop UK specific standards framework for data
  exchange between supplier platforms

• DfES (Chair) Gwen Baulch
• Arête (Vice-Chair) Tony Brown

Data Model Task Force
Data Standards Working Group

• Identify and address SIF UK infrastructure needs
  including emerging technology capabilities
• Provide technical information and support to
  stakeholders with the primary aim of providing
  interoperability solutions
• Technical Governance including responsibility for
  the technical aspects of SIF implementation

• Becta (Chair) Paul Shoesmith

Infrastructure Work Group
Technical and Infrastructure Working Group
Certification Committee
Certification and Standards Working Group

• Welsh Assembly Emma Williams (Chair)
• Capita (Vice-Chair) Ian ODonoghue

• Develop and implement UK specific by-laws
• Oversee and maintain standards during
  certification
• Define and implement an arbitration and mediation
  process in relation to SIF compliance

Implementation Task Force
Implementation Working Group

• Develop UK specific implementation support
  materials guidance
• Act as a centre of excellence for SIF UK
  implementations
• Share and evangelise good practice

• Birmingham (Chair) Tim Riley
• Becta (Vice-Chair) TBC

Business Working Group

• Promote and evangelise SIF to the supplier and
  wider business community
• Develop and represent the interests of UK
  suppliers
• Provide expert advice on the commercial impacts
  of SIF

• Serco (Chair) Peter OHagan

Learning Applications and Learning Communities
Working Groups
Teaching and Learning Working Group

• Define and develop teaching and learning
  opportunities offered by SIF adoption
• Identify and disseminate good practice

• C2K (Chair) Mary Mallon
• NetMedia Steven Threadgold (Vice-Chair)

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Future Events

• Au/NZ UK US meeting October
• POC Birmingham project board meeting
• SIF UK Development Workshop Nov
• Delivery SIF V2.0 ADK to UK Suppliers
• DfES ZIS installation Darlington Oct/Nov
• CP3 Connection Test Nov using Birmingham ZIS
• Non SIFA Suppliers familiarisation Q1 2007

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Questions?

• Becta Senior Architect
• nick.barron_at_becta.org.uk
• Tim Riley LINK2ICT (Birmingham)
• tim.m.riley_at_servicebirmingham.co.uk
• Peter OHagan Serco Learning
• peter.ohagan_at_serco.com
• Becta SIF Project Team
• sifuk_at_becta.org.uk
• More information?
• www.sifinfo.org