Digital Ecosystem | MISC Conference London 2010

The Centre for International ePortfolio Development

Kirstie CoolinThe Centre for International

ePortfolio Development,University of Nottingham

www.nottingham.ac.uk/eportfolio

Smashing Through the Boundaries Developing Components in a Regional Ecosystem for Learners,

Institutions and EmployersK. Coolin, T. Kirkham, S. Winfield, S. Wood

MISC 2010London

Thursday 22th January 2010


Aim of this workshop• Who are we?• The Regional context• The National drivers• What are the local boundaries?• What would we like to achieve?• How and What?• Vision for a regional ecosystem

Kirstie Coolin, January 2010






The Centre for International ePortfolio DevelopmentWorking with regional partners on interoperable solutions since 2003

National and international workWorking with JISC, BECTA, EU, FE and HE partners, LLN, Connexions, Aimhigher, UCAS… and other partners in regional and (inter)national projects.

In the areas of…Data and interoperabilityePortfolioInformation, Advice and Guidance (IAG)Enhancing learning information for admissionsEmployabilityWidening participationRegional partnerships





Our Technical Priorities:

• Learner-owned technologies• Service Oriented Architectures• Interoperability through open standards• ‘Thin’ eportfolio models using distributed data• Re-using, not rewriting

Delivering• scalability• sustainability• reduced cost


Joining up and enhancing already existing systems and practice

• Responding to policy drivers• Addressing future priorities• Maintaining/improving services

Through:

• Development of networks• Working collaboratively• Focussing on stakeholder needs• Removing artificial boundaries



• TAS3 – Trust architecture for data sharing

• Developing XCRI services with learning providers, 14-19 Prospectuses and Regional courses + progression database

• SAMSON – Joining up employers, work-based learners and learning providers through shared architecture

• Standardising and piloting the Common Application Process for schools/Further Education to support transition

• ePortfolio trials for 1000+ users within Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire

• Skills Audit – online tools for marketing skills/raising aspiration

• JOSEPH Project – IAG and ePortfolio service

Projects with regional impact – East Midlandswww.nottingham.ac.uk/eportfolio



National Drivers“The focus will be on a greater diversity of models of learning:

part-time, work based, foundation degrees, and studying whilst at home” Higher Ambitions, BIS


New ways of working and learning

• Lifelong and informal learning• User-centric ePortfolios • Portable technology• Less institutional constraints• Distributed learning• Learner expectations• Assessment


Kirstie Coolin, November 2009

• Demand-led, self-directed, flexible delivery

• Provide more services for less

• Need for infrastructure to support this

• Collaboration to join systems to helpdeliver / support a future landscape


Developing a Regional Ecosystem for learning and skills


Kirstie Coolin, November 2009


Where to start?



CIePD projects: Begin Locally

Encourage agencies to use standard/ shared keys and vocabularies

Build on existing practice/systems

Future proofing systems for potential changes

Regional systems and processesLocked into siloes

Repetition and complexity of processes

Inconsistent data


Breaking the Boundaries 1


An incremental, bottom-up approach to regional implementation has resulted in real progress, introducing open standards and service-based technology into organisations to develop a sustainable and extensible ecosystem.

Evolution, not Revolution?


Streamlining flow of learning opportunities- XCRI implementation amongst agencies

ePortfolio interoperability - Introducing LEAP2A into regional implementations, trialling the ‘thin’ ePortfolio within SAMSON project

Application Processes- local college application across borders, response to existing context

Promoting re-usable services


Breaking the Boundaries 2For Example…

14-19 Prospectuses

IAG

CAPYour Future East

Midlands

FEIsFEIsFEIs

SchoolsSchoolsSchools

HEIsHEIsHEIs

TrainingProvidersTraining

ProvidersLocal authorities

Sector skills

councils

Regional bodies

Employees

Learners HEIsHEIsEmployers

Stakeholders in the Regional ecosystem

ePortfolio /learner PLE

Bordering regions

Kirstie Coolin © Centre for International ePortfolio Development, University of Nottingham, October 2009

LMI

Comp.


Vision: A Regional Ecosystem • Numerous ways to present data to a range of audiences

- user interaction through ePortfolio, portal, web 2.0efficient and cost effective - Lightweight + affordable -

• Flow of accurate courses information around regional systems

• Merging cross-border Processes

• Responsiveness to changing government objectives

• Shift institutional boundaries – flexible systems for employers, providers and learners



Collaboration between stakeholdersSometimes with conflicting priorities and interests.Need to communicate technical concepts

Driver – cost effectivenessNo need for outside governance or maintenance.Why do we need to do this?

Standards embedded into existing organisational systems

Where possible, transform and enhance lifelong learningprocesses, rather than create

Models of ownership?Access to data & “my data” – need to be tested and worked

throughInstitutional boundaries?


Factors for cultural change


Thank You

[email protected]

Centre for International ePortfolio DevelopmentUniversity of Nottingham


Digital Ecosystem | MISC Conference London 2010

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