ioNW2 project

 Interoperability Network North West (ioNW2)

1. Background

The project aims to improve interoperability between institutions linked to Lifelong Learning Networks (LLNs) in the north-west and builds on the work done in the Learning Matrix (LMX) project. The partners in this proposed project include the three fully funded LLNs in the region and Phosphorix Ltd. who have developed the open-source software.

The components of the completed system together enable an interoperability network (ioNetwork) reaching out to a group of HE/FEIs and composed of nodes associated with each institution (ioNodes) networked over VPN into a hub-satellite configuration. The functionality provided by ioNetwork is designed to allow sharing of information about courses and learners between institutions, which is an issue of immediate and pressing concern for the lifelong learning networks in this partnership.

2. Aims and Objectives

Please read the Project Plan and Work Packages documents.

3. Overall Approach

• The project partners, Phosphorix ltd, following on from their experience working on several projects in the distributed e-learning strand (Learning Matrix, EELLS, PDP4LIFE) have already begun work on an technological approach along these lines.

• Prototype “wizards” for designing PDP and e-Portfolio activities were recently demonstrated at the CETIS/JISC Portfolio SIG meeting in April 2006. The proposal here will further develop this work in collaboration with experts in PDP and e-portfolio.

• The project will continue to build on this developed set of open-source services, though the components could equally well be presented within other web-service consuming client applications such as the one developed for the MANSLE project

Project Manager - Dr. Roger Clark, Roger.Clark@gmsa.ac.uk

Project Officer - Anna Grant, Anna.grant@gmsa.ac.uk

Link to ioNW2 blog.