Learning Platforms - The angel hath appeareth

Becta Learning Platform Accreditations Announced Today

CLICK HERE for the press release for the awaited Becta LP supplier accreditations.

Microsoft Learning Gateway based products didn't do very well, with several suppliers using Microsoft's Learning Gateway that weren't accredited. These include the ERGO Learning Gateway, Enterprise MPC LP+, and Teksys.  The supplier of SIMS.net Learning Platform, Learnwise, (based on Microsoft .net archtitecture) also didn't go through.

Published Friday, December 22, 2006 6:07 PM by AlanDay

Comments

# re: Learning Platforms

Hi Alan,

I thought I'd make a quick comment on your thoughts about the Learning Services Framework, namely that Becta was evaluating suppliers and NOT technology. The suppliers now on the framework, having proven themselves, are now at liberty to deploy whatever technology they wish to meet their customers requirements.

Furthermore, several of the organisations on the framework met the requirements using Microsoft products, in particular SharePoint. As a platform provider our strategy is to create a great environment into which our partners can intergrate. SharePoint is the platform and we now have over 30 applications - MIS, VLE, ePortfolio and Library Management applications - committed to SharePoint as a platform including the majority of organisations on the Becta framework.

I'd encourage you and others reading this to visit us at BETT where I'm talking about and demonstrating how the Learning Gateway has evolved with our integration strategy.

Regards
Mark

Sunday, January 07, 2007 11:17 AM by Mark A'Bear

# re: Learning Platforms - The angel hath appeareth

Thanks for the clarification Mark; accepting that suppliers were the ones bringing their products through the process, they were also being assessed against the requirements of the Learning Platform Conformance regime. I note that Alpha Learning are holding a press conference at BETT as they appear upset at the outcome, and are crying foul (link below).

The comment of the blog remains valid; suppliers one would have expected to have been accredited that specifically carry the Microsoft flag are not on the list!

Sunday, January 07, 2007 7:02 PM by AlanDay

# re: Learning Platforms - The angel hath appeareth

Further to the other two comments, here is the link to the Becta framework for Learning Platforms. It does make it clear that where the 'Learning Platform Functional Requirements' are concerned that

"Suppliers are obliged to offer these functions in order to be listed on Becta's learning platform services framework (available to schools in January 2007)"

http://schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=lv&catcode=ss_lv_lp_03&rid=12884&PHPSESSID=3c4273bf8a22a9752bbdcf8849d724e8

Sunday, January 07, 2007 7:39 PM by AlanDay

# re: Learning Platforms - The angel hath appeareth

It's a row that's been brewing for such a long time.  Becta can't win on this as they set a specification which was impossible for anyone to meet fully.  The reality is that the more complex a system, the less likely to get used and therfeore the less likely it is that it will have an impact.

I did a survey of students use of elearning in the the FE market, where VLE's are very well established.  Only 7% of students mentioned a VLE when asked about e-learning - the most popular answer was google - it's strange how our professional perception of something is blown away when you ask a real user!

If I was Becta - I would scrap the whole thing and dtart again and pay costs to all the people who bid.

If it continues, few people will use the frmaework and it will fall, so the next time a becta framework is "required" why bother may well be the answer.

And yes - frameworks do stifle innovation, stop development and don't allow small fast mivings companies to push forwrad boundaries.  

Monday, January 08, 2007 11:52 AM by Jonathan Wells

# re: Learning Platforms - The angel hath appeareth

Hello Alan. Other than Its Learning, which of the other accredited Platforms "that plugs neatly into the all new EIS Kent Learning Zone"

Thanks

Monday, January 08, 2007 11:21 PM by Anthony Stoppani

# re: Learning Platforms - The angel hath appeareth

Hi Alan,

I've also lifted a section from the Becta site:

"The suppliers on our Learning Platform Services Framework are approved to provide managed services, which include proprietary and open source components, to offer a learning platform for schools and colleges.
The framework has been established to supply services based on our functional requirements and technical specifications for learning platforms. These were developed specifically to meet the needs of schools in consultation with industry and educators. You can be confident that our suppliers will be aware of the needs of education, and will propose solutions that meet both your educational and local needs."

As you can see the statement refers to supplier approval rather than technology approval, and that they are free to supply both proprietary and open source solutions i.e. technology of choice to meet customer requirements.

This position has been confirmed by a number of partners on the framework who will be adapting their solutions to the needs of the market although based around SharePoint as the integration platform of choice.

It is certainly an interesting debate and one which I'm sure will run for a while. In the end I suspect that the market will decide what it wants!

Regards
Mark

Tuesday, January 09, 2007 10:29 AM by Mark A'Bear

# re: Learning Platforms - The angel hath appeareth

I think we are debating the same point! There is a seperate framework for managed services; the learning services framework is explicitly aimed at suppliers offering learning platform products and components. Those named as successful had existing products which were 'improved' against the functional specifications of the conformance regime.

I am however more interested in the position that Microsoft have adopted. There has clearly been a shift away from a vertically integrated approach that includes a VLE, to a framework of supporting technology components that can be developed into an over-arching architecture for scaleable federated systems, especially relevant for authorities looking at the wider implications of information sharing where the strengths of Microsoft's Active Directory, MIIS Exchange email, Live communications etc. have particular relevance.

The VLE market HAS to allow choice. The new SLK would seem a worthy successor to Class Server in that it appears to offer freedom for partners to customise, and should be well received. The concern is whether it has arrived too late, and this depends on the response of schools to the Becta supplier accreditation.

Integration of services requires a de facto standard at an architectural level, and it has been clear for some time that Microsoft Archtitecture, supported by MIIS and Sharepoint offers powerful tools to achieve this. Indeed this is the reason why Kent are committed to Microsoft technology to provide it's pan-school infrastructure.

Most Learning Platform suppliers have been keen to demonstrate to us their ability to integrate to Active Directory, and some of these have also developed web parts. The SIMS web parts demonstrate how powerful this technology can be. It is therefore a safe bet.

My thoughts are that the Becta procurement rather forced suppliers into early compliance, and that with longer timescales the SLK would have provided compelling competition. If the Becta procurement has the effect of defining the market for the next three years of the contract, then schools may want to go with these approved auppliers in the short run rather than wait.

It seems harsh that companies that have shown commitment and invested in education over a sustained period have not had the opportunity to receive a return before the goal posts moved again.

The national e-learning strategy is aggresively consolidating the market and forcing standards through frameworks and accreditation. Authorities must concentrate on ensuring that standards are supported to support interoperability, school bandwidth is fit for purpose, and a coherent world-class identity based architecture exists. These are the foundations for personalisd learning and content, and for the information sharing agenda.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007 9:02 PM by AlanDay

# re: Learning Platforms - The angel hath appeareth

Anthony,

The Kent Learning Zone is built on Microsoft technology, and uses Sharepoint Portal Services for collaboration. This has the advantage that it works with SIMS web parts. As SIMS is the predominant MIS system in Kent schools (and indeed UK wide) this is a distinct advantage. EIS have been working for some time to put together an effective infrastructure for schools, and is to launch at BETT. The plan is that all of the product offerings by recently accredited learning platform suppliers will be supported, and we hope to work with them to achieve this. Most have already developed integration with Microsoft active directory, and some have web parts, so its worth asking whilst at BETT. Some are easier to integrate than others as they have been developed with Microsoft architecture in mind. Its learning is an example, as is Fronter. The best bet is to talk to EIS, as they are currently developing the new Microsoft Sharepoint Learning Kit (SLK), and will be able to advise.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007 9:12 PM by AlanDay

# re: Learning Platforms - The angel hath appeareth

Hi Alan,

In my response 2 notes above I lifted the BECTA section directly from the advice on Learning Platforms, so it does specifically refer to this evaluation asopposed to the separate Manged Services framework:

"The suppliers on our Learning Platform Services Framework are approved to provide managed services, which include proprietary and open source components, to offer a learning platform for schools and colleges.
The framework has been established to supply services based on our functional requirements and technical specifications for learning platforms. These were developed specifically to meet the needs of schools in consultation with industry and educators. You can be confident that our suppliers will be aware of the needs of education, and will propose solutions that meet both your educational and local needs."

I agree that the timimg for SLK was unfortunate, but on the positive side it was used for SCORM conformance by at least one of the successful suppliers and is now being adopted by other successful suppliers. These partners are now refining their offerings with SLK, SharePoint 2007 and Exchange 2007. To help with this process we are developing revised web parts for the SharePoint 2007 platform and working with ISV partners to integrate their applications into SharePoint. To that end we are showcasing these applications at Microsoft on March 19. Currently 30 ISVs have been invited to show their web parts and SharePoint applications. In this way Microsoft and the SharePoint platform offers tremendous customer choice as well as protecting investment in existing applications.

Regards
Mark

Wednesday, January 24, 2007 10:08 AM by Mark A'Bear