Learning Platform Conformance Regime
From Schoolforge-UK
BECTA are in the process of certifying a number of virtual learning environments according to their learning platform conformance regime. Such certification will be increasingly important as UK schools introduce VLEs into their curriculum: it is possible to envisage BECTA and LEAs advising schools to only use VLE certified according to the regime. This provides both an opportunitiy and challenge to those concerned to see open source solutions such as Moodle and Boddington competing on a level playing field.
From a policy perspective, it would be interesting to know whether any Open Source developers or users are represented on the Learning Platform Stakeholder Group that were consulted in the development of the standard. Similarly, are any open source content developers represented on the Curriculum Online Technical Standards Working Group?
The model seems to be that of providing access to personalized learning content, rather than using VLEs as tools for collaborative, social learning.
From a more practical point of view, perhaps it would be appropriate for SchoolForge to take a role in ensuring that Moodle receive registration under the regime. For this to happen a number things need to be done:
- Moodle will need to be adapted to use the Curriculum Online metadata model to search and find resources
- Ensure that Moodle's SCORM module conforms to the regime's requirements on metadata and runtime interactions (it may already do so, but someone will need to check this!)
- Document the Moodle data model and formally apply for registration.
The amount of work involved here should not be underestimated.
Speaking to David Hassell at the BECTA seminar on 14/4/05, he indicated that they'd be happy for Moodle to be registered under the regime, even if it can't as yet satisfy all of the requirements - anyone else interested in working on this? Miles Berry
There are now a couple of threads about this on moodle.org: [1] and [2]
