Possible structure of an IMS compliant intranet application

Hi Jodok (and anyone else interested),

Here is an outline of my plans for my intranet application.

I would welcome any feedback or ideas.

I have so far created the UML diagrams that plan all the types that I 
would need. I am planning on a modular implementation so that some of 
the more advanced modules can be developed and plugged in later. Also, 
schools would only need to implement the modules that they wanted. I 
just wanted to make sure that I had a place to plug everything.

I have broken the intranet into several modules: Administration, 
Learning, Resource Library, UnitsOfLearning Library, 
Curriculum/Standards, Timetable, Attendance/Progress, Personal. All the 
modules are integrated in the Learning section.

My current priorities are to implement Administration and very basic 
Resource, UnitsOfLearning, and Curriculum/Standards libraries. This will 
  provide a structure for most of the documentation that teachers and 
administrative staff need without changing the way they do their daily 
work. After that I would like to implement Timetable and basic Learning 
and basic Personal. After that I want to develop Learning up to Level 1 
Learning Design. So I guess I am starting at it from the other end as it 
looks like you are implementing Level 2 and 3 learning design??

I would be very keen to integrate my plans with your project, so I have 
included a bit more information explaining my current model, though it 
is very open to change:




Here is a brief outline of how the modules relate in IMSish 
nomenclature. I am not totally familiar with IMS standards, but I think 
I have got the important thing right.

In Administration, Courses are organised by putting together Units of 
Learning. All the official documentation required for the school is also 
stored in this section.
Units of Learning are created by creating Acts linking empty Roles, 
Instructions, and Resources. Units of Learning are also related to 
Objectives from external Curriculum/Standards organisations.
A CourseInstance is based on a model Course. It fills the Roles and is 
entered into the Timetable.
The Timetable (which includes IMS Enterprise) also manages Enrolments.
A class plan includes an Act to mark the Attendance/Role and other Acts 
are check points to check on progress.
The Personal area (or Portlet?) contains lists of current 
CourseInstances as well as Acts todo.

I have tried to simplify the IMS specification, opting for simplicity 
and usability over the huge flexability that IMS provides. However, I 
think I could map most IMS packages into my structure without loosing 
too much information. Simplicity is the number one virtue if it is going 
to be used in a high school.

I'm working on forcing teachers into using a particular structure to 
organise their information in order to maximise cooperation between staff.

I have not modeled IMS Learner Information yet as I think I have more 
than enough to chew here! I would imagine this would be a seperate 
module linked to Attendance/Progress, Timetable, and Personal.

My current model of Courses only provides Level 1 Learning Design. I was 
imagining that any Level 2/3 Learning Design imlementations would be 
able to be slotted into the Resource library, but I've also tried to 
make the structure of a Play close to the IMS model so that any better 
implementations than mine could slot in.

Anyway, I've written enough for one post, so please feel free to give 
some feedback.

Richard




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