XCRi is a standard for exchanging course information between education institutions and aggregators. It aims to facilitate a joined-up approach by allowing institutions to publish course data once in a standardized format. The document outlines the history and progress of XCRi from 2005 to present. It also describes common implementation models institutions can use to adopt the XCRi standard within their systems and addresses potential problems and solutions.

1. 27 March 2009, Leeds, UK Alan Paull, alan@alanpaull.co.uk Information Management Consultant, APS Ltd with thanks to Professor Mark Stubbs, Manchester Metropolitan University Agenda: history, progress, implementation XCRi: eXchanging Course Related Information CAP: Course Advertising Profile XIM: XCRi Implementation Models

3. Learning Provider UCAS Lifelong Learning Network Web Prospectus Provider Re-keys & Pushes for each Aggregator National Learning Directory Learning Provider UCAS Lifelong Learning Network Web Prospectus XML Aggregators Poll & Harvest from Providers Provider publishes XCRI prospectus National Learning Directory

4. 2005 JISC fund XCRI “Reference Model” project. 2006 XCRI tools prototyped and trialled. ReST Xpath search. XCRI CAP 1.0 released. Demo aggregator, xcri.org website, and support team. 2007 XCRI support project briefs government. XCRI ‘preferred approach’ in Learning and Skills Council vision for course aggregation. CEN WS-LT (European Committee for Standardisation, Workshop on Learning Technologies) starts working on European harmonization. 2008 JISC funds CAP 1.1 trials. Start of regional 14-19 age range work. UK Information Standards Board special interest group created. CEN WS-LT Agreement on Metadata for Learning Opportunities - submitted for European Norm. 2009 UK government Information Standards Board for Education Skills & Children’s Services approves XCRI-CAP 1.1 as UK e-prospectus standard. 2010 MLO approved as European Norm? XCRi-CAP rolled out across UK?

5. Reid Kerr C Bolton Uni UCAS, UCAS Media Oxford Uni Hotcourses & National Learning Directory WYLLN (Huddersfield Uni, Bradford Uni, ++) Manchester Metropolitan Uni East Midlands LLN, H/FEIs & 14-19 CCLiP (3xLiverpool Unis+Big 8) MOVE LLN (Hertfordshire) Adam Smith C Open Uni Gtr Manchester (Idaho & Scool) Hereford & Worcester LLN Edge Hill Uni West Cheshire C Staffordshire Uni Kent Uni Higher York LLN Graduate Prospects LLN = Lifelong Learning Network

6. Catalog @generated Provider identifier*, title*, subject*, description*, relation*, url, image, address Course identifier*, title*, subject*, description*, relation*, url, image, qualification*, credit* Presentation identifier*, title*, subject*, description*, relation*, url, image, start, end, duration, studyMode, attendanceMode, attendancePattern, languageOfInstruction, languageOfAssessment, placesAvailable, cost, enquireTo, applyFrom, applyUntil, applyTo, entryProfile*, entryRequirements*, venue* Plugin description refinement vocabulary Plugin studyMode refinement vocabulary Plugin … ? refinement vocabulary Customization

7. Catalog @generated Provider identifier*, title*, subject*, description*, relation*, url, image, address Course identifier*, title*, subject*, description*, relation*, url, image, qualification*, credit* Presentation identifier*, title*, subject*, description*, relation*, url, image, start, end, duration, studyMode, attendanceMode, attendancePattern, languageOfInstruction, languageOfAssessment, placesAvailable, cost, enquireTo, applyFrom, applyUntil, applyTo, entryProfile*, entryRequirements*, venue* roomNumber buildingName Presenter Deliverer eventType Conference Lecture Exhibition Social event ... eventAudience General public Students Staff ...

13. Key to scale: 0 = Least favourable circumstance 4 = Perfect!

15. Problem Solutions We don’t know how many courses we offer; our courses data sets are extremely variable. Review and model processes you use; you may find the XIM template useful. Consider creating a single catalogue that will aggregate all your courses data. We have many de-centralised sources with no links. Do preliminary work in each one, so that you can aggregate them; introduce common course identifiers; consider changing to compatible data structures. Our quality of authoring is poor. XCRI implementation may provide opportunity to change how your authors work. Consider providing a new data entry system that will feed your XCRI outputs. Improvements in data quality can be presented as a ‘quick win’ for an XCRI implementation. Our data analysis is poor, so it is very difficult for us to map to XCRI successfully. For initial XCRI implementation, create new data store with data structures that reflect the XCRI model and import data into the new store. Reduces dependencies between XCRI and other components of the system. Then a full integration of the new system with the old one, or an entire replacement system, can be planned. The institution is re-organising the department, its courses, everything! Use small scale projects for incremental gains. Or put off XCRI implementation till re-organisation complete. Plan for delays. Consider using XCRI as a common means of exporting courses data for import into a new merged system. Refer to the XCRI mini project reports.

16. JISC Conference – 2008-04-15

17. 27 March 2009, Leeds, UK Alan Paull, alan@alanpaull.co.uk Information Management Consultant, APS Ltd http://www.xcri.org/ http://www.xcri.org/forum/ http://www.xcri.org/wiki/index.php/XCRI_Wiki/ XCRi: eXchanging Course Related Information CAP: Course Advertising Profile XIM: XCRi Implementation Models

19. XCRi | Simple Single Stream Model

20. XCRi | Multiple Source Aggregation Model

21. XCRi | Integrated Content Management Model 24/11/2008 | XCRI Briefing | Slide

22. XCRi | Outsourcing Model 24/11/2008 | XCRI Briefing | Slide

23. XCRi | Feedback Model