Colloquia

build directly on tools and systems delivered by several earlier JISC projects: Pac-Man, PackageIt! and the Colloquia VLE.
integrate SCORM, a reference framework for instructional content, including the forthcoming version 1.3 which will include the IMS Simple Sequencing Specification
build on the current developments of the Valkenburg Group on EML (Educational Modeling Language) and the associated IMS Learning Design Specification.

You can find out about this project here.

Colloquia PackageIt!

Colloquia PackageIt! is a tool that allows you to create and manage IMS compliant Content Packages. It allows you to create and manage sets of Resources. These Resources can be tagged with IMS Metadata. Resources and Metadata can be bundled up into a Content Package archive (zip, cab, jar) file with an automatically generated Manifest file. The resulting Package can then be re-used by another host application that can import IMS Content Packages.

It was developed as an outcome of the JISC funded CO3 project. Further development and improvements have continued but as part of Colloquia development. To benefit from these developments it is recommended to use the Packaging tools in the latest version of Colloquia.

For further information, follow this link.

The CO3 Project

The CO3 Project is a partnership between the Universities of Bangor, Huddersfield and Staffordshire concerned with the implementation of IMS specifications to achieve interoperability between their Virtual Learning Environments VLE) - Colloquia, CoMentor and COSE. The three partners in this project have all developed their own VLEs all funded by JISC. Although each partner has taken a different approach, each system has a particular strength and, if they were able to interwork, would complement each other in several ways. If a standard way of interchanging information could be used to enable this interworking, then, while each system would be still fully capable of operating alone, together they could provide a more comprehensive VLE than any in isolation.

The primary aims of the project are to:

test IMS specifications
disseminate the results widely to UK HE and FE bodies
where they do not fully meet UK HE and FE requirements:
- either provide appropriate input into the further development of the IMS specifications
- or provide a basis for developing UK specific extensions

More information to be found on the project here.

The CoMantle Project

This project concerns the development of an integrated environment for learners and teachers at the University of Wales, Bangor. It will seek to ascertain whether Learning Management Systems (LMS), such as Colloquia developed at the University, can interoperate with its recently purchased student information system, SCT Banner. If such integration is possible, then this will allow a range of new facilities to be made available to students and teachers, not possible within the separate components. For example, students will be able to browse and choose new modules from the same environment that they study current modules within, and teachers will be able to design, resource, publish and teach courses all within the same environment.

Much of the interoperability work will be based on the IMS learning technology specifications, depending on the timeliness of their release. These will specifically include Enterprise, Profile, Content Packaging and Metadata specifications and will define a format for data exchange between systems using XML. However, this project will seek to go beyond simple file exchange and will provide dynamic linking between component systems. Interface "objects" will be developed specific to these systems and which will permit relatively seamless interoperability between systems.

More information to be found on the project here.