Growing international convergence on LIP 1.0 specification for exchanging learner information
BURLINGTON, Mass. - June 12, 2003 - - Developers in the UK, Europe, the U.S. and elsewhere are adopting Learner Information Packaging 1.0 (LIP) for use in e-Learning software, utilizing LIP's capability to exchange learner data between computer systems. Experience of implementers is now providing valuable feedback, giving rise to new extensions and functions for future revisions of the specification.
"One of the major strengths of LIP is its flexibility," said Schemeta's Mike Collett, Chair of the CEN/ISSS Learning Technologies Workshop and the UK standards body, BSI IST 43. "Several committees are using LIP as a basis for standards and specifications that are being created with a country-specific, European-wide and worldwide scope."
UK implementations
A leading force behind several pilot LIP implementations has been the Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC), an ICT strategic advisory service funded by the British government (www.jisc.ac.uk). Developers in two JISC programmes led by CETIS and the Centre for Recording Achievement created the UK Learner Profile 1.1, which maps the UK higher education transcript, and the European Diploma Supplement to LIP.
Enhancements for UK LP 1.2 are underway that will expand learner-related data to include not only "traditional" items such as a transcript, but also newer elements, such as personal development planning documents (www.recordingachievement.org ). Peter Rees Jones, Project Team Secretary, University of Leeds, said: "By establishing fuller learner profiles across further education and higher education, the revision supports the development of students as autonomous lifelong learners and supports a model of shared learning and transitions centered upon the learner."
European initiatives
In Europe, the CEN/ISSS Learning Technology Workshop (www.cenorm.be/isss/workshop/lt) have a project team that is adopting LIP and mapping documents to it, including the European CV Format. Several LIP adaptations have been identified and will be made to tailor LIP to European training and education needs. "We plan to build a language module into LIP," said Daniel Gondouin, Technical Director, Adelink (www.adelink.com). "Not only will the profile allow learners to record their oral, written and reading proficiencies with different languages, but it will also allow LIP documents to be translated and mapped to other languages."
Next steps: ePortfolio 'Best Practices'
IMS facilitates the extension of LIP through a Special Interest Group (SIG) that scopes and documents new features and functions such as the ePortfolio.
"The excellent work in the UK suggests that LIP will be a central part of the 'best practices' application profile we will develop to support ePortfolios," said Darren Cambridge, ePortfolio SIG leader, Director of Web Projects for the American Association of Higher Education, and Educause NLII Initiative Fellow for 2003.
About IMS
IMS is a non-profit organization supported by members of a worldwide consortium that includes 57 Contributing Members and affiliates and 60 Developers Network subscribers. The IMS in Europe Foundation supports activities among European members. The IMS Global Learning Consortium develops open technical specifications to support distributed learning. Its specifications are accessible to everyone at no charge from its website (www.imsglobal.org) and require no licensing fees to implement.
For Information:
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http://www.imsglobal.org
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