Some sort of versioning/revision system?
> 2. Legal Requirements.
>
> We should look to base it on the principals of the UK but be flexible
> to allow for other coutries requirments.
<cynical>
I'd suggest proper legal, not what LEAs "interpret" as being legal.
</cynical>
> 3. Target Audience.
> Are wee looking for individual schools, small clusters, LA, or
> National Bodies DCFS?
Would suggest that depends on take-up. Plan on building big would
be my suggestion
>
> 4. Project Managment.
>
> How are we going to start the ball rolling and keept it on course?
> Another point i would like to raise it should there be a protected
> core? Like the linux kernel, there is a steering group controling the
> quality funcationality.
Trac? (http://trac.edgewall.org/) Or perhaps something like
Launchpad (https://launchpad.net/)
>
> If we could make the core flexible allow plugins and expose an api
> this will help users extend the program.
APIs seem to be the way forward...
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Like many of you, it would appear, I too have written an MIS for my
school. It's been running (and developing) for the past 26 years. I also
attend DCSF meetings where Census, CTF, SWF, CBDS and all associated
matters are discussed.
I don't wish to tread on toes or interfere where not wanted but if
anyone thinks that I may be of use or help then please just ask.
My school is a state comprehensive in Hampshire - which uses SIMS
throughout - except us!
Brian Ellsmore
Brian this is an open forum and your experience will be very much
appreciated. Everyone brings a slightly different angle to the
discussion and work.
Please just 'chip in' as you see fit.
--
Steve Lee
--
Open Source Assistive Technology Software
web: fullmeasure.co.uk
blog: eduspaces.net/stevelee/weblog
I use it a bit...
May I suggest that before anyone launches into a new project it would
be really worthwhile looking at the existing ones already mentioned in
order to:
* get ideas
* see what they do well and what needs improving or is missing
* decide if one of them might be the best place to start
Contributing to an existing project means you hit the ground running
and users get the good features they want faster. You also have a
larger pool of developers to chip in.
Just my 2 c's worth
I have certainly spent a lot of time thinking about what I'd do if I
was starting a MIS from scratch in 2008.
Also, I should probably write up a proposal explaining how you would
use SchoolTool to do what you want to do, once I know more precisely
what you want to do.
--Tom
...
Due to the security and data protection issues (data protection is a
massive issue with SIMS.net)
trying to base a system on moodle i think would be in practical.
Integrating moodle and mohara would be beneficial for a finished
project.
On 3 Apr, 19:44, Simon Elliott <simon_elli...@mac.com> wrote:
>...
>
> Does anyone know whether the MIS could be based on or added to
> Moodle? As that is in almost every sixth-form college, it would have
> good leverage.
>
> Simonwww.thefreemac.com
>
We found that with the MIS intranet system I worked on that once
teachers found the data accessible and useful for them they really
started to use the system and that had many advantages for the college
operation and processes, not to mention student experience. We went
from comments like 'what do MIS dept do for us apart from nag' to
'brilliant, can I have *this* data please'. OFSTED even called us 'the
Jewell in the College crown'. So
Whatever approach you will need tight integration with VLEs (to make a
MLE as JISC called it). Obviously Moodle is the one to go for as an
FOSS MIS. Single sign-on is another goal but OpenID or shiboleth help
there.
AFAIR Class was designed to be teacher facing from the start.
Steve
So some quick comments after a cursory scan.
* 'Students'and 'employees' should both be/relate 'persons' with
personal details.
* 'persons' relate to contacts (eg tel, email, various addresses)
* 'students' relate to 'courses' via 'enrolments' - for year etc
* some course will be modular so prolly want 'module'
* exams can get complex to model with different boards
* special considerations for exam students with disabilities
Enrolments may be more a quirk of FE were we dealt exclusively in
enrolments for LSC funding etc. It gets pretty hairy with course code
structures needed for entire course and individual years. Academic
year <> calender year and Roll-on roll-off courses (join any time) all
add more fun. You may not need any of this for compulsory sector if
that is you primary target.
Steve
Hi Miles,
Thanks for you input.
re moodle and mohara integration, what i was meant to say and didn't
type the finished project should have integration moodle and in turn
mohara.
Why do we need to integrate a mis function into moodle when you can
have a seem less join between two systems?
Most of the data held in moddle is taken from a MIS.
I have to disagree with
- The role architecture potentially deals with lots of the data
protection issues, whilst still allowing for AFL and parent
communication.
Moodle's security model is tried and tested.
Moodle roles are simple, the security system on a MIS will need to be
complex to be able to limit view/edit/run permission of different
users.
I'm not knocking moodle it's a great VLE, but it will never be a MIS.
Ian
I cann ot beleive that this is strictly true. It implies that if I enter
an item of data erroneously then a parent has the opportunity to see
that data before I have had time to check and correct it!
I never (nor would) allow anyone other than the teachers who 'own' the
raw data to see that raw data. Anyone else - including anyone else in
the school - only gets to see a read-only copy made by the system after
the 'owner' has submitted checked data.
Brian
But then I'm known to be cynical. Let's ask for a meeting with Jim
Knight to discuss how an open solution could be developed, and if met
with refusal get press releases out about government market
distortion, anti-competitive behaviour, failure to comply with their
own advice on open source, etc., and then go meet with Micheal Gove
and maybe David Cameron.
--
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