Learning standards: How far is Moodle from Implementing LIS v2.0

Learning standards: How far is Moodle from Implementing LIS v2.0

by Calvin Ngotho -
Number of replies: 11

Hi moodlers,

I would like to know if there are efforts to make moodle conform to the LIS v2.0 integration specification from IMS.  I have seen the conformance listing, details here. And am led to think its a pretty new spec which moodle is moving to.  I am developing an implementation for integration on A1 Academia (Open source SIS) eager to have moodle as the LMS to integrate with and handle eLearning. Please let me know of efforts towards this cause.   

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In reply to Calvin Ngotho

Re: Learning standards: How far is Moodle from Implementing LIS v2.0

by Helen Foster -
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Hi Calvin,

I've not heard of anything regarding IMS LIS conformance. I've just tried searching moodle.org and the Moodle Tracker and couldn't find anything at all.

I'm just going to move your post to the Learning Standards forum in case anyone there has anything to add to the discussion...

In reply to Helen Foster

Re: Learning standards: How far is Moodle from Implementing LIS v2.0

by Calvin Ngotho -

Thanks Helen,  that would be nice.

In reply to Calvin Ngotho

Re: Learning standards: How far is Moodle from Implementing LIS v2.0

by Tim Hunt -
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Most IMS specifications are pretty undreadble documents. I certainly have no interest in trying to real the LIS2 one. Therefore, can you summarise for the benefit of me and other lazy people wink

What are the large-scale pieces that are required for LIS2 compliance?

  1. I would guess that the existing enrol/imsenterprise plugin would need to altered to understand the new format? Is there test data somewhere that can be used to test compliance?
  2. What about other things. Web services? Grade export? ...
In reply to Tim Hunt

Re: Learning standards: How far is Moodle from Implementing LIS v2.0

by Calvin Ngotho -

Tim Hunt

I am still racking my head  on the LIS2  specification martin . But from my initial analysis it provides a better integration environment for SIS-to-LMS -to-(any other app that wants data from the latter applications) . What moodle is certified with ls LTI which works best in a LMS<->LMS integration.

LIS2 has these services specifications

  • Person Management Service - defines datamodels + operations to exchange people data (students,instructors etc)
  • Group Management Service - 
  • Membership Management Service - 
  • Course Management Service - to handle course structure, course offerings, assessments and enrollments.
  • Outcomes Management Service - for gradebook results and outcomes.
  • Bulk data Exchange Service-to handle bulk operations of the listed services.

For an application to be fully compliant it has to behave as a consumer and a producer for most of the services.

The SIS to LMS integration will be the biggest gainer in LIS2 as more information can be exchanged. The kind of adaptations implementers have to do to map course structures from SIS to LMS and back is crazy and this spec from this point of view is a savior.

Let me continue with this momentum Tim, dont want to be lazy smile I will put up a detailed article on this as I gather more info...

Regards
Calvin Ngotho
academia.a1.io

In reply to Calvin Ngotho

Re: Learning standards: How far is Moodle from Implementing LIS v2.0

by Tim Hunt -
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Well, on the surface, those look like useful types of integration to get working between a SIS and a LMS. If LIS2 delivers all that in a good way, then it would make sense for Moodle to support it, but we need to find a way for that to fit cleanly into Moodle's architecture.

Mind you, this sort of data integration problem, while important, is deadly boring, so count me it. It is the kind of thing I would hope that the Partners have the incentive and resources to tackle.

In reply to Tim Hunt

Re: Learning standards: How far is Moodle from Implementing LIS v2.0

by Phil Nicholls -

Hi,

I'm new to the Moodle community (although I've followed avidly for years, and met Martin once).

My company has a software that supports LIS 2.0 (and LIS 2.0.1) messages into Moodle, and we're waiting to get this conformance stamped by IMS.

For reference, our solution was to use a combination of a moodle plugin and other (non lamp) software. I think (from a position of quasi ignorance) that trying to implement LIS as is into moodle directly would be a bit of work.

Always interested to hear more of how others have got on with LIS, either here or in the IMS forums!

Happy LISing!

Phil

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In reply to Phil Nicholls

Re: Learning standards: How far is Moodle from Implementing LIS v2.0

by Martin Dougiamas -
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Hi Phil,

i'm looking forward to seeing your code for this as GPL!  

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In reply to Phil Nicholls

Re: Learning standards: How far is Moodle from Implementing LIS v2.0

by Seth Schumacher -

Phil,

If I understand this and your site correctly, once installed on a server, i.e. Tomcat, you simply point to the SIS and the LMS and it works, or is there a manual field mapping step in there? I've been working with K-12 districts in very rural Alaska that are using Pearson's PowerSchool for an SIS. I'm trying to find a way to integrate the two for user, teacher, and course provisioning and synchronization. Am I on the right path or should I be pursuing SIF integration?

Thanks,

Seth Schumacher

In reply to Calvin Ngotho

Re: Learning standards: How far is Moodle from Implementing LIS v2.0

by Eric Merrill -
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It looks like I'll probably be implementing LIS 2.0 for my Banner/LMB plugin, as Ellucian has moved in that direction, although I don't know that I'll implement the full spec, or just the parts that are needed for this integration. 

If I don't get around to it, it shouldn't be too hard for someone else to convert it into a standalone plugin w/o the Banner-y bits.

In reply to Eric Merrill

Re: Learning standards: How far is Moodle from Implementing LIS v2.0

by James Spreadbury -

Hi.


Can I pick up on this thread please.


How is the Moodle Community working to implement a LIS2.0 compliant API now?  How is that work progressing?