Can you contribute to the development of information standards in the Education, Children and Skills sector?
The Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) have asked the Local e-Government Standards Body (LeGSB) to propose a number of people from Local Authorities to participate in various parts of the department’s standards and information management activities and groups.
Those that come forward will also be facilitated by LeGSB to form a Community of Practice that will have a wider influence on the department’s programs such as
- The Gateway to Educational Services – which includes Free School Meals
- The Parent Know How Programme – which includes the Information System for Parents and Providers
- Future Strategic Direction, e.g. a Channels Strategy
Typically, the groups meet quarterly in London or Sheffield. The department is keen to welcome a wide and diverse participation from Local Government and already use dial-in facilities to enable those that cannot join the meeting in person to take part.
The groups include special interest groups for:
Data Management – Focused on data standards, such as defining semantics; syntax for data items such as person, organisation, learner and definitions, such as ethnicity. The SIG will also look at collections of data items in support of business functions, including the new Aligned Data Definitions (ADD), and provide guidance on the applicability of inherited standards such as Common Basic Data Set (CBDS) and Common Data Definitions (CDD)
Portfolios, Learning Opportunities and Transcripts – Focused on electronic records of learners, learning plan development, and on line assessment. Relevant standards include: XCRI, Learner Records, HR-XML & e-Portfolios
Vocabularies – Focused on structured vocabularies for information retrieval including definitions, symbols and abbreviations; thesauri; Interoperability between vocabularies and exchange formats and protocols and the tools for managing them. Areas of interest include, for example: BS8723 and the Integrated Public Sector Vocabulary
E-learning and Content Packaging (ELCP) – Focused on learner self-service, training workflow, the provision of on-line learning, continuous professional education, collaborative learning and training resource management. The main focus for this SIG in 2009-10 is the development of an agreed profile for content packaging for ESCS
Identity Management – Focused on simplified access to services by citizens and employees (using authentication standards such as Shibboleth and SAML and personalisation and aggregation of child and learner information via use of a Common Identifier (e.g. by expanding the scope of the ULN)
together with steering groups for the introduction of new requirements such as
LeGSB would very much like to hear from you if you
- are an employee of a Local Authority
- work with information standards that include the Education, Children and Skills sector
- can take part in the DCSF’s standards activities for a day per quarter.
- would like to contribute to a LeGSB community of practice about information standards in the Education, Children and Skills sector.
The department's standards board has a remit for England only, however, we are exploring with them how all nations in the UK can participate.
To register your interest, please complete the online form and we will be in touch with further information.