SALTIS will support a team led by independent consultants EdICTs to establish the project's detailed requirements. A second team, led by industry supplier RM and including technical consultants from the IMS Global Learning Consortium, will produce the main technical outputs, while EdICTs, working with SALTIS, will ensure that these outputs command sufficient levels of support both from industry and end-user groups. The project's final stage, managed again by the EdICTs team, will make recommendations for the governance and sustainability of any new interoperability standards which are to be used in UK schools.
The BECTA/ISB project will draw on a number of globally recognised standards to ensure that software for teaching and learning can easily "plug in" to any conformant school or classroom management system. It is expected that this "plug-and-play" flexibility will stimulate a more dynamic market for innovative new educational software.
SALTIS Chairman Crispin Weston commented, "Better technical interoperability is critical if we are to realise the true potential of technology in raising standards of teaching and learning in schools. The announcement of this project represents for SALTIS the culmination of two years work. We are excited to be working with BECTA and the other project teams on what we see as an important first step towards a comprehensive framework for interoperable learning technology in schools.
"We particularly value our role in ensuring that project outputs are driven by genuine educational requirements. As well as industry, we shall be working actively to involve teachers and educational leaders in our consultations".
For further information on SALTIS, see http://www.saltis.org or contact its Chairman, Crispin Weston, at crispin.weston@alphalearning.co.uk
