Michael Pickett – Norfolk County Council Manager – Digital Infrastructure

SIF as an enabler for World Class teaching & learning in Norfolk! Michael Pickett – Norfolk County Council Manager – Digital Infrastructure

Background

Background 108,262 students Approx. 18,000 teaching & support staff

Objectives SIF isn’t (just) for geeks! Besides, the term geek originally referred to a carnival performer often billed as a wild man whose act usually included biting the head off a live chicken, bat, snake or bugs!

Objectives SIF can help you to achieve the following objectives...

Objectives Save time Information is updated once and reused many times

Objectives Save time For example: Your MIS is updated with new students & groups and your learning platform is automatically and seamlessly updated too.

Objectives Reduce error Information is updated once and reused many times

Objectives Reduce error For example: Your MIS is the data source and any errors can be fixed here once with all of the subscribing systems reflecting the fix automatically.

Objectives Near-time information Information entered into the prime system can be automatically shared with subscribing systems in a fast and controlled manner.

Objectives Near-time information For example: Attendance relating to students attending more than 1 learning place can be recorded in multiple systems and automatically shared back to the home school e.g. 14 – 19

Objectives Secure As well as its built-in technical security such as encryption, SIF can replace less reliable methods for moving data around.

Objectives Secure For example: How safe and reliable is moving data around using CDs / DVDs, memory sticks, email, paper, post, etc...?

Objectives Pluggable Sharing data between multiple systems securely and efficiently is increasingly important; MIS, learning platforms, email services, LA systems...

Objectives Pluggable ...to enable collaboration, 14 – 19, parental reporting, security, efficiencies, etc.

Objectives Pluggable Implementing bespoke solutions for integration can be expensive and difficult to support. Replacing systems often results in additional bespoke integrations.

Objectives Pluggable For example: SIF is an established International open standard. It is not uncommon to have many systems integrated with your school MIS...

Objectives Pluggable ...Replacing one SIF certified MIS with another will greatly reduce the cost and time needed to reintegrate all of your reliant systems!

Objectives Helping us to realise Single Sign on (SSo) Since 2001 we have been managing an estate-wide Identity Management (IdM) service providing unique identities for 150,000 across all of our learning establishments.

Simplified Sign on recommended Objectives 2001 - 2002 2003 - 2007 Create & manage unique accounts for 150,000 school Staff & students. 2.5 FTE Semi-automated Identity Management (IdM) system including some data cleansing. Identities are used in other systems such as the learning platform. 1.5 FTE

Working Single Sign on model Objectives 2001-2002 2003-2007 2007 - 2011 Fully SIF automated IdM with SIF Agent and Data cleansing. Shibboleth enabled Single Sign on (SSo) for all services. 0.5 FTE

Results • Proof of Concept (PoC) focused upon the needs of five rural primary schools • All used the same MIS and learning platform. • The applications selected were: – • Edustructures’ SIFWorks ZIS Enterprise Edition, • Netmedia’s Learning Platform, • Pearson e1 MIS • And an in-house Identity Management (IdM) system (SQL DB)

Results • SIF automated data sharing between the systems and resources • As the information was updated in the MIS, the learning platform and IdM were seamlessly updated • This ensured that all students and staff were in the correct groups and linked to their unique Identity wherever they were and whatever systems or resources they were using

Results • The PoC ran for three months • Over 15 use cases were successfully tested including dual registration and the end of year rollover • Information was up to date and accurate in all participating systems and resources • Efficiency savings were realised at schools and the Local Authority

Results • Students and staff had access to relevant valuable resources in a timely fashion • Identity information including login details were up to date and accurate in all systems and resources • A ‘pluggable’ core infrastructure is established

The next steps... • Core infrastructure is moved into BT Virtual Data Centre (VDC) • Attendance management for 14 to 19 Diploma students (see the 14 to 19 Demonstrator presentation after lunch!) • SIF rollout to all primary schools to include the MIS, learning platform, IdM (and possibly Google Apps) • SIF pilots for secondary schools to include the Fronter learning platform, SIMS and Serco MIS’ and IdM • Shibboleth Single Sign on across all participating services

Any Questions? Thank you! michael.pickett@norfolk.gov.uk

Michael Pickett – Norfolk County Council Manager – Digital Infrastructure