The framework is intended to support development
of flexible, service-oriented
architectures in a number of ways:
- Providing a reference set of service definitions
- Providing toolkits to assist developers
- Coordinating related efforts such as standards and shared services
By providing a common set of service definitions,
we enable communities to have a
shared vocabulary for discussing their MLE and e-Learning activity. Just as the Becta
MLE diagram assisted institutions in the earlier phases of MLE development, the
framework enables different institutions in different sectors to communicate with one
another and the JISC about their technical challenges.
By providing toolkits – not complete
solutions – we both enable institutions to build
solutions, and also provide assistance for both the commercial sector and the open
source community to provide solutions that operate within institutional architectures.
Because we have a shared understanding
of the problem space, the areas of concern
within the community can be communicated to the JISC so that other efforts – such as
the work of CETIS and UKOLN – can be targeted more effectively to solve the pressing
needs of the community.
Applications developed using the framework
for guidance can, because they have a
common specification, be reused far more easily by other institutions, facilitating
collaboration between institutions, and inter-institutional integration.
