[Request to Create SIG]: SIG for the Elearning industry

[Bellangelo]

Contact Details

@Bellangelo

Give your SIG a unique name, a one or two word descriptor.

LMSHarmony, bring harmony among Learning Management Systems and their tools.

Give an overview of your SIG.

LMSHarmony is designed to be a comprehensive and enhanced specification for Learning Management Systems (LMS). This API aims to streamline and standardize the integration of various eLearning tools, platforms, and content providers, ensuring seamless interaction and interoperability across different educational technologies. LMSHarmony will focus on solving common problems faced by the eLearning industry, including integration challenges, data interoperability, user management and content delivery.

Statement of Work

Introduction

The LMSHarmony Special Interest Group (SIG) aims to develop, standardize, and promote a comprehensive OpenAPI specification tailored for the eLearning industry, focusing on Learning Management Systems (LMS). This new specification, LMSHarmony, will enhance and extend the functionalities of existing standards like Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI), addressing current challenges and future needs in the eLearning ecosystem.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the LMSHarmony SIG are:

Develop LMSHarmony: Create a robust, scalable, and flexible API specification that addresses the core needs of the eLearning industry.
Standardize Integration: Establish standardized protocols and data models to ensure seamless interoperability between different LMS platforms and third-party tools.
Enhance User Management: Provide comprehensive solutions for user authentication, authorization, and profile management.
Optimize Content Delivery: Support efficient and versatile content delivery mechanisms compatible with various formats and devices.
Promote Adoption: Advocate for the adoption of LMSHarmonyAPI across educational institutions, LMS providers, and eLearning tool developers.

Scope of Work

The LMSHarmony SIG will undertake the following activities to achieve its objectives:

Research and Analysis

Conduct a thorough analysis of existing eLearning standards, including LTI, SCORM, and xAPI.
Identify gaps, limitations, and areas for improvement in current specifications.
Gather input from stakeholders, including educators, LMS providers, and developers.
API Specification Development

Define the core entities and data models, such as User, Course, Content, Enrollment, Assignment and Grade.
Develop endpoints and protocols for seamless integration and data exchange.
Ensure the specification supports modern authentication and authorization mechanisms (e.g., OAuth 2.0).
Documentation and Guidelines

Create comprehensive documentation detailing the API endpoints, data models, and usage examples.
Develop best practice guidelines for implementing LMSHarmony.
Provide sample code and SDKs for popular programming languages.
Pilot Implementation and Testing

Collaborate with select LMS providers and eLearning tool developers to implement pilot projects.
Test the API in real-world scenarios to identify and resolve issues.
Collect feedback to refine and enhance the specification.
Community Engagement and Support

Establish a community portal for stakeholders to collaborate, share experiences, and provide feedback.
Conduct webinars, workshops, and presentations to promote LMSHarmonyAPI.
Offer support and resources to help organizations adopt and implement the specification.
Governance and Maintenance

Form a governance structure to oversee the ongoing development and maintenance of LMSHarmony.
Establish a process for handling updates, bug fixes, and new feature requests.
Ensure the specification remains up-to-date with emerging technologies and industry trends.

Deliverables

The LMSHarmony SIG will deliver the following:

LMSHarmony Specification Document: A detailed document outlining the API endpoints, data models, protocols, and standards.
Developer Documentation: Comprehensive guides, best practices, and usage examples to assist developers in implementing the API.
Sample Code and SDKs: Example implementations and software development kits for various programming languages.
Pilot Project Reports: Findings and insights from pilot implementations, including case studies and feedback analysis.
Community Portal: An online platform for collaboration, support, and community engagement.
Governance Framework: A structured approach to manage the ongoing development and maintenance of the specification.

SIG Class

Industry SIG

History

A new group

How often do you intend to need to meet

Every other week

Teleconference link

No

Slack

Yes

discord

No

Code of Conduct

• I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct

[rafaelglikis]

As a representative of Learnworlds, I support the proposal. This initiative promises to bring much-needed standardization and integration to the eLearning industry. We look forward to collaborating and contributing to this significant endeavor.

[yrizos]

As a representative of Epignosis, I would like to express our full support for our own @Bellangelo's initiative. The global LMS market is undergoing a significant transformation, emphasizing personalization, microlearning, and AI integration, among other things. We believe that harmonization will be crucial for future success, and we look forward to collaborating with colleagues worldwide to achieve this goal.