Course Data Improvement Our starting point When we applied for stage 1 JISC funding, there were already several related course data initiatives running at the University. While many of these were beginning to come up against common issues, there was no arrangement for making joint efforts to address these, which was limiting progress. One of our key aims in applying for the JISC Course Data programme was:
One of our first steps when our bid was successful was to set up a Course Data Forum which includes representatives from all the course data projects and key operational staff. This group has met fortnightly throughout the project. The ‘blue boxes’ diagram depicts our starting point.
“To promote a joined-up approach to the management of course data across the University, including changes to the organisational culture where necessary.”
HEAR (Higher Education Achievement Report)
KIS (Key Information Set)
PIM (Programme Information Management) *SUSPENDED*
SHIP (Sheffield HEAR Implementation Project)
JISC Course Data Project?
New project to address programme information?
PROMS (Programme Regulations Online Management System)
Rethinking the Prospectus
DARE (Digital Academic Records Exchange) Led by Liverpool John Moores; funded by JISC
Analysis work A Project Assistant was appointed using the JISC funds, and she began by interviewing key staff in order to document annual course data processes and to investigate common issues. Outputs included Visio process maps, ‘Enterprise Architecture’ maps using the Archi tool (left), and bespoke graphics such as the ‘spiral’ to the (right) - this is a representation of application of course data during the lifecycle of an example cohort of students.
Our programme information vision Key to our ‘joined-up’ vision for course information is integrating access to different types of programme and module data via a common and intuitive user interface.
This interface is being developed via our new Online Programme Management System (OPMS) project. We hope that this will support better course information management and ownership
of information by academic departments, strengthen consistency across information sources for internal and external use, and reinforce the principle of “enter once, re-use many times”.
Development work University Programme and Module Management System access
PROMS – a Level 1 programme regulation
KIS Management System
JISC funds were used to hire a developer who is working to realise our programme information vision. The screenshots (above, left and right) show the beginnings of a system that is planned to also encompass programme specifications, marketing information, HEAR data and more, as well as supporting approvals and annual validation processes.
by Isabel Virgo and Anne Rodgers, Corporate Information and Computing Services, The University of Sheffield. January 2013