Hi Rob
We have SITS (Student Records), Facility (Timetabling) and an in-house portfolio management database. In addition, we have marketing descriptions in a Microsoft InfoPath form based on a cut-down version of Norway's Course Description Metadata format (http://cdm.nou.no). Another database table links the SQL courses to the XML descriptions.
These are combined by a .NET XML pipeline to create an XCRI (http://www.elframework.org/projects/xcri) Curriculum file, which we publish on our website:
http://www.adamsmithcollege.ac.uk/student/courses/xcri/default.xml
and which drives our institute, course details and course A-to-Z pages, and course search via a set of XSLT transformations.
We also use other branches of the pipeline to create HTML-to-Word doc exports for importing into Adobe InDesign for brochures and prospectuses.
As a system, it currently has its flaws (InfoPath is difficult to lock down for input, and I'd prefer to use a native XML database than a file for its content) and is still under development, but we've achieved a high degree of automation.
You should check out the work done by the XCRI group (new site http://www.xcri.org), including their new CAP schema. The idea is that by getting your course information in an interoperable format, you can exchange and reuse it anywhere, including syndicating the content to external aggregators (like maybe Learndirect and HotCourses in due course). There should also be some free software tools available to help implementers.
Tavis
Tavis Reddick
Web Architecture and Content Developer
ICT Systems Development
Adam Smith College
________________________________
From: Managing an institutional web site [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rob Fenwick
Sent: 25 May 2007 11:50
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Course search / prospectus details
Dear all,
We are looking at how we present our course information to the public - at present we're using a SITS / IPP based system which has certain limitations. I'd be interested to hear from other HEIs about how you do this - particularly whether you publish the information in your CMS, or whether it is powered by another database.
Any input gratefully received,
Rob Fenwick
Web Manager, University of Westminster
http://www.wmin.ac.uk <http://www.wmin.ac.uk/>
Tel: +44(0)20 7911 5000 ext 3860
Take a spin: 360 degree virtual tours <http://www.wmin.ac.uk/page-13342> of Westminster.
|