SIF-Working-Groups: should we try?

[Bruno Vernier <vernier@seul.org>]

More about SIF:

SIF has created  9 working groups to cover the various data aspects of 
educational management.   The specs that have been released so far concern 
only the work from group 2: Student Information Group (as far as I can tell)

Each group has the whole year to produce specs for XML elements and api for
their particular specialty.

This is significant because of the overlap with what we are doing with 
EDUML.  But it is potentially frustrating because even though the specs are 
promised to be open and free, the process of working them out requires being 
mandated by a "K12 Software Vendor".  Do we want to declare ourselves such a 
"vendor" in order to have a "seat" on the various working groups?  There is 
apparently no membership fees like for IMS.

At worst, we would be wasting our time. At best, we could help this 
potentially significant effort be more culturally universal and free-source 
friendly.

Bruno

-----------------------------------------------taken from SIF website---

                                     PARTICIPATING VENDORS


                       Chancery Software Computer Curriculum Corporation
                   Follett Software Jackson Corp Jostens Learning Corp.
                   Learning Tools International Microsoft Corp Misty
                   City Software NCS ( National Computer Systems) Netel
                   Educational Systems Nichols Advanced Technologies
                   Pentamation Enterprises PeopleSoft PhoneMaster, a
                   division of US Telecom SNAP Systems SRB International
                   TRO Learning Winnebago Software


   What is the SIF working model?

   SIF has a working model that is open to all vendors and educators.
   Currently SIF is structured to have a Technical Board that determines
   the direction of this initiative and a number of working groups.
   These working groups meet on a regular basis to define the data
   that needs to be standardized. The working groups are created along
   functional lines. Here is a list of the working groups:

   Infrastructure Group : This group is responsible for defining the
   messaging architecture and message formats.

   Student Information Group : This group defines the data related to
   enrollment, attendance, demographics etc.

   Curriculum Group : This group defines the data related to curriculum
   management information.

   Cafeteria Group : This group defines the data related to cafeteria
   management information like student meal information.

   Grade-book Group : This group defines the data related to grade-book
   information like student grades.

   HR/Financials Group : This group defines the data related to human
   resource and financials like employee, salary information etc.

   Library Group : This group defines the data related to library
   management information like patron circulation, fines etc.

   Reporting Group : This group defines the data needs for creating
   reports that would be viewed by teachers, administrators, state
   boards etc.

   Transportation Group : This group defines the data related to
   transportation management like bus routes etc.