2009-11-12

Meeting Information

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Attending: JB McGee, co-chair;  Logan Holt, Jason Murray, Valerie Smothers, Chris Toth, Dan Walker

Agenda Items

1 Review minutes*of last meeting*

The minutes were approved.

JB summarized that the specification is now in public review. An announcement will be published in ANSI standards action on Nov 20. Valerie commented that there could still be plenty of iterations, but we are in the home stretch.

JB asked if Logan and Jason had looked at the specification.

Logan commented that he had done a high-level review of the specifications and would limit his comments to things that are very important. JB offered to discuss any questions that Logan had. Jason commented that the spec looks okay to him.

2 Discuss VP profiling reports

• Schema
• Branching
• Global Navigation
• Virtual Worlds

JB summarized that the group is creating profiles of the specification that define how the specification can be used by a subset of tools with a similar approach. Some may include characteristics outside of the spec. Jason commented that VP Sim is similar to diagnosis X. They don't use the Xtensible info element.

JB asked which profile TheraSim would fit into or if it would be a new profile. He added that we hope to have profiles completed and published not long after the specification is approved. The virtual worlds group has posted their work to date. Valerie commented that at first glance the tools appear to have little in common. JB replied that the group was meeting today in London, and we'll likely hear which direction they want to go after the meeting. Casus and campus clearly have a lot of overlap. They are using the linear/string of pearls design. JB asked Dan if he had had a chance to look at the profile.

Dan commented that he is still planning to contribute to the linear profile. Susan had e-mailed to Neil regarding global; they may talk on Friday. JB asked Dan if he had implemented an export in their system. Dan replied that he had written an export after the Florida meeting in 2007. Both the specification and the tool have changed since then. JB commented that it would be hard for Dan to contribute to the profile discussions until he had completed an export. He added that it would be good for Susan and Nabil to use a process similar to what others have done: preparing a spreadsheet that lists the various elements used in each XML file. Jörn had shared a blank template with the group.

Dan asked if there would be validation for profiles. Valerie replied that there should be a customized version of the schemas that would allow validation for profiles.

Chris commented that open labyrinth uses everything, but right now VP Sim does not. They plan to implement in the future.

JB commented that the linear group seems to be having trouble with multiple-choice questions and QTI. He added that QTI sounds like a complicated spec. He questioned whether that was an area that the group should put some work into. Dan added that they were also planning to use QTI for representing quizzes.

Valerie commented the QTI questions can be incorporated using Xtensible info. There is an example in the specification describing how to do that. She added that QTI was complex for a good reason: assessment is complex. If the working group were to develop specifications related to assessment, whatever we came up with would likely be equally as complex.

Institutional analysis should be complete by the December meeting. Valerie agreed to create a page on profiles and to move Jörn's  page to that location. Valerie agreed to look at variability across profiles.

JB recommended asking eViP participants how much of the import was automated within a single profile. He recommended discussing that on the next call.

3 Open discussion

JB asked Logan for his thoughts. Logan replied that he was listening and learning. Valerie offered to speak to Logan at a convenient time to provide an overview.

Jason agreed to post his profile for the next call.

JB asked Dan if he would be able to do his analysis by December 11. Dan replied that he would be rushed to get it in by then, particularly if he is doing an export first. He will speak to Susan and determine where to focus his efforts. JB encourage Dan to put in what he thinks is correct and then update after the export is done.

Jason commented that we should talk about QTI on the next call.

Decisions

Action Items

• Group members will complete their profile analysis for the December call.
• The group will discuss qti on the next call.