The Big IT 02: System Tsunami

Psst … Want to know a secret? A subject we cover in depth at FETC 2019 is data system interoperability … That’s right interoperability.

Contributor: Bruce Umpstead

 

Interoperability is a characteristic of a product or system that makes it easy to interface with and work with other products or systems either now or in the future without restrictions. (adapted from Wikipedia).

School IT leaders know they cannot ignore interoperability even if their administrative and curricular peers choose to treat the subject as if they have a magic wand, wishing thousands of the next greatest apps they and their teachers fall in love with seamlessly integrate with the outdated version of a student information system.

Even innovators ignore interoperability at their peril! At times, the “I-word” – Interoperability – can be a bit dull or intimidating at conferences. If that’s the case, let’s use the euphemism “tsunami” instead. That is to say, ignoring interoperability lets the storm brew in the back office.

In FETC’s 2019 IT track, you’ll find all the interoperability players organized into a back-to-back “mini-track” with a deep-dive for those of you who know the subject requires time to get your head around. Check out these sessions below:

 

$W118 – S331D OCCC
System Tsunami #1: Seizing the Interoperability Imperative for all Students

8:00AM – 10:00AM, Mon., Jan. 28, 2019

Tracy Weeks, Executive Director, SETDA

Jill Hobson, K-12 Institutional Program Manager, IMS Global Learning Consortium

Paula Maylahn, Consultant, CoSN

 

$W143 – S331D OCCC
System Tsunami #2: Seizing the Interoperability Imperative for all Students

10:30AM – 12:30PM, Mon., Jan. 28, 2019

Tracy Weeks, Executive Director, SETDA

Sean Casey, Strategic Partnerships, Ed-Fi Alliance

Erin Mote, Executive Director, InnovateEDU

 

Here are links to online resources so you have a better idea of what they will be talking about:

*Please note: a “$” indicates that workshops require additional registration.

 

Author’s Note:

In August 2018, I joined IMS Global to drive partnerships and engagement with State Education Agencies (SEAs), one of my areas of expertise and purpose “at-scale.” My reason for joining the IMS team is straightforward: let’s make interoperability simple, secure, and ubiquitous. I cannot promise a magic wand, only that engaging SEAs in the work is a critical next step and I am eager to lead that effort. I am currently focused on driving State adoption of the Competencies & Academic Standards Exchange® (CASE®) standard and CASE Registry.