ASAS Server




   Setting The Standards For The Use of Technology In Education
The Academic Standards and Assessment Server
Draft Functional Specification
 
Legend for naming:
 
ASAS � Academic Standards and Assessment Server
B � Building Block
SD � Staff Development
T � Tools
W � Wizard
 
BUILDING BLOCKS
 
B10 HTML packager - .doc to html
The HTML packager is a callable module that will accept a Microsoft Word document name and location, convert it to HTML and store the resulting HTML files in a specified working directory. This process is local
 
B20 - IMS Packager - Web page to IMS/LRN
The IMS packager is a callable module that will accept a specified working directory and recursed subdirectories containing a learning resource and associated content and files, will create an IMS manifest, and will convert the learning resource to a well formed zipped IMS content package. This process is local
 
B30 - LRM Packager - IMS/LRN to LRM
The LRM Packager is a callable module that will accept a reference to a standard IMS content package, will upzip the package to a temporary working directory, will parse the IMS manifest, will populate a well-formed LRM (Microsoft Class Server Format) with content and mapped metadata (metadata mapping to be controlled by an external or user modifiable configuration file that aligns IMS metadata with Microsoft LRM specific metadata, e.g. author � author). This process is local
 
B40 - GUID Generator
The GUID generator is a callable module that will create an arbitrary Globally Unique Identifier for use as an absolute non-duplicatable resource or record identifier. This process is local.
 
B500 - A2A Alignment Web Services
In totality, the A2A Alignment Web services accept one or more parameters of state or national standards text, state or national standards numbered item, a2a compendix intermediary text, or a2a triplet, and returns the requested unknown(s). These functions are called by any of a number of higher order tools and wizards in order to return specific information or query results to the user interface. The preliminary set of functions within the service include the following:
 
 
B510 - A2A Intermediary to Triplet Web Service
The A2A Intermediary to Triplet Web Service accepts as input the verbose form of the McREL/A2A intermediary and returns the A2A triplet. This process is an xml based web service.
 
 
B520 - A2A Triplet to Intermediary Web Service
The A2A Triplet to Intermediary Web Service accepts as input the A2A triplet and returns the verbose form of the McREL/A2A intermediary. This process is an xml based web service.
 
 
B530 - A2A Triplet To Verbose State Description Web Service
The A2A Triplet to Verbose service is a web service that accepts as input a state two letter abbreviation or national standard code (such as NCTM or NCTE) and A2A triplet and returns the aligned state or national standard in verbose format (e.g. the written form of the standard). This process is an xml based web service.
 
 
B540 - A2A Triplet To State Number Web Service
The A2A Triplet to Numeric State Description service is a web service that accepts as input a state two letter abbreviation or national standard code (such as NCTM or NCTE) and A2A triplet and returns the aligned state or national standard number. This process is an xml based web service.
 
 
B550 - A2A Verbose Description To Triplet Web Service
The A2A Verbose Description To Triplet service is a web service that accepts as input a state two letter abbreviation or national standard code (such as NCTM or NCTE) and verbose state description and returns the associated A2A triplet. Source must be a controlled vocabulary. This process is an xml based web service.
 
 
B560 - A2A Numeric State Description To Triplet Web Service
The Numeric State Description To Triplet service is a web service that accepts as input a state two letter abbreviation or national standard code (such as NCTM or NCTE) and numeric identifier and returns the associated A2A triplet. This process is an xml based web service.
 
 
B570 - A2A State Standards List Web Service
Given a state two letter abbreviation or national standard code (such as NCTM or NCTE) and one or more parameters such as grade level, strand or controlled subject term, this service returns a complete list of state or national standards including verbose description and numeric identifiers.
 
 
B580 - A2A Intermediary List Web Service
Given a strand or controlled subject term, this service returns a complete list of compendix intermediaries, including verbose description and triplet identifier.
 
B700 - GEM Cataloger
The Gem Cataloger is a higher order tool or set of tools that allows a user or aligner to create, edit or clone/modify a fully formed RDF:XML GEM 2.0 catalog record. These processes are local. The following core functions are recognized, with others to be added as necessary.
 
  B710 - CreateGem
  This function creates a fully formed RDF:XML GEM 2.0 Compliant record.
 
  B720 - EditGEM
  This function edits an existing GEM record for the purpose of correcting or adding to the record by the original creator.
 
  B730 - ModifyGemRelated
  This function creates a new GEM record from an existing GEM record for the purpose of changing, modifying or adding information by a third party. This creates a new GEM record of type RELATEDTO
 
  B740 - CloneGEMDaughter
  This function creates a new GEM record from an existing GEM record for the purpose of increasing the granularity of the records describing a resource-- for example to break out chapters or sections from a larger complilation or course and align them individually.
 
B50 - IMS Package Retriever Web Service
The IMS Package Retriever Web Service accepts as input the URL of an available IMS package and copies it to a specified destination location. This is an XML Web Service
 
B60 - IMS Package Emailer Web Service
The IMS Package Emailer Web Service accepts as input the URL of an available IMS package and Emails it to a specified recipient via SMTP using standard MIME types. This is an XML Web Service
 
B70 - GEM XML Harvester
The GEM XML Harvester reads XML metadata stored within a specified resource and creates as complete a GEM 2.0 record as is possible based on the structure of the resource's XML metadata. This process is an XML-based web service.
 
B80 - GEM Record Parser
The GEM Record Parser reads a GEM 2.0 catalog record and breaks the information down into discrete field information. This process is local
 
B90 - Gem XML to SQL Converter
The GEM XML to SQL Converter reads a GEM 2.0 catalog record, using the GEM Record Parser, and populates corresponding fields in a SQL database. This process is local.
 
B100 - GEM Viewer
The GEM Record Viewer uses the GEM Record Parser to read a GEM 2.0 catalog record and display the data in a human-recognizable display, either in a browser window or in an intelligent client such as an Excel Spreadsheet. This is an XML based Web Service.
 
B110 - A2A Query Parser Web Service
The A2A Query Parser accepts a well formed XML-based query against the metadata fields contained in a GEM 2.0 standard record and converts it to an SQL Query for processing by a database stored on an ASAS server.
 
B120 - A2A Compendix Record Parser
The A2A Record Parser reads an A2A Compendix record and breaks the information down into discrete field information. This process is local.
 
B130 � A2A Compendix Viewer
The A2A Viewer uses the B120 � A2A Record Parser to read a A2A Compendix record and display the data in a human-recognizable display, either in a browser window or in an intelligent client such as an Excel Spreadsheet. This is an XML based Web Service. (May need SQL converter similar to B90)
 
B140 � State Standards Record Parser
The State Standards Record Parser reads a state standard XML record and breaks the information down into discrete field information. This process is local
 
B150 � State Standards Viewer
The State Standards Viewer uses the B140 � State Standards Record Parser to read a state standard XML record and display the data in a human-recognizable display, either in a browser window or in an intelligent client such as an Excel Spreadsheet. This is an XML based Web Service. (May need SQL converter similar to B90)
 
Level 2 Tasks - Major Order
 
Stakeholders
 
Primary Point of Contact (Project Manager) for State/District, JES & Co., and Align to Achieve, in order to coordinate overall project tasks, timelines and deliverables.
Primary IT Coordinator, who will manage or coordinate: integration of the server into the school environment; maintenance of security and access to Windows 2000, Microsoft IIS, Microsoft SQL server; routine network administration, maintenance of the data storage of resources and catalog records
Primary Curriculum Coordinator, who will manage or coordinate district subject matter experts (curriculum specialists) for the alignment portion of the scope of work, and who will supervise the tagging effort
One or more Lead/Master Teachers from each grade band, who will work with the development team to develop and validate use case scenarios, user interfaces, and alignment procedures and evaluation
Professional Development Coordinator, who will manage or coordinate the train the trainer effort to develop and deliver instructions and knowledge transfer of alignment and search software to teachers and curriculum specialists
Accountability Administrator, who is responsible for overall ESEA compliance, who can provide input on ESEA / EETT fund reporting and documentation requirements, and who can provide input on possible interfaces to currently implemented or planned future accountability systems
One or more Principals, Superintendents or Assistant Superintendents, to keep them appraised of the project and in the loop, and to solicit advice and input on any administrative requirements or feature requests.
 
ASAS
ASAS5000 � Create ASAS State Server
ASAS5100 � Create ASAS District Server
 
Staff Development and Human Resources
SD3100 - Conduct Alignment Workshop
SD3200 - Conduct GEM Workshop
SD3300 - Conduct IMS Packaging Workshop
SD3400 - Conduct Teacher Training Workshop
SD3500 - Conduct ASAS IT Workshop
 
Training Development
 
TD4050 - Create Teacher Training Workshop
Develop the curricula and training materials to teach education professionals how to use the search and retrieval module(s) to search and retrieve educational resources from the database.
 
TD4100 - Create Alignment Workshop
Develop the curricula and training materials to teach education professionals the process of aligning education resources to state standards and A2A+McREL Compendix.
 
TD4200 - Create GEM Workshop
Develop the curricula and training materials to teach education professionals the process of creating and maintaining database of GEM catalog records.
 
TD4300 - Create ASAS IT Workshop
Develop the curricula and training materials to teach IT professionals how to maintain and upgrade the ASAS Server.
 
TD4400 - Create IMS Packaging Workshop
Develop the curricula and training materials to teach education professionals the process of creating and maintaining a database of education resources in IMS standard format for search/retrieval.

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