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XML in Higher Education
Bruce Marton,
The University of Texas at Austin
Student Information Systems
Topics
What is XML? How does it work? Value to Higher Education Current Developments What’s next
What Is XML?
Extensible markup language Internet document language Open source
Free Non-proprietary Supported by world wide web
consortium (W3C)
What XML Is Not
Not just enhanced HTML (although it can be used like HTML)
Not strictly a web technology Broader internet technology like
email, IM and wireless Similarity to HTML causes
confusion but is also it’s greatest asset
XML Basics
Like HTML, XML is a markup language
Both are descended from SGML Markup languages convey how
text is supposed to look
examples:
<b> Office of the Registrar</b>
Office of the Registrar
<font face="'Times New Roman',Times,serif" size="+1" color="Red"> Office of the Registrar</font>
Office of the Registrar
Similarity to HTML - advantages Easy to understand, use Already has large base of users
and support tools New browser versions understand
XML Wide industry interest and support
Markup LanguageCharacteristics Uses tags “<>” and “</>” Structured: document must have
beginning and end. Most elements must have beginning and end tags Helps reduce ambiguity Easier to find errors
Differences From HTML
XML concerned with data content not presentation What it is, not how it should be
displayed Very flexible, can be adapted to
almost any kind of communication or subject This is ‘extensible’ part
XML:
<STUDENT_NAME> <LAST>Stones</LAST> <FIRST>Dave</FIRST></STUDENT_NAME>
Potential Uses
Enhanced Browser capabilities ‘smart searches’ web databases
Better control of output Application to Application
document transfer XML based e-commerce
<STUDENTID type = “SSN”> 123456789 </STUDENTID><DEMOGRAPHIC> <BIRTH DATE type=“DATE”> 19740823 </BIRTH DATE> <GENDER> M </GENDER></DEMOGRAPHIC><GRADE_REPORT> <SESSION Code=”!199901”> <LABEL> SPRING SESSION </LABEL> <YEAR type=”CCYY”> 1999 </YEAR> <COURSE index=”1”> <CREDIT type=”hours> 4 </CREDIT> <GRADE> A </GRADE> <CODE> SPN 406 </CODE> <COURSE_TITLE>
SPANISH I </COURSE_TITLE> </COURSE> <COURSE index=”2”> <CREDIT type=”hours> 3 </CREDIT> <GRADE> B </GRADE> <CODE> HIS 302 </CODE> <COURSE_TITLE>
TX HISTORY </COURSE_TITLE> </COURSE>
web.xsl
pda.xsl
edi.xsd
Why use XML for Educational records?
Share information seamlessly and easily
Cost savings ‘off the shelf’ tools are coming to
market Technology-neutral
Joins different databases or systems
Smaller institutions can adopt
Why use XML (cont.)
Broad support from vendors SAP PeopleSoft Intuit SCT Corporation
Brings together different trading partners and standards bodies
Industry standard outside Education
How does all this work?
<STUDENTID type = “SSN”>123456789</STUDENTID>
<DEMOGRAPHIC>
<BIRTH DATE type=“DATE”>19740823</BIRTH DATE>
<GENDER>M</GENDER>
</DEMOGRAPHIC>
<GRADE_REPORT>
<SESSION Code=”199901”>
<LABEL>SPRING SESSION</LABEL>
<YEAR type=”CCYY”>1999</YEAR>
<COURSE index=”1”>
<CREDIT type=”hours>4</CREDIT>
<GRADE>A</GRADE>
<CODE>SPN 406</CODE>
<COURSE_TITLE>SPANISH I</COURSE_TITLE>
</COURSE>
<COURSE index=”2”>
<CREDIT type=”hours>3</CREDIT>
<GRADE>B</GRADE>
<CODE>HIS 302</CODE>
<COURSE_TITLE>TX HISTORY</COURSE_TITLE>
</COURSE>
XML Terms DTD: Master listing of all the elements including where
and how they need to be placed in the documents
Schema: An XML application that can describe the allowed content of documents
XSL, XSLT: converts an XML file into a another specified format
Parser: Tool that reads the document and divides it into individual elements, attributes, and other pieces
Validation: Process of checking structural validity of document
<STUDENTID type = “SSN”> 123456789 </STUDENTID><DEMOGRAPHIC> <BIRTH DATE type=“DATE”> 19740823 </BIRTH DATE> <GENDER> M </GENDER></DEMOGRAPHIC><GRADE_REPORT> <SESSION Code=”!199901”> <LABEL> SPRING SESSION </LABEL> <YEAR type=”CCYY”> 1999 </YEAR> <COURSE index=”1”> <CREDIT type=”hours> 4 </CREDIT> <GRADE> A </GRADE> <CODE> SPN 406 </CODE> <COURSE_TITLE>
SPANISH I </COURSE_TITLE> </COURSE> <COURSE index=”2”> <CREDIT type=”hours> 3 </CREDIT> <GRADE> B </GRADE> <CODE> HIS 302 </CODE> <COURSE_TITLE>
TX HISTORY </COURSE_TITLE> </COURSE>
Application Generates
XMLXML
Parserchecks
document
ReceiverApplication processes
file
Sender Receiver
What we use now
EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) Flat Files
REF!SY!123456789\
DMG!D8!19740823!M\
SES!199901!1!!!SPRING SESSION 1999\
CRS!!4!A!!!!!!!!!SPN!406!SPANISH I\
CRS!!3!B!!!!!!!!!HIS!302!TX HISTORY\
Advantages to XML(over EDI and flat files) Data files are machine and human
readable You don’t need to read it but you
could The entire document or portions of
the record can be transmitted Data elements can be omitted and
order is less important
Advantages to XML
Additional information can be added easily Schemas can reference other
schemas Real-Time Transactions
Uses the public internet (http)
Will XML replace EDI?
PESC Recognizes A Need for Standards Use existing specification
whenever possible Utilize what works in EDI, learn
from what didn’t Avoid competing and overlapping
standards
XML Forum
Formed by Postsecondary Electronic Standards Council in May 2000
XML Standards for Education Open participation All product shared and free
XML Forum Goals
Monitor efforts for framework development (ebXML, .NET, etc.)
Identify business processes to develop in XML
Identify the X12 EDI transactions to move to XML
XML Forum Goals (cont.) Identify and document current XML
work by other organizations Utilize the PESC-provided website
repository Establish work groups on topics
determined by Forum participants Core Components Workgroup Technology Workgroup Architecture Team
Development Goals
Develop Core Components Data Dictionary
Define XML Implementation Requirements and Recommendations
Identify Initial Transaction Sets for Implementation
Develop and maintain schema Repository
Core Components
Data dictionary Core Components XML Schema
Data Formats Business processes Data Relationships Naming conventions
XML Schema Extensibility Extensions Substitutions References to other Schemas
Take all or part Modify as needed
Core Components
TranscriptSchema
Student LoanSchema
CommonApplication
Common DataFormats,Relationships
Processes
Domains
Convergence of Standards
XML Forum Core Components
Financial Aid Core
Components
Admissions/Registrar
Core Components
ASC X12EDI
CommonLine
MeteorCommon
Record
ebXMLIFX
Core Components
Data DictionarySector Library
Sector Library
Sector Library
Application Schema
Application Schema
Application Schema
Application Schema
Application Schema
Application Schema
XML Forum Core Components
XML Forum Releases
XML Technical Specifications for Higher Education 1.0 - September 2001
Data Dictionary Extension Rules and Naming Standards - February 2002
Technical Specification 2.0 May 2002
XML Forum Current Development Core Components Data Dictionary
May 2002 Core Components XML Schema -
June 2002 XML Schema for Student’s
Academic Record (Student Transcript) – June 2002
Student Transcript Schema Participation
AACRO SPEEDE Committee College Board Oracle Corp
Will be reviewed by ASC X12 Education Administration subcommittee – June 2002
The Common Record
Developed by Dept. of Education Used for Student Financial Aid
Direct Loan transactions XML Schema published November
2001, implementation May 2002 Agreement with PESC/XML Forum
to jointly support and develop standards – February 2002
Meteor
Sponsored by NCHELP Consolidates Student financial Aid
information from several sources: Federal Office of Student Financial
Assistance Lenders and Guarantors National Student Loan Clearing
House.
Meteor cont.
Real-time internet system XML Schema was released
February 2002 Shared and coordinated with
PESC XML Forum and Department of Education
XML Forum Repository
Schemas will reside on 24/7 server schemas.pescxml.org
Version archive Will store
Core Components Schema Transaction-specific domain
schemas
What’s Next
CommonLine Financial Aid Schema
Transcript Request, Acknowledgement
FERPA Directory information Degree Audit
for further Information
www.StandardsCouncil.org pescxml.org www.ebXML.org www.W3.org
