XML in Higher Education Bruce Marton, The University of Texas at Austin Student Information Systems

Topics n What is XML? n How does it work? n Value to Higher Education n Current Developments n What’s next

What Is XML? n Extensible markup language u Internet document language u Open source F Free F Non-proprietary F Supported by world wide web consortium (W3C)

What XML Is Not n Not just enhanced HTML (although it can be used like HTML) n Not strictly a web technology u Broader internet technology like , IM and wireless n Similarity to HTML causes confusion but is also it’s greatest asset

XML Basics n Like HTML, XML is a markup language n Both are descended from SGML n Markup languages convey how text is supposed to look

examples: Office of the Registrar Office of the Registrar Office of the Registrar Office of the Registrar

Similarity to HTML - advantages n Easy to understand, use n Already has large base of users and support tools u New browser versions understand XML u Wide industry interest and support

Markup Language Characteristics n Uses tags “<>” and “ ” n Structured: document must have beginning and end. Most elements must have beginning and end tags u Helps reduce ambiguity u Easier to find errors

Differences From HTML n XML concerned with data content not presentation u What it is, not how it should be displayed n Very flexible, can be adapted to almost any kind of communication or subject u This is ‘extensible’ part

XML: Stones Dave

Potential Uses n Enhanced Browser capabilities u ‘smart searches’ u web databases n Better control of output n Application to Application document transfer n XML based e-commerce

M SPRING SESSION A SPN 406 SPANISH I 3 B HIS 302 TX HISTORY web.xsl pda.xsl edi.xsd

Why use XML for Educational records? u Share information seamlessly and easily u Cost savings F ‘off the shelf’ tools are coming to market u Technology-neutral F Joins different databases or systems F Smaller institutions can adopt

Why use XML (cont.) n Broad support from vendors u SAP u PeopleSoft u Intuit u SCT Corporation n Brings together different trading partners and standards bodies n Industry standard outside Education

How does all this work?

M SPRING SESSION A SPN 406 SPANISH I 3 B HIS 302 TX HISTORY

XML Terms n DTD: Master listing of all the elements including where and how they need to be placed in the documents n Schema: An XML application that can describe the allowed content of documents n XSL, XSLT: converts an XML file into a another specified format n Parser: Tool that reads the document and divides it into individual elements, attributes, and other pieces n Validation: Process of checking structural validity of document

M SPRING SESSION A SPN 406 SPANISH I 3 B HIS 302 TX HISTORY Application Generates XML Parser checks document Receiver Application processes file Sender Receiver

What we use now n EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) n Flat Files

REF!SY! \ DMG!D8! !M\ SES!199901!1!!!SPRIN G SESSION 1999\ CRS!!4!A!!!!!!!!!SPN !406!SPANISH I\ CRS!!3!B!!!!!!!!!HIS !302!TX HISTORY\

Jones Sally A531 Tower Drive Apt 3C Alexandria VA Sally.A.J 0304

Advantages to XML (over EDI and flat files) n Data files are machine and human readable u You don’t need to read it but you could n The entire document or portions of the record can be transmitted u Data elements can be omitted and order is less important

Advantages to XML n Additional information can be added easily u Schemas can reference other schemas n Real-Time Transactions u Uses the public internet (http)

Will XML replace EDI?

PESC Recognizes A Need for Standards n Use existing specification whenever possible n Utilize what works in EDI, learn from what didn’t n Avoid competing and overlapping standards

XML Forum n Formed by Postsecondary Electronic Standards Council in May 2000 n XML Standards for Education n Open participation n All product shared and free

XML Forum Goals n Monitor efforts for framework development (ebXML,.NET, etc.) n Identify business processes to develop in XML n Identify the X12 EDI transactions to move to XML

XML Forum Goals (cont.) n Identify and document current XML work by other organizations n Utilize the PESC-provided website repository n Establish work groups on topics determined by Forum participants u Core Components Workgroup u Technology Workgroup u Architecture Team

Development Goals n Develop Core Components Data Dictionary n Define XML Implementation Requirements and Recommendations n Identify Initial Transaction Sets for Implementation n Develop and maintain schema Repository

Core Components n Data dictionary n Core Components XML Schema u Data Formats u Business processes u Data Relationships u Naming conventions

XML Schema Extensibility n Extensions n Substitutions n References to other Schemas u Take all or part u Modify as needed

Core Components Transcript Schema Student Loan Schema Common Application Common Data Formats,Relationships Processes Domains

Convergence of Standards XML Forum Core Components Financial Aid Core Components Admissions/ Registrar Core Components ASC X12 EDI Common Line Meteor Common Record ebXMLIFX

Core Components Data Dictionary Sector Library Sector Library Sector Library Application Schema Application Schema Application Schema Application Schema Application Schema Application Schema XML Forum Core Components

XML Forum Releases n XML Technical Specifications for Higher Education September 2001 n Data Dictionary Extension Rules and Naming Standards - February 2002 n Technical Specification 2.0 May 2002

XML Forum Current Development n Core Components Data Dictionary May 2002 n Core Components XML Schema - June 2002 n XML Schema for Student’s Academic Record (Student Transcript) – June 2002

Student Transcript Schema n Participation u AACRO SPEEDE Committee u College Board u Oracle Corp n Will be reviewed by ASC X12 Education Administration subcommittee – June 2002

The Common Record n Developed by Dept. of Education n Used for Student Financial Aid Direct Loan transactions n XML Schema published November 2001, implementation May 2002 n Agreement with PESC/XML Forum to jointly support and develop standards – February 2002

Meteor n Sponsored by NCHELP n Consolidates Student financial Aid information from several sources: u Federal Office of Student Financial Assistance u Lenders and Guarantors u National Student Loan Clearing House.

Meteor cont. n Real-time internet system n XML Schema was released February 2002 n Shared and coordinated with PESC XML Forum and Department of Education

XML Forum Repository n Schemas will reside on 24/7 server u schemas.pescxml.org n Version archive n Will store u Core Components Schema u Transaction-specific domain schemas

What’s Next n CommonLine Financial Aid Schema n Transcript Request, Acknowledgement n FERPA Directory information n Degree Audit

for further Information n n pescxml.org n n