SIF Basics - Building a Working Knowledge and Vocabulary of 

the Specification and Projecting ROI

MIS 2009

Welcomeand

Introductions

Agenda

•Overview•Software Components

•ZIS •Agents•Applications

•SIF Data Objects•SIF Data Elements•Other Concepts

•Examples•Getting a bang for your buck – ROI and SIF

SIS

Network Accounts

Cafeteria

LibraryTransportation

• The situation in many schools and school systems is that there are a series of software applications which all may require the same data, but which have no way to talk to each other.

• It may be possible for one or two applications to share data through proprietary methods, but open, dynamic and synchronized data sharing does not occur.

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Traditional Data Systems

SIF Overview

DirXML Network Account

H.R. &Finance

DataWarehouse Instructional

Services

Library Automation

SIS

GradeBook

Transportation Zone Integration

Server (ZIS)

SIF Agents

Applications

SIF Data Objects

Software Components of a SIF Implementation

Zone Integration Server (ZIS) – The central point of data exchange in a SIF implementation. Provides queuing, security, and communication services to Agents. Software vs. HardwareSIF Agents – Software which allows an individual

application to communicate via the SIF Infrastructure. An agent can publish and/or subscribe data. It sits on top of EACH application and is typically different from application to application. Multiple agents (at least 2) are needed in order to implement SIF.

Zone Integration Server (ZIS)

Routes messagesControls access – which agents are

allowed to see which messages and request which information

Persists messages when agents are asleepConfigure HTTP or HTTPS transportHealth of Zone and Monitoring

Agents: The Universal Translator

SIF Agents have 2 “faces”

Translate between the application and the SIF data model

Responsible for generating and processing SIF objects

ZIS

Application

Application “Native”

SIFData

Model

Agent

SIF Agents

Publisher and Subscriber Agents• Publish – Events that may be published (currently)

include Add, Change, and Delete.• Subscribe – The process of “listening” for and

processing SIF Events.

Integrated vs. Standalone• Contains core business logic of Subscribing

application

Applications

Applications – Specific software for a particular department or internal client. Typical SIF applications include SIS, Directory, Transportation, Food Service, Library Science, Assessment, etc.

Determining “SIFAbility” of Applications in your networkSIF Certified vs. SIF “Compliant”

• SIF Certification – Part of SIF’s product standard that includes 3rd party verification that the Application and Agent conform to the SIF specification. Certification includes a legal component that guarantees vendors will adapt their software to meet requirements, if needed.

• SIF Compliance – A general term used by software vendors that are not Certified. Such agents may work with SIF, but lack third party and vendor guarantees of interoperability.

Find your Application• http://certification.sifinfo.org/cert_prodlist.tpl• How to siphon what you need

SIF Data Objects•SIF Data Objects – A logical grouping of fields (similar to a database table) within an application that can be shared among applications. SIF’s Data Model defines Data Objects using XML Schema Definition language.

•The data exchanged using SIF standards•Objects comprise the schemas that define information managed by the applications•Objects contain specific data elements that serve to characterize them.•For example, the StudentPicture Object shown below is made up of three data elements.

SIF Elements

Objects are expressed using standardized web-based structured data formatting called eXtensible Markup Language [XML]

XML allows the creation of customized data tags that enable the definition, transmission, validation, and interpretation of data between applications and between organizations

REFID’s Examples

- <SchoolInfo RefId="48449997F1304423950763677A23DB05">  <LocalId>S31</LocalId>   <SchoolName>SMITH HIGH SCHOOL</SchoolName>   <SchoolType Code="HS" /> - <PrincipalInfo>  <ContactName>Dr. John Doe</ContactName>   </PrincipalInfo>  <PhoneNumber Format="NA" Type="18">(999) 9994227</PhoneNumber> - <Address Type="04">- <Street>  <Line1>999 STRAWBERRY HILL AVE.</Line1>   </Street>  <City>SMITHFORD</City>   <StatePr Code="CT" />   <PostalCode>06902</PostalCode>   </Address>  <IdentificationInfo Code="15">S31</IdentificationInfo>   </SchoolInfo>

Naperville Community Unit District 203

District profile18,000+ Students1,000+ Teachers

SystemsSIS - Maximus SchoolMAXParental Communications - ParentLink Human Resources - Carter-PertainTransportation – VersaTransFood Service – ComalexLibrary - Alexandria Data Warehouse - SPSS

            

                        

SchoolInfoStudentPersonalStudentSchoolEnrollment

StudentPersonalStudentSchoolEnrollmentSchoolnfoStudentContact

Universal Agent

SchoolMax

VersaTrans Agent

Target System = VersaTrans v9.3

Universal AgentCarter-Pertain

Comalex

StaffPersonalStaffAssignment

SchoolInfoStudentPersonalStudentSchoolEnrollmentStudentContactSchoolCourseInfoSectionInfoStudentSectionEnrollmentTermInfoRoomInfoStudentDailyAttendanceAttendanceCodeInfo

Data Warehouse

SchoolInfoStudentPersonalStudentSchoolEnrollmentSchoolCourseInfoSectionInfoStudentSectionEnrollmentTermInfoRoomInfoStudentDailyAttendanceAttendanceCodeInfo

Zone Integration Server

District Zone

Other SIF Concepts

SIF Zone Logical group of applications, their agents and the ZIS

services that manage them Data for the SIF zone is private to the zone

Request/Response SIF’s Request/Response protocol allows for data to be

requested in its entirety, or filtered via query mechanisms. Used in Synchronizations

Event Processing SIF’s Event protocol enables an application to notify other

applications in the Zone when something changes. Daily transactional processing for adds, changes, deletes,

etc

Be Informed, Get Involved!

Working Groups• Assessment

• Data Warehouse

• Data Model Task Force

• Food Services

• Grade Book

• Human Resources & Financials

• Infrastructure

• Instructional Services

• Library Automation

• Professional Development

• Special Programs

• Student Information Systems

• Student Record Exchange

• Transportation

• Vertical Reporting

Contact Information

Jeremy DavidsonSIF Services Program Manager

816 S. Eldorado Rd. | Bloomington, IL 61704Toll free: 888-764-8126 ext. 190 | Fax: 309-662-6421jdavidson@integrityschools.com | Cell:224-639-2468Visit our new website at www.integrityschools.com

Getting the most bang for your buck with SIF - -

Projecting ROI

MIS 2009

“Pains” Addressed by SIF

SituationalFast growthLegacy systemsLarge student enrollmentSmall staff size

DataRedundant data entryData accuracyData integrityData latency

Benefits of SIF

• Data is entered only once, into the authoritative source system, and is shared seamlessly & immediately with other applications

• Data is exchanged automatically and thus more effectively, without manual import and export processes

• Near real-time access to important information for better data analysis and information dissemination

• Ease the burden of vertical reporting to the State

Cost-Benefit Example

Network Account Creation and ManagementSIF capability

• Student directory accounts created at registration into SIS

Example• SIF is used to create and manage user

accounts and home directories, eliminating the additional manual step as the student is enrolled

Benefit• Huge time savings to I.T. departmentDoes your I.T. staff have more

valuable ways to spend its time?

Cost-Benefit Example

TransportationSIF capability

• Data accuracy & Saved data entry timeExample

• SIF is used to update the transportation system data from the student information system as the student is enrolled in school

Benefit• Real time communication of bus stop

information is possible for every student• Potential liability issues are avoidedHow many phone calls could be saved?How much bad publicity could be

avoided?

Cost-Benefit Example Food Services

SIF capability

• Data accuracyExample

• SIF is used to update the student management system with meal status information that is stored in the food services system

Benefit

• Accurate free/reduced lunch count possible.

How much additional funding could be generated?

Cost-Benefit Example

Assessment ReportingSIF capability

• Data integrity and accuracyExample

• SIF is used to intersect demographic data stored in the student management system with state and local assessment results

Benefit• Administrators, principals and teachers can

run reports that utilize the most accurate set of demographics for students

How accurate are your current reports?How much time does it take to generate

reports?

Cost-Benefit Example Library

SIF capability

• Near real time information disseminationExample

• SIF is used to update the library system with up to date student information from the SIS

Benefit

• The media specialist who used to spend 4 hrs a week updating student information and class lists on the computer can reallocate that time towards students

• (ROI can be seen in better utilization of resources as well as bottom line numbers)

SIF Benefits

Teachers Real-time access to critical

information

Better data analysis

Teachers time better spent

Students & Parents

Improved teaching and learning processes

Availability of school andstudent data

Increased efficiency

IT Departments Reduced support costs

Reduced time needed to manage multiple data sources

Save money using existing systems and infrastructure

Administrators Increased efficiency

Reduced redundancy & errors

Reduced compatibility issues

ROI Calculator