History 2002-2011
Keeping JISC Outputs Safe
Prior to 2002, there was no mechanism to ensure that the outputs of JISC-funded learning and teaching projects were still available after the project end dates, once staff had moved on and project websites were discontinued. Consequently, JISC commissioned a project in 2002 to scope and develop a place to keep project outputs safe: a Learning Objects Repository for UK Higher and Further Education.
The UK National Data Centres, EDINA (based at the University of Edinburgh) and Mimas (based at the University of Manchester), were chosen to conduct this project, which became known as Jorum.
Supporting Repurposing
In February 2002, JISC also invited proposals for projects to ‘explore the re-purposing of existing and forthcoming JISC-funded content suitable for use in learning’ under the Exchange for Learning (X4L) Programme. EDINA and Mimas responded to this invitation with a proposal to add a ‘development bay’ to Jorum, which would support the repurposing of learning resources. JISC combined the original ‘repository’ proposal with this second ‘development bay’ proposal, and provided funding from October 2002.
The Jorum team worked with the UK education community to identify potential users and their requirements. A content development tool was made available, test systems were set up, and the X4L projects were reviewed to evaluate their ‘outputs with respect to their potential as re-usable IMS-compliant learning materials’.
Establishing a Service
In 2004, JISC decided to fund the set-up and launch of a full Jorum service, available to all Further and Higher Education institutions in the UK. During this set-up period, both data centres collaborated on promotion and outreach, and Mimas led the procurement of the software system. EDINA then worked with Intrallect, the chosen system provider, on the technical implementation.
EDINA also developed the legal framework for the service. With JISC seeking to minimise legal risk, and smaller institutions keen to secure access to the resources in Jorum but unsure that they would have content to deposit, it was decided to create an ‘institutional’ licence model consisting of two licences: a licence to deposit content in Jorum, and another to use content from Jorum.
From November 2005, registered staff members from UK educational institutions were able to deposit learning resources into Jorum. All staff at registered institutions could access these resources from January 2006. By August 2008, over 2200 resources had been deposited by approximately 90 institutions, and over 400 institutions had registered to use the service. The original ‘development bay’ had also been replaced by the Jorum Community Bay, which provided information on, and enabled users to discuss their experiences of, creating and reusing learning resources.
More information about this period of Jorum’s development can be found in the Jorum History Document 2002-2008.
Moving to Open
The JISC OER Programme began in April 2009, and aimed to support the release of Open Educational Resources under Creative Commons licences. The Jorum team worked closely with this programme, providing a deposit tool by June 2009 as an interim measure, whilst simultaneously developing a customised version of the open-source DSpace platform for learning and teaching resources.
Following trials with programme participants in 2009, this customised DSpace was launched in January 2010 as “JorumOpen”. In February 2011 support for the Jorum EducationUK licence was added, and Jorum’s collections were consolidated onto the DSpace platform. By July 2011 Jorum contained 11819 resources licensed under Creative Commons licences, 62 under the EducationUK licence, and 2392 under the original ‘institutional’ licence.
During this period, Mimas led the engagement and promotion activities of Jorum, and developed the (Jorum website)[http://www.jorum.ac.uk]. EDINA led the development of the legal, content and support elements, as well as developing and maintaining the technical infrastructure (including development of the DSpace repository and the Interim Deposit Tool).
Transition to Service
In May 2011, following a competitive process between the two data centres, Mimas were chosen to take Jorum forward into service.
Related Information
Jorum History Document 2002-2008
Jorum listens: Towards a new vision and approach (Mimas news story, May 2011)
EDINA’s Role in Jorum
Jorum DSpace Customisations