[QTI] QTI 2.1 draft specification withdrawn - A Reasonable Perspective

[Colin Smythe]

Hi List,

There seems to be an over reaction to the withdrawal of the draft 
v2.1 QTI specification.

IMS has worked on the QTI specification since 1999.  Thousands of 
hours have been spent by many people and organizations on working on 
the various versions.

For the past two years, the IMS process has required proven 
interoperability demonstration, by IMS Members, as a requirement 
before a specification is released to the public.  This change of 
process took place as the QTI specification was released in the old 
Public Draft format.  The change of process was unanimously supported 
by the IMS Members (including JISC).

At the time of the QTI Pubic Draft release, IMS erred on communal 
visibility as opposed to withdrawing the specification and enforcing 
the new process.  However, in the years since the release of the 
Public Draft, IMS has still be UNABLE to demonstrate interoperability 
of the QTI specification; remember this requires showing it between 
IMS Contributing members and/or IMS Affiliates.

In effect IMS is now hostage to its own process.  Formally, there is 
little option except to withdraw the current draft and to look at how 
we can get to a public Final specification as soon as possible.  Be 
under NO DOUBT, IMS QTI v2.1/* will become a Final Specification; we 
all share that desire.

For IMS, the issue is how to get there within the agreed IMS process. 
For all of you that have working implementations, then become IMS 
Members/Affiliates and help get the specification finished.  If you 
are already an IMS Member then make sure you participate in the new 
Project Group activity.

Having 'invisible' implementations and complaining on this list will 
not help get the specification completed.  Please become a part of 
the solution; that way you will get the solution you want.


For those of you who cannot or will not become IMS Members then you 
are hostage to what the IMS Members produce.  You can take the view 
that IMS is an evil/unreasonable entity doing its best to make life 
difficult for those organizations who wish to adopt and advocate its 
work.  If you are of that opinion then I suggest your own ethic would 
demand you not to use IMS work.  Or, you can be tolerant of the 
occasional weak piece of communication and accept that we (IMS) are 
doing our imperfect best.

Anyone who wishes to receive the withdrawn specification can get a 
copy from Lisa Mattson IMS COO - lmattson at imsglobal.org).

I also suggest you join the formal IMS community lists (these are 
open to the public - but requires registration).  Use the URL: 
http://www.imsglobal.org/register/welcome.cfm.  This will ensure that 
you get the full attention of IMS.


Colin S.


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IMS Global Learning Consortium * Innovation * Adoption * Learning
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Colin Smythe
Chief Architect
IMS Global Learning Consortium Inc.

Tel: +44-(0)114-2334009
Fax: +44-(0)114-2334009
Mobile: +44-(0)793-2636911
SkypeName: dunelmcolins
SkypeIn(UK): +44(0)20-7193-5892
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Email: csmythe at imsglobal.org
Web: http://www.imsglobal.org
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