Navigator for Instructors

What should Technology Partners (who will use our API layer to extend workflows) be prepared for?

Partners need to have an understanding of SSO models and should be using an identity provisioning system that can be configured at Navigator for SSO flows.
Partners should be able to share their roster data in OneRoster standards format, or via ClassLink Roster API.
Partners should be able to understand competency-based learning models, bring in the frameworks of interest, and be able to map the frameworks to other similar frameworks.
Partners should be able to identify, create, and curate content relevant to the competency model of interest; and be able to setup content working together with NLC.
Partners should be able to use shared API that requires an understanding of RESTful services and sync/async mechanisms to extend any workflows in their products to bring Navigator into play.
Partners should be able to push data (either as xAPI or Navigator specific data-in format) via shared API.
Partners should be able to sync data (either LTI outcomes or xAPI or Navigator specific data-out format) to their system via a shared API model.

What tool or rubric are you using for the quality assurance of instructional materials?

Gooru courses have undergone a badging process to ensure they meet standards for content quality and that they support personalized learning and instruction. Resources are evaluated against the Gooru Quality Content Rubric, and are peer-reviewed to ensure the course is an exemplary representation of the district or organization that designed and implemented it.

How is quality implemented and assessed? What is the vetting or review process for content?

The Gooru catalog was originally scaffolded with content from highly recommended educational websites and then supplemented with resources acquired through content partnerships. Organizations such as the Schusterman Foundation, Cisco, The Hewlett Foundation, and Lockheed Martin provide funding and expert advice to support the creation of quality content.
Before they are added to Gooru, resources are vetted in a multi-step process. The Gooru team monitors newly uploaded resources to ensure the content is appropriate and adheres to the “wiki” model, in which users share communal responsibility to keep Gooru safe and appropriate for student use. In addition, Gooru works to feature resources with significant educational value and without aggressive advertising.

Are Gooru resources and courses aligned to state and national standards, and if so, which states and national standards are available?

Educators can easily find content by national Common Core Standards, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and the College, Career, and Civic Life Framework for Social Studies State Standards (C3). Additional standards are in the works and customers can inquire directly to itslearning for updated availability and timetables.

What is the source of Gooru content? Who authors c?

In addition to the contributions of educators around the world, Gooru indexes and organizes millions of resources from more than 500 publishers that cover a range of K-12 topics such as math, science, English language arts, and social studies. Publisher sources include the Smithsonian, WolframMathWorld, the Library of Congress, National Geographic, PBS Kids, NBC Learn, Scholastic, ReadWriteThink, Time4Writing, and many more.

What is the technology stack of Learning Navigator?

NLC embraces open-source technologies in realizing the Navigator and at a broad-level following are the guiding design principles used:
- Microservices architecture for better scale
- RESTful API with JSON responses to access core features
- Consistent API design for ease of development
- Open-source technologies at all layers of solution
- Queuing over message bus for communication across microservices
- Localization support
- Scalable with minimum footprint
- Deploy not tied to custom infrastructure
Consequently, the choice of technology reflects the same:
- Ubuntu Linux OS is the choice of development and deploy environment
- Java-based microservices implementation
- Postgres database as primary datastore
- ElasticSearch extensions for search engine
- Postgres based datastore for analytics data
- Kafka as a message bus for data relay across microservices
- AWS hosting environment, leverage at infra-level and not custom services
- Github for source code management
- Atlassian Bamboo for CI/CD
- Atlassian Jira for product backlog, releases and bug tracking

What does it mean to have tenancy on Navigator? What is sub-tenancy?

Tenancy setup at Navigator provides for isolation of content, identity, and data. Partners can choose to bring their content for their private use; and restrict access to data for users within the partner group. Tenancy setup ensures this isolation. In addition, tenancy will support customization of Navigator to the extent of usage of specific competency model, framework, etc; and access to additional tenant-level aggregate reports.
Sub-tenancy can be imagined as a controlled group within the tenant set up like a department requiring its own data isolation within the organization but access allowed to parent tenant users but not to peer departments. Sub-tenant, from a structure and setup perspective, is no different from a tenant.

How can Implementers be onboarded onto NLC?

Support Competency Framework development- includes Competency definition, Crosswalks, GUT, content development based on competencies
Rostering of their student/teacher users into Navigator classes
Course building to enable implementation
Product interface customisations, if any
Gather data on implementation

What happens when content resides in 2 different systems and there are constant metadata updates in Partner’s systems. Does metadata updates in partner’s systems need to be periodically updated in the Navigator?

Yes, this would be a necessity.

Is Navigator an authoring tool?

Learning Navigator is not an authoring tool, it only indexes content
Also, Navigator doesn’t store content; actual content resides in repositories like Google Drive and other parts of the cloud