Web Services

This page provides an introduction to standards issues around Web services. See also the Recommended standards on Web services.

What are web services?

Web services "are self-contained business functions that operate over the Internet." The main impetus for their development comes from the business world and in this context they are further described as:

"… written to strict specifications to work together and with other similar kinds of components. Some of the more established functions at this stage are messaging, directories of business capabilities, and descriptions of technical services. But other functions are in the works as well.

Web services are important to business because they enable systems in different companies to interact with each other, more easily than before. With businesses needing closer cooperation between suppliers and customers, engaging in more joint ventures and short-term marketing alliances, pursuing opportunities in new lines of business, and facing the prospect of more mergers and acquisitions, companies need the capability to link up their systems quickly with other companies. Thus Web services give companies… the capability do more business electronically, with more potential business partners, in more and different ways than before, and at reasonable cost."

"Web services are still a work in progress. Some of the standards are still new and not fully tested, and many of the potential business uses are still getting started. But companies should start planning for Web services, and asking vendors for their plans to support Web services."

Alan Kotok in Tell me about Web services, and make it quick, http://www.webservices.org/categories/enterprise/tell_me_about_web_services_and_make_it_quick/

Many of the requirements for modular online services that support services and transactions between collaborating organisations apply as much in the government and education domains as they do in business.

Examples of possible web services for the VET sector include:

News feeds (eg using RSS) to allow automated exchange of news and changes to resource collections (eg new resources available).
Access to key coding systems (eg NTIS codes as they are updated automatically transferred to other sites such as Resource Generator, AEShareNet Central System)
Automated licence transactions (eg a request for an object from a Learning Object Repository automatically transacts an AEShareNet licence to cover use of material).
Automatic materials ordering - once desired resources has been located using a search such as EdNA Online, transactions requesting copies can be initiated without having to register at multiple different locations.

What are the advantages for interoperability?

Adopting a web services model:

Allows organisations to access information and services from other organisations and use them to create their own services.
Reduces the cost and complexity of developing new online services by making component services available for reuse.
Ensure that the latest information can be accessed from other organisations 24 hours a day.
Allows one-stop services to be created for users that are composed of component services from different organisations (for example searching for, licensing and obtaining learning resources).

Examples of services in action

Below are links to examples of webservices. The examples cover browse, search and RSS feeds. More information is available on the lead page for each type of service.

Scenario following Jane's experiences

How can the business of e-learning in the VET sector be improved by the use of Web Services? Follow Jane through her quest to incorporate freely available web services into her e-learning program. Discover how she improves her business by

improving response times
streamlining assessment
creating a workplace mentor community to support her and her students
improving and streamlining resource and information provision to students
whilst reducing her own workload

Follow Jane's journey - Web services in e-learning

What web services are available to the VET sector already?

RSS news feeds are supplied by EdNA Online, NCVER and training.com.au.

The EdNA Online Web Services allow education and training organisation to incorporate a variety of services available from EdNA Online into their own websites. Visit: http://www.edna.edu.au/edna/go/resources/toolkit

The National Training Information Service provides a range of web services to access its database of Training Packages, Qualifications, Courses, Units of Competency and Registered Training Organisations. For more information contact navhelp@info.training.com.au

The Google APIs (http://www.google.com/apis/) are an example of a web service which supports the creation of services which use the Google search capabilities.

Further information

The article Web Services Technologies, by Diane McDonald, University of Strathclyde, May 2003 provides an overview of web services technologies with particular relevance to the UK Higher Education and Further Education sectors. It includes descriptions of future developments of relevance to these sectors and an assessment of likely benefits, costs, risks involved and timelines for implementation of WST within the sectors.
http://www.jisc.ac.uk/index.cfm?name=techwatch_report_0304

The Interoperability Technical Framework for the Commonwealth Government, June 2003, sets out the case for interoperability in government services. It is explicitly based on a web services model and includes descriptions of relevant open standards to support web services.
http://www.noie.gov.au/services/technical_nteroperability_framewor