New Improved New Improved WebLearnWebLearn Service Service
Adam Marshall,Adam Marshall,Learning Technologies Group,Learning Technologies Group,OUCS,OUCS,Oxford University.Oxford University.
Topics CoveredTopics Covered
Current situationCurrent situation Factors for changeFactors for change The new WebLearn serviceThe new WebLearn service What’s new forWhat’s new for
– Teachers (& students)Teachers (& students)– ResearchersResearchers– Administration usersAdministration users
Summary of new featuresSummary of new features Data migrationData migration Pilot servicePilot service
Introduced 2003
WebLearn UsageWebLearn Usage
Bodington - Solid & Bodington - Solid & FunctionalFunctional
So what’s the problem? So what’s the problem?
Users!Users!
Seriously:Seriously:
Any service must constantly improveAny service must constantly improve Lots of requests for enhancementsLots of requests for enhancements Time-consuming to addressTime-consuming to address Small community – just us!Small community – just us!
We looked into how to satisfy requests.We looked into how to satisfy requests.
Enhanced BodingtonEnhanced Bodington
SolutionSolution
Must retain best aspects:Must retain best aspects: Devolved adminDevolved admin Access control Access control FlexibilityFlexibility StructureStructure MyWebLearnMyWebLearn
So change the So change the frameworkframework
The answer is Sakai!The answer is Sakai!
Why Sakai?Why Sakai?
Satisfies original requirements Satisfies original requirements tinyurl.com/yvf3mjtinyurl.com/yvf3mj
LOTS of new tools - laterLOTS of new tools - later Enterprise scalableEnterprise scalable Open sourceOpen source Good communityGood community
– WorldwideWorldwide– EuropeEurope– UKUK
StakeholdersStakeholders
Top 10 Stakeholder Top 10 Stakeholder RequestsRequests1.1. Better interfaceBetter interface2.2. Better usabilityBetter usability3.3. More effective searchMore effective search4.4. Mailing listsMailing lists5.5. Better trackingBetter tracking6.6. CalendarCalendar7.7. AnnouncementsAnnouncements8.8. Better management of documentsBetter management of documents9.9. Simpler access controlSimpler access control10.10. Better discussion forumBetter discussion forum
TeachersTeachers
5 Features for Teachers5 Features for Teachers
Better ‘uploaded files’Better ‘uploaded files’ Site members* (class-list)Site members* (class-list) Discussion forumDiscussion forum AnnouncementAnnouncement TrackingTracking
* Bodington ‘Room’ = Sakai ‘Site’* Bodington ‘Room’ = Sakai ‘Site’
Resources (Uploaded files)Resources (Uploaded files)
Short movie demonstrating Short movie demonstrating fileuploadfileupload
Site MembersSite Members
Discussion ForumDiscussion Forum
Public / Private Public / Private AnnouncementAnnouncement
TrackingTracking
moviemovie
Facebook (& iGoogle)Facebook (& iGoogle)
ResearchersResearchers
5 Features for Researchers5 Features for Researchers
Collaborative wikiCollaborative wiki CalendarCalendar Mail listMail list Research diaryResearch diary Public access (google search)Public access (google search)
CalendarCalendar
Mail Lists / Mail ArchiveMail Lists / Mail Archive
Research DiaryResearch Diary
Research Diary - EntryResearch Diary - Entry
AdministratorsAdministrators
5 Features for 5 Features for AdministratorsAdministrators Search really works (Word, PDF, PPT)Search really works (Word, PDF, PPT) Much simpler access controlMuch simpler access control Upload easier – webDAVUpload easier – webDAV Can organise documents in folders Can organise documents in folders
and edit ‘in-place’and edit ‘in-place’ Can easily customise toolset to Can easily customise toolset to
match purposematch purpose
SearchSearch
Short movie demonstrating searcShort movie demonstrating searchh
Easier Access ControlEasier Access Control
Groups (Basic)Groups (Basic)
Resources – CategorisedResources – Categorised
Customisable ToolsetCustomisable Toolset
Other ToolsOther Tools
Web LinksWeb Links News (RSS)News (RSS) SyllabusSyllabus ChatChat Questionnaire / Quiz – more question typesQuestionnaire / Quiz – more question types EvaluationEvaluation PollPoll Tutorial sign-up (coming!)Tutorial sign-up (coming!)
Tool ComparisonTool Comparison
Bodington tools are betteredBodington tools are bettered No Buildings / Floors! No Buildings / Floors! We are writingWe are writing
– Hierarchy / devolved admin Hierarchy / devolved admin – Translate to UK EnglishTranslate to UK English– SSO login (‘Webauth’)SSO login (‘Webauth’)– Groups Service interfaceGroups Service interface– Bring tools in line with Bodington, new Bring tools in line with Bodington, new
EasyWriterEasyWriter– Content migration codeContent migration code
Moving Rooms?Moving Rooms?
Users want Users want us to do itus to do it
We want We want users to do users to do it!it!
We will provide toolsWe will provide tools
An opportunity to tidy up!An opportunity to tidy up!
Other InitiativesOther Initiatives
Groups ServiceGroups Service Accessibility study Accessibility study
– ““Better than WebLearn”Better than WebLearn” TrainingTraining
– CoursesCourses– VideosVideos– Documents (with Cambridge & Hull)Documents (with Cambridge & Hull)
Timeline – Key datesTimeline – Key dates
Now: Mini-pilotsNow: Mini-pilots Jun 2008: Pilot year (Sakai v2.5)Jun 2008: Pilot year (Sakai v2.5)
– Read only Groups ServiceRead only Groups Service– Data migrationData migration– Try out some trainingTry out some training
Sep 2008 Production hardware startsSep 2008 Production hardware starts Jun 2009 Production service (Sakai v2.6?)Jun 2009 Production service (Sakai v2.6?)
– Dual service, single loginDual service, single login– Read write Groups ServiceRead write Groups Service– Training starts week 8Training starts week 8– Data migrationData migration
Sep 2011 Bodington becomes read only – we Sep 2011 Bodington becomes read only – we think.think.
Pilots – We need youPilots – We need you Mini pilots NOWMini pilots NOW Year-long pilots start June 08Year-long pilots start June 08 Will offer personal attention:Will offer personal attention:
– TrainingTraining– Help with content migrationHelp with content migration– Initial assistance with site set-Initial assistance with site set-
upup– Best practise tipsBest practise tips
You give us feedback!You give us feedback! ‘‘Early adopters’ siteEarly adopters’ site
THE URLTHE URL
beta.weblearn.ox.ac.ukbeta.weblearn.ox.ac.uk
FinFin