Lotus LearningSpace R5 Deployment Guide

Transcription

1 Front cover Lotus LearningSpace R5 Deployment Guide An introduction and overview of Lotus LearningSpace R5 Planning for and installing LearningSpace R5 Adminstration topics and reports Mike Ebbers Lukas Bootz Gene Kelkres Robert Laszlo Jim Parry Sebastian Thomschke Leon Van Zyl ibm.com/redbooks

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3 International Technical Support Organization Lotus LearningSpace R5 Deployment Guide September 2002 SG

4 Note: Before using this information and the product it supports, read the information in Notices on page xi. First Edition (September 2002) This edition applies to Release 5 Modification 01 of Lotus LearningSpace (product number D5CQ0LL). Copyright International Business Machines Corporation All rights reserved. Note to U.S. Government Users Restricted Rights -- Use, duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp.

5 Contents Notices xi Trademarks xii Preface xiii The team that wrote this redbook xiii Become a published author xv Comments welcome xv Part 1. Introduction Chapter 1. About LearningSpace What is e-learning The IBM 4-Tier Learning Model What is LearningSpace LearningSpace 5 vs Collaboration Module Version 5 vs. Version SCORM 1.1 compliance information Chapter 2. Licensing considerations LearningSpace user licensing Third party database management systems Crystal Reports Part 2. Planning Chapter 3. Cultural adoption and corporate readiness Introduction Step I: Share the vision across the corporation Step II: Lay the foundations for e-learning strategy Step III: Implement the strategy Step IV: Transitioning to new roles Traditional roles Roles in the LearningSpace environment Step V: Assessing the effectiveness of e-learning Further reading on these topics Chapter 4. Architecture overview Core server Content server Relational database management system Copyright IBM Corp All rights reserved. iii

6 4.4 Collaboration server Domino server Overview of components and tasks DataFlow Conclusion Chapter 5. Hardware and software requirements General requirements Requirements for database servers Hardware requirements Software requirements Time zone settings Requirements for LearningSpace servers Hardware requirements Software requirements for Core and Collaboration servers Software requirements for Core server only Content and authoring tools IBM tools Client requirements Hardware requirements Software requirements Chapter 6. Architecture considerations Network analysis Network planning Network protection Hardware right-sizing Hardware components Administrative decisions Users Load balancing Core servers Collaboration servers Database servers Recovery Monitoring Backup strategy Part 3. Installation Chapter 7. Pre-installation Gathering necessary information Recommended basic environment Exploring the LearningSpace documentation iv Lotus LearningSpace R5.01 Deployment Guide

7 7.2 Operating system Operating system suggestions IP addresses and host names Additional installations for the Core server Internet Information Services File Transfer Protocol Additional Microsoft components System security Microsoft security tools Directory security Using a security template Securing IIS Anti-virus software Using SSL Chapter 8. Setting up Core servers Before you begin Set up the database connectivity Prepare ODBC access Create the LearningSpace Core database Create a database user account for LearningSpace Core Create an ODBC data source connection Install the LearningSpace Core software Verify the installation Check for installed LearningSpace icons Check IIS settings Try to access the administration interface Configure the Core server Changing the password of the default administrator account Changing Core settings Additional Core servers If you want to connect to the same Core database If Core servers are also content servers Chapter 9. Setting up Collaboration servers Before you begin Install the software package Configure the server Enabling Collaboration synchronization Enabling Single Logon Additional Collaboration servers Chapter 10. Setting up LearningSpace clients Client requirements Contents v

8 10.2 Browser settings Browser plug-ins Chapter 11. Troubleshooting Verifying the environment Known problems Internet Explorer error messages Core Database connection problems Tracking does not work Java exception Test host connection fails in Collaboration settings page Collaboration problems Where to get more information Chapter 12. Integration with external systems IBM Mindspan InterOpt Part 4. Administration Chapter 13. Using multiple databases Using LearningSpace Database Utility Creating additional databases Setting up an additional database Applying LearningSpace startup design to a database Registering the database for use by LearningSpace Duplicating database-specific files in IIS Configuring FTP settings for publishing assessments Making the access of additional databases easier Restarting the Internet Information Services Handling LearningSpace preferences remotely Using remote administering clients Using the registry editor Using LearningSpace Database Utility remotely Chapter 14. Populating with users User profiles - the tool for creating groups User profiles - controlling access User profile design checklist Reduced database diagram for permissions Registering users Manual user registration Importing users from a text file Importing users from a Domino server Importing users from existing HR systems vi Lotus LearningSpace R5.01 Deployment Guide

9 Maintaining a hybrid import model Authentication Authentication against LearningSpace Users table Authentication against Domino directory Authentication against an LDAP directory Authentication against LearningSpace Collaboration server Chapter 15. Populating with content Scenarios about placing the courseware Providing content with a LearningSpace Core server Storing content on local or remote servers Storing content on Domino servers Creating a course structure Assigning responsibility Including assessments and tracking Creating questions Creating assessments Including assessments in course structure Tracking Custom assessments Exporting and importing AICC-compliant courses Collaboration content Integrating third-party content Organizing content Course profiles Chapter 16. User enrollment Manual enrollment Self-enrollment Enrollment on the LearningSpace administrator interface Auto-enrollment using user profiles Auto-enrollment on LearningSpace administrator interface Auto-enrollment during text file import Unenrollment Self-unenrollment Unenrollment on LearningSpace administrator interface Auto-enrollment with profiles and unenrollment Chapter 17. Maintaining the LearningSpace system Server maintenance plan Maintenance tasks in detail Determining fully qualified host names and TCP/IP addresses Viewing and saving the Windows event log Roles and responsibilities Contents vii

10 Suggested LearningSpace server restart sequence Starting and stopping a Collaboration server Chapter 18. Reporting Standard reports Determining reporting needs Generating standard reports in the reporter module Known issues with standard reports Reporting administrative tasks Reporter permissions Reports permissions Reporting technical aspects LearningSpace 5 reports and the database structure The LearningSpace 5.01 database tables Generating custom reports Report customization requirements Creating custom ASP reports Editing an existing Crystal Reports report Creating a custom report using Crystal Reports Inserting custom reports into Lotus LearningSpace Known issues with custom reports Part 5. Appendix Appendix A. LearningSpace default module permissions A.1 Course catalog permissions A.2 Enrollment module permissions A.3 Global module permissions A.4 Home module permissions A.5 Learning home module permissions A.6 Materials module permissions A.7 My courses permissions A.8 Planner Module Permission A.9 Profiles Module Permissions A.10 Reporter module permissions A.11 Reports module permissions A.12 Results module permissions A.13 Users module permissions Related publications IBM Redbooks Other resources Referenced Web sites How to get IBM Redbooks viii Lotus LearningSpace R5.01 Deployment Guide

11 IBM Redbooks collections Index Contents ix

12 x Lotus LearningSpace R5.01 Deployment Guide

13 Notices This information was developed for products and services offered in the U.S.A. IBM may not offer the products, services, or features discussed in this document in other countries. Consult your local IBM representative for information on the products and services currently available in your area. Any reference to an IBM product, program, or service is not intended to state or imply that only that IBM product, program, or service may be used. Any functionally equivalent product, program, or service that does not infringe any IBM intellectual property right may be used instead. However, it is the user's responsibility to evaluate and verify the operation of any non-ibm product, program, or service. IBM may have patents or pending patent applications covering subject matter described in this document. The furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents. You can send license inquiries, in writing, to: IBM Director of Licensing, IBM Corporation, North Castle Drive Armonk, NY U.S.A. The following paragraph does not apply to the United Kingdom or any other country where such provisions are inconsistent with local law: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION PROVIDES THIS PUBLICATION "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Some states do not allow disclaimer of express or implied warranties in certain transactions, therefore, this statement may not apply to you. This information could include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to the information herein; these changes will be incorporated in new editions of the publication. IBM may make improvements and/or changes in the product(s) and/or the program(s) described in this publication at any time without notice. Any references in this information to non-ibm Web sites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those Web sites. The materials at those Web sites are not part of the materials for this IBM product and use of those Web sites is at your own risk. IBM may use or distribute any of the information you supply in any way it believes appropriate without incurring any obligation to you. Information concerning non-ibm products was obtained from the suppliers of those products, their published announcements or other publicly available sources. IBM has not tested those products and cannot confirm the accuracy of performance, compatibility or any other claims related to non-ibm products. Questions on the capabilities of non-ibm products should be addressed to the suppliers of those products. This information contains examples of data and reports used in daily business operations. To illustrate them as completely as possible, the examples include the names of individuals, companies, brands, and products. All of these names are fictitious and any similarity to the names and addresses used by an actual business enterprise is entirely coincidental. COPYRIGHT LICENSE: This information contains sample application programs in source language, which illustrates programming techniques on various operating platforms. You may copy, modify, and distribute these sample programs in any form without payment to IBM, for the purposes of developing, using, marketing or distributing application programs conforming to the application programming interface for the operating platform for which the sample programs are written. These examples have not been thoroughly tested under all conditions. IBM, therefore, cannot guarantee or imply reliability, serviceability, or function of these programs. You may copy, modify, and distribute these sample programs in any form without payment to IBM for the purposes of developing, using, marketing, or distributing application programs conforming to IBM's application programming interfaces. Copyright IBM Corp All rights reserved. xi

14 Trademarks The following terms are trademarks of the International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both: AIX AS/400 BookMaster DB2 DB2 Universal Database IBM iseries Mindspan MQSeries Nways OS/2 Perform PROFS Redbooks Redbooks(logo) S/390 SP SP2 Tivoli z/os zseries The following terms are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation and Lotus Development Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both: Approach Domino LearningSpace Lotus Lotus Enterprise Integrator Lotus Notes Lotus Sametime Notes Sametime Word Pro The following terms are trademarks of other companies: ActionMedia, LANDesk, MMX, Pentium and ProShare are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. Microsoft, Windows, Windows NT, and the Windows logo are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the United States, other countries, or both. C-bus is a trademark of Corollary, Inc. in the United States, other countries, or both. UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the United States and other countries. SET, SET Secure Electronic Transaction, and the SET Logo are trademarks owned by SET Secure Electronic Transaction LLC. Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others. These include: Sun Solaris, Microsoft NetMeeting, SmartForce, SkillSoft, crystal reports, Oracle, Macromedia, Macromedia Flash, Macromedia Dreamweaver, NETg, Norton AntiVirus, McAfee VirusScan xii Lotus LearningSpace R5.01 Deployment Guide

15 Preface This IBM Redbook describes Lotus LearningSpace R5 in detail. LearningSpace is a framework for managing and delivering online courses. It provides a Web interface and a back-end database for organizing, delivering, and tracking such courses. LearningSpace 5 provides tighter integration of its product components than previous versions. In addition, it offers many new features and tools to both the instructor and student. These include record and playback, improved audio/video, and breakout sessions, as well as enhanced administrative features. The popular topic of reporting is covered in detail. The book first introduces Lotus LearningSpace R5, and then discusses planning considerations. It goes on to explain the installation process, and concludes with a description of the administrative tasks, including reporting. This redbook will be useful to anyone who needs to plan for and deliver a Lotus LearningSpace R5 e-learning system. The team that wrote this redbook This redbook was produced by a team of specialists from around the world working at the International Technical Support Organization, Cambridge Center. Mike Ebbers is a senior IT specialist at the International Technical Support Organization, Cambridge Center. He produces redbooks and teaches IBM classes worldwide on topics such as Domino and MQSeries Workflow on z/os. Mike has spent 28 years in IBM doing technical marketing and education. He has been with the ITSO for seven years. Lukas Bootz is a Systems Engineer at Berbee Information Networks Corporation located in Madison, WI. He has been working with Lotus Applications for over five years and has been involved with LearningSpace, Sametime, Quickplace, and Domino implementations. Lukas holds BS degrees in Computer Information Systems and Business Administration. Lukas is a Certified Lotus Professional in Application Development. Gene Kelkres has experience in course development and teaching using a wide range of media. He has worked to transform technical writing and training groups by moving information online, improving interface and HELP screens, and Copyright IBM Corp All rights reserved. xiii

16 integrating usability testing into product and information development. For the past six years, he has supported organizational change at IBM through developing and delivering training both in person and online. Robert Laszlo is an IT professional working for EduCon SH in Hungary. He has been working for over six years in Domino administration and development and he has four years of experience in e-learning technology. Robert is a Certified Lotus Instructor, CLP Domino R5 Application Developer, and CLP Domino R5 Principal System Administrator. He creates interactive e-learning courseware and custom solutions for integrating Domino and LearningSpace. He also has experience in Web development, programming Java, Javascript, ActionScript, C++, and Delphi. Robert holds a degree in Computer Science from ELTE, Hungary. Jim Parry is a Software Developer working for Phillips Petroleum Company. He has over six years of experience in Lotus Domino Application Development and Lotus Domino Administration. Jim is a Certified Lotus Professional in Application Development. His areas of expertise include object-oriented design and programming, Java, Visual Basic, Web development, and client-server applications. Sebastian Thomschke is an IT specialist working for IBM Global Services at the E-Learning Competence Center Central Region. He has over four years of experience in Lotus Domino Application Development and was involved in many LearningSpace 4/5 projects in the last two years. Sebastian is a Certified Lotus Professional at the Principal level in Application Development. His areas of expertise include object-oriented analysis, design and programming, C++, Java, Visual Basic, Web development, and client/server applications. Sebastian has a degree in Business Administration from the Berufsakademie Berlin, Germany. Leon Van Zyl is an Advisory IT specialist working for IBM Global Services South Africa. He has three years of experience using Seagate Crystal Reports as a reporting solution and using Microsoft ASP for designing Web applications. He has two years experience in DB2 and Sybase IQ server for data warehousing. He has a B-TECH degree in Information Technology. Thanks to the following people for their contributions to this project: Tommi Tulisalo Bill Tworek International Technical Support Organization, Cambridge Center Guy Backlund Edward Dussourd David Jones Susan Lawler xiv Lotus LearningSpace R5.01 Deployment Guide

17 Martha Mealy Marc Pagnier George Poirier Andrew Sadler CJ Trayser Lotus Development, Cambridge/Westford Jenny Chow IBM Mindspan Solutions/Learning Services Become a published author Join us for a two- to six-week residency program! Help write an IBM Redbook dealing with specific products or solutions, while getting hands-on experience with leading-edge technologies. You'll team with IBM technical professionals, Business Partners and/or customers. Your efforts will help increase product acceptance and customer satisfaction. As a bonus, you'll develop a network of contacts in IBM development labs, and increase your productivity and marketability. Find out more about the residency program, browse the residency index, and apply online at: ibm.com/redbooks/residencies.html Comments welcome Your comments are important to us! We want our Redbooks to be as helpful as possible. Send us your comments about this or other Redbooks in one of the following ways: Use the online Contact us review redbook form found at: ibm.com/redbooks Send your comments in an Internet note to: redbook@us.ibm.com Mail your comments to: IBM Corporation, International Technical Support Organization Dept. TQH One Rogers Street Cambridge, Massachusetts Preface xv

18 xvi Lotus LearningSpace R5.01 Deployment Guide

19 Part 1 Part 1 Introduction In this part, we introduce the concept of e-learning. We discuss Lotus LearningSpace R5 (LS R5), its components, and licensing considerations. We compare LS R5 to its R4 predecessor. Copyright IBM Corp All rights reserved. 1

20 2 Lotus LearningSpace R5.01 Deployment Guide

21 1 Chapter 1. About LearningSpace In this chapter, we discuss the concept of e-learning and introduce Lotus LearningSpace. We compare R4 collaboration functions with R5 and we list compliance with SCORM guidelines. Copyright IBM Corp All rights reserved. 3

22 1.1 What is e-learning e-learning is technology-enabled. There are many types of e-learning technology, for example, the live virtual classroom. It is discussed in a companion redbook, Using the IBM Lotus LearningSpace - Virtual Classroom A Best Practices Guide to e-learning, SG IBM uses the IBM 4-Tier Learning Model to try to clarify these various types of e-learning. Most people will use what is called blended e-learning: using a variety of complementary e-learning types together. However, e-learning is more than just an electronically initiated way of transferring knowledge. The technology has evolved quickly from simple download-and-play modules to over-the-web just-in-time tutorials and courses that include pre- and post-assessments with the tracking necessary for a degree program. There are many possibilities for implementing e-learning. The great majority of organizations have only begun to search for ways to build and maintain ongoing capabilities in e-learning. According to a 1999 IBM Mindspan Solutions-sponsored Mercer Management Consulting study, most companies that are using distributed learning today have maintained the traditional focus on training (education in preparation for a specific job) and have not yet expanded their vision to the broader uses and possibilities offered by e-learning. These usage patterns will change as three trends emerge: 1. The emphasis will shift from training to continuous learning, from education in preparation for a job to education as a continuing activity within a career. Looking forward, the emphasis will continue to shift to performance support with the integration of knowledge management capabilities. 2. e-learning content will expand beyond its current concentration on IT and certification programs and will focus on meeting business needs: shortening time-to-market, integrating acquired operations, or implementing new systems, for example. 3. Customized content will become more important than off-the-shelf courseware as e-learning initiatives focus on an enterprise s structural goals. Mercer Management Consulting found that there are innovative enterprises that have moved beyond training to focus on e-learning as a tool for business process transformation. Many of these early adopters have had success with e-learning as the solution for a specific business process problem. Interestingly, the champions who have fostered these successes have not always been directors of training programs. Instead, they have come from across the organization in areas such as sales and marketing, with e-learning used to speed new product rollouts, for example, or to maximize time spent with customers. 4 Lotus LearningSpace R5.01 Deployment Guide

23 e-learning will most probably be a feature of your corporate learning policy. There is a growing trend towards the implementation of e-learning in corporate learning. In fact, according to Online Learning Magazine, the percentage of organizations using e-learning to train employees grew from 16% in 2000 to 24% in Where does Lotus LearningSpace fit in? Lotus LearningSpace 5 brings new capabilities to e-learning, and provides a complete, Web-based system available for blended and collaborative learning. Lotus LearningSpace 5 is an open, standards-based solution delivering enhancements around real-time collaboration, and for customers using Lotus Notes and Lotus Domino, it provides increased support of the Lotus Domino infrastructure. With Lotus LearningSpace 5, users can incorporate new and existing course material from industry-leading content vendors, including SmartForce, Skillsoft, and Thompson Corporation's NETg. Customers can also turn to IBM Mindspan Solutions custom content development to create an entire customized curriculum The IBM 4-Tier Learning Model To really acquire and master a skill, it is not sufficient to simply listen to someone explain it to you. You need practice and experience. Gaining those skills can be managed individually, but as any educational study will show, people learn better in teams. The same is true in an e-learning environment. Instructor-centric models, for example, Web lectures, are fine for information transfer. To really acquire a skill, however, the model has to allow the learner to take control and practice. True learning of how to apply that skill requires at least some basic interaction with a person or learning system. In order to progress, greater levels of interaction and collaboration are required. This could be between many learners, or between the learner and the instructor, or both. Ultimately, to really master a skill, the learner needs to apply that skill in a real-life situation. As we progress up the learning chain, so the level of collaboration has to increase. This increase in collaboration is one of the key principles behind IBM s 4-Tier Learning Model. This is the model with which IBM is now building its own internal education. The model describes the educational and collaborative spectrum. It starts with low level information exchange, and extends to mastery. It is also a model that is not 100% e-learning. This model assumes that e-learning will never fully replace traditional classroom training. There will always be the need at some stage in the skills development to get learners together with an expert. The four tiers are described in the following sections. Chapter 1. About LearningSpace 5

24 Tier 1: Learn from Information Read it, see it, hear it. Basic knowledge transfer is ideal for new product launches, corporate strategy, or organizational announcements. These are materials where learners can quickly and simply get the information they need. Examples of tools used in Tier 1 e-learning are: Informational Web pages Online help Streaming audio Videos Recorded live virtual classroom sessions Web books Web lectures Tier 2: Learn from Interaction Try it, practice it. Interaction in this tier is between the learner and a computer system - not with other learners or teachers. These are self-paced activities. The materials used in Tier 2 are usually specially designed for learning purposes. Various vendors, like SmartForce and NetG, offer standard course materials. Organizations can decide to create these materials themselves using tools like AuthorWare, Dreamweaver (both from Macromedia) or IBM Knowledge Producer or Simulation Producer. Examples of e-learning tools in Tier 2 include: CBTs/WBTs Interactive games Simulation programs Self directed learning objects Quizzes, tests, and assignments corrected by the system Tier 3: Learn from Collaboration Discuss it, practice it with others. Communication is facilitated by technology, which means that learners and teachers can work from different places. Collaboration tools enable learner to learner communication, group learning, or learner-instructor communication. Combining all these can form a sense of a learning community. Collaborative e-learning can be asynchronous or synchronous. Asynchronous collaboration Asynchronous collaboration tools do not require learners and teachers to be online at the same time to communicate with each other. Messages, questions, or assignments can be posted and answered at any moment. Others can read them and respond when they are online. 6 Lotus LearningSpace R5.01 Deployment Guide

25 The following are examples of asynchronous tools that can be used in an e-learning environment: Discussion forums Question and answer forums Individual or group assignments corrected by teachers TeamRooms Synchronous collaboration Synchronous collaboration provides online communication in real-time. Teachers and learners come together electronically at a given time, without leaving the workplace or home; they use tools such as chat, audio, video, and whiteboards. The following are examples of synchronous tools used for learning purposes: Live virtual classroom Instant messaging e-meetings Tier 4: Learn from Co-location Live it, experiment. Finally, classroom and mentoring take their place. Tier 4 represents high-level learning activities that do not rely on technology. There will always remain situations where traditional classroom-based trainings will be most effective, where learners need to get together with an expert and physically interact with others or with objects. For more information on the IBM 4-Tier Learning Model, see Using the IBM Lotus LearningSpace - Virtual Classroom A Best Practices Guide to e-learning, SG This companion redbook also covers such topics as the evolution, value propositions, and Return On Investment (ROI) of e-learning. 1.2 What is LearningSpace LearningSpace is a framework for managing and delivering online courses. LearningSpace provides a Web interface and a back-end database for organizing, delivering, and tracking online courses. Course content comes from one of several authoring tools. After course content is incorporated into LearningSpace, it can be managed by course authors and delivered to students in their Web browsers. Chapter 1. About LearningSpace 7

26 The LearningSpace framework can include some or all of the following components: 1. Core module (Required) The Core module stores the structure of each course and contains the URLs referencing activities within the course. Every LearningSpace installation uses at least one Core module, which may be on its own server or may share a machine with other applications. You may also use multiple Core servers, which lets you balance user load, and if necessary, distribute the servers geographically. 2. Collaboration module (Optional) The Collaboration module is an optional module, which stores some of the materials for interactive course activities and manages discussion areas for courses. The Collaboration module allows students to chat online with other students and their instructors. It also enables instructors to share applications and contains an interactive whiteboard for instructors to graphically explain their subject. In addition, the instructor can share Web sites and questions with the class. Like the Core module, you can use multiple Collaboration servers, which lets you balance user load, and if necessary, distribute the servers geographically. 3. Relational database management system (Required) The relational database management system (RDBMS) stores the user, course, and assessment data. The RDBMS can reside on the same machine as the LearningSpace software for a small installation, but generally resides on a separate machine for performance reasons. The RDBMS system can be any of the following relational database management systems: Microsoft SQL Oracle IBM DB2 Universal Database 4. Course content files (Required) The course content files usually come from third-party vendors, such as SkillSoft, Smart Force, and NETg. Course content can also be created with one of several available authoring tools, such as Macromedia Dreamweaver, or within the Mastering module of LearningSpace. LearningSpace also supports the use of LAN-based content. These are courses packaged as executable files, CBT (computer based training), or high bandwidth rich-media content. In addition to being stored on network drives, content can also be stored on local workstations to save bandwidth and to enhance the user's e-learning experience. 5. External Domino user directory (Optional) The External Domino user directory can optionally be used to import users 8 Lotus LearningSpace R5.01 Deployment Guide

27 into LearningSpace. Currently, Lotus Domino R5 is the only external directory supported. Domino installations typically use Domino s built-in mail feature as their corporate-wide product, with the Domino directory serving as the corporate user directory. Rather than re-create and maintain a separate set of users in LearningSpace Core, you can automatically import user information from the External Domino user directory into the LearningSpace database and have it updated periodically. In addition to importing users from the Domino user directory, users can also be created in the LearningSpace core manually. 6. Reports The reporting component of LearningSpace offers summaries of student progress, course enrollment, and comparison of test scores, and highlights potential weak spots in the training. LearningSpace provides the underlying Java and SQL technology to connect the following different components together: Web clients Database Course materials residing on a Content Server The LearningSpace user interface can be easily customized to fit your corporate look and feel. For example, links and objects can be added or removed, and logos, colors, fonts, buttons, and terminology can be modified easily. Navigation can be redirected, as in, for example, logoff pages and welcome screens. LearningSpace is compliant with both Aviation Industry CBT Committee (AICC) and Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) standards. Because LearningSpace provides the ability to support load balancing, it is suitable for both small and large installations. 1.3 LearningSpace 5 vs. 4 LearningSpace 5 has tighter integration than its previous versions. In addition, it provides many new features and tools for both the Instructor and Student. (R5.01 added improved support of SSL and other maintenance items.) Improved Audio/Video (A/V) LearningSpace 5 now supports client streaming, broadcast, and multicasting. The new Java based A/V client provides better firewall and proxy support for sessions using Audio/Video. It includes an A/V tuning wizard, which enables Chapter 1. About LearningSpace 9

28 end users to test their systems before using IP audio/video. Microsoft NetMeeting is no longer required. LearningSpace 5 now contains the ability to include the following three different question types: Ad hoc Ad hoc questions are questions created by an instructor during a live session. The instructor creates questions and denotes the answer (except for the open-ended question type). After the instructor creates a question, it appears in an ad hoc questions drop-down list on the instructor s screen. The instructor can either send out the question immediately or select a question from a drop-down list to send out to the students. The question appears in a window in front of the virtual classroom on the student s machine. The student selects or enters the answer (depending upon the ad hoc question type) and clicks the submit button to return the answer to the instructor. The response to this question appears next to the student s name in the instructor s participant list. The instructor can also look at the response section, which displays all students responses to the selected question in the form of raw numbers, percentages, or bar graphs. Ad hoc questions are not stored within the LearningSpace system; instead, they are automatically deleted when the session ends. The instructor can create ad hoc questions of the following types: Multiple Choice Multiple Choice, Choose Many (allows selecting more than one choice) True/False Yes/No Open Ended (essay type questions) Question Set A question set is a group of predefined questions. These questions come from the question pool in LearningSpace. They are essentially assessments created in the LearningSpace core where the instructor can choose individual questions to deliver to the students one at a time in any order. All questions do not have to be sent. Instead, the instructor determines which questions are sent. Like ad hoc questions, the question appears in a window in front of the virtual classroom on the student s machine. The student selects or enters the answer (depending upon the question type) and clicks the submit button to return the answer to the instructor. The response to this question appears next to the student s name in the View Individual Responses dialog box. The instructor can also look at the Q&A tab, which displays the students responses to the selected question in the form of a raw number, a percentage, or a bar graph. Students can view group responses to ad hoc questions and 10 Lotus LearningSpace R5.01 Deployment Guide

29 predefined questions delivered as question sets. Instructors have the ability to provide this access to students on a question-by-question basis. Anonymous Polling The instructor has the ability to send out questions for anonymous response. Responses are not identified by the students who submitted them. Follow Me Using Follow Me, the instructor can send Web site links to the students during a session. When the instructor sends a link to session participants, the students browsers open and display the Web page that the instructor has selected. The students browsers automatically switch to the new Web site address when the instructor sets a new link. New features in LearningSpace 5 allow the instructor to preview a URL before sending it to the class. Each URL that is sent will be launched in the same browser window, preventing unnecessary screen clutter on the student s machine. Persistent Materials Instructors are able to create and store Follow Me sets, whiteboards, and assessments that can be used in multiple sessions. LearningSpace 5 has integrated the creation and management of these materials more tightly in the LearningSpace 5 Core product. Record/Playback Live classroom session can now be recorded for later playback. The following session components are part of the recording: Audio Video Screen sharing Whiteboards with annotations How the Record/Playback feature works Only the Instructor can choose to record the session. Both broadcast and collaborative sessions can be recorded. The choice to record a session must be made before the session is started and cannot be changed once the class has begun. Recording is a binary decision, meaning either the entire session is recorded or it is not recorded at all. One cannot choose to selectively record segments of a session. The session is recorded on the server and played back by the students using a special player provided with the Collaboration module. Saving Session Materials Saving session materials provides a method to capture and refer back to the materials from a live session. This option allows the Chat Transcript or Whiteboard used in a session to be saved for later reference. Chapter 1. About LearningSpace 11

30 Saving a Chat Transcript Any session participant can save the transcript as a text file on his machine for later reference. Saving a Whiteboard Only the Instructor can save the whiteboard onto the Collaboration server. It is saved in Rich Text Format (RTF) or Lotus Sametime s native whiteboard format. The entire whiteboard is saved complete with any annotations. Annotations made to a blank whiteboard will also be saved. Broadcast Session The primary purpose of the broadcast technology is to enhance scalability. Because the data is streamed primarily from the server to the clients, sessions can also be scaled to larger audiences. This technology is very effective for class lectures or any session where a small number of people make presentations to a large audience. Students attend the session using the receive-only Lotus Sametime Broadcast client. Students do not interact in the session, but they can see and hear all actions and discussions of the instructor(s). The Broadcast client is a separate client that is downloaded to a user s computer the first time a user attends a broadcast session. Virtual Classroom Components When setting up a session, the Instructor can choose which components to include, depending upon the needs of the class. These options include Whiteboard, Chat, and Screen Sharing. For example, instructors may not want to have Chat or Screen Sharing available during a session. Virtual Classroom Client LearningSpace 5 includes the following enhancements to the Virtual Classroom: Participant List and Chat features that support awareness (that is, students are able to initiate a chat session with other individual students). Instant messaging and public chats are now available. The Virtual Classroom and its components are now written in Java. HTTP Tunneling on port 80 The Collaboration server can now be configured to listen for all HTTP connections on port 80. This capability enables users that operate behind restrictive firewalls (that only allow HTTP connections on port 80) to participate in sessions that use Screen Sharing and Whiteboards. Administration Tool The Collaboration server now uses the Lotus Sametime Administration Tool, which provides the following new administration features: Expanded monitoring and logging features 12 Lotus LearningSpace R5.01 Deployment Guide