How To Make A Webpa Programmable

Transcription

1 WebPA SIG Imperial College, 25 May Attending: Shireen Lock (Imperial), Marc Wells (Imperial), Julie Voce (Imperial), Matthew Street (Keele), Fiona Lamb (Loughborough), Rainer Simpson (Imperial), Paul Neuman (Loughborough), Simon Wood (Cardiff), Stephen Vickers (Edinburgh), Neil Gordon (Hull), Martin (Imperial) Welcome and Intro Noted wide range of experiences and perspectives: learning technologists; developers; end-users. Estimate institutions using WebPA. Number of pilot projects looking at expanding to full provision at institutions. Stephen Vickers: WebPA and IMS Learning Tools Interoperability Under Creating Environments for Learning using Tightly Integrated Components (celtic): one of the examples integration of learning tools with VLE/LMS. Intention that tools can be easily used (externally) to VLE. Two forms of LTI: Basic LTI: proof of concept, single sign-on. Launch external tool. Supported by range of VLEs Tool provider/tool consumer Info required: URL of tool provider, key to identify consumer, shared secret Demo of link from blackboard and moodle. Allows staff users to add direct link to LTI tool (i.e. webpa). Creates account for user. Basic extensions available: outcomes (i.e. grades); memberships; settings. supported by Sakai/moodle will be available in blackboard and possibly webct but not in webpa yet Full LTI: drafted, awaiting proofing. Likely to be available within a year. Draft implementations: blackboard, moodle Aim: end users unaware of external as opposed to internal tools. Features: automated tool registration; appear in consumer tools list; Internationalisation; Access Web services user info, course info, gradebook; Notification of VLE events: application state change, course archive/copy/restore Number of benefits: seamless integration; provide more flexibility for tools to users; potential for collaboration from users between VLEs; easier to deploy; easier for developers single integration. celtic has developed case studies; developed workflows; improved profile of LTI.

2 Issues: Workflows e..g for existing basic LTI webpa codebase need some amendments to make use of these; Possible integrations useful to webpa Single signon auto provision: users, modules sharing group definitions update gradebook communications with students archiving content Issues: enable multi-tenancy (per source or module) modules field lengths page layout/display Workflows enabling sources remote management synchronisation re-configuring deletion on removal WebPA database updates (separate to LTI extension) Rationalise historic changes improve security improve integrity consistent field def and nanes, enforce referential integrity (constraints) lengthen key fields provide more solid foundations Number of database changes Updated queries Allow for prefix on tables so can have multiple instances of webpa option to add new users and modules Possibly allow for launch, due, close dates for assessments, with late flag for those between due and closed.

3 Seek interested parties to test and feedback installation files provided to -create new database structure - validate data -copy data from existing instance -create admin account Next: agree move to new code and maintenance Discussion on next stages and how to add new features. For now, either via sourceforge, or through Loughborough who can currently add to codebase then release. In discussion, the feature of having assessments with several academics associated was felt to be relevant. May be included to current changes and version, though could delay it. Can export and clone forms original intention to have a collection on webpa website. webpa.ltiapps.net/model/ Issue of how to agree new code changes/roll out. e.g. agreed via WebPA SIG list. issue of how to fund future dev potential for external funding, if sites requiring changing can find funding and then ask via list for any webpa community to take up. Potential for collaborative projects to develop php code (e.g. current HEA call). Update on WebPA releases WebPA Technical issues Using WebPA - update on experiences and potential publications and pedagogic research. Includes presentations from: Our experience at Imperial College Shireen Lock & Julie Voce Pilot in departments so far. 30 assessments in 2010/11. now developed ldap.

4 have some budget for further dev. further requirements now identified. Compared to other tools pebblepad, Sharepoint based solutions etc. Found to be relatively friendly/easy. to be managed by ict infrastructure issue reporting Our experience at Hull University Neil Gordon Used for several years now. Several departments cs, biology, engineering, careers, integrated via ldap for logon though upload of data still prompts for password! setting up groups an issue although getting excel to read out values whilst populating table helps! need good practice advice to students on appropriate comments, Approaches to avoid student appeals/ perhaps a pack of good practice How to manage different modules for each year as with ebridge naming issues where students drop out but still registered need to remove over-allocation of marks Developing central support via ict need SLA still onus on academics to provide student lists! Community to support webpa/encourage take up Fits with uni new strategy though issues around practical side. Possible future event to review guidance material on teaching/good practice/sets of pro-formas The future of WebPA and Funding future developments Still controlled via Loughborough owning sourceforge and webpa website. likely to move to zip files on webpa site, with page to direct to sourceforge or to direct download, with option to state identity. Longer term issue of how to maintain and develop: future of SIG. Opensource so sites can maintain. Possible funding via HEA calls individual now and collaborative later.

5 Potential to request/force more data from users e.g. when installing/using to provide contact and usercount data. Mechanisms for development: post on site; how to vote/prioritise changes/ Hosting: possibly, with new LTI interface. not at this time How decide what software to make available. Suggest post to list to see level of interest. Possible use ULCC to provide host if sufficient interest. Next steps i) Update database needs some code testing etc. Release aimed for end of June ii) LTI: basic at same date iii) LTI extensions: potentially August Other features. Reviewed the list of suggested developments from Imperial. Identified those already implemented in the new version, and those likely to be added, and those felt to be of a lower priority. a) View module data: see students filtered by module b) Removal of module id from display, and show number of elements c) Ability to filter view by fields e.g. module, dept. d) Rename institutionalid to idnumber e) Contact for assessment default to creator but can be altered f) Add webpa url to template wording for g) Provide sample report and can produce a new report option h) Provide option under assessment to make feedback compulsory and option on length of feedback Lower priorities or require further investigation/clarification I) Student view for staff II) Enable editing of to students when assessment is created/enable when assessment is opened III) Clarify assigning mark to students IV) Error when downloading CSV files in IE.

6 AOB Date of next meeting: hopefully July (not second week) Possibly Loughborough