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