monday, october 6 th , 2:30 pm distance learning cms integration bill pearce – ventura county ccd
Post on 31-Dec-2015
29 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Monday, October 6th, 2:30 pm
Distance Learning CMS Integration
Bill Pearce – Ventura County CCDBob Hughes – North Orange County
CCD
Blackboard Vista Interface
Bill Pearce – Ventura County CCD
Batch Interface
• SQL*Plus script run by a shell script every morning at 3:00 am (Banner web is down)
• Runs for two terms, new courses, sections only (includes enrollments and crosslists)
• Creates .csv files, SCP’ed to Blackboard ASP server
• Process at Blackboard checks for files every 5 minutes
• Email sent from process and from Blackboard
Batch Interface
• LCS File (courses, sections, crosslists)– Sections identified by Integration partner
(WebCT type) in SSASECT– Create SCRATTR (first time for course) and
SSRATTR attribute VSTA to indicate upload– Crosslist group:
• Uploaded if all sections are WebCT• Tagged in local table GZRJOBH if uploaded
Batch Interface
• Crosslist “enrollments”– Uploaded if all sections are WebCT– Checks GZRJOBH for prior load
• Users– Instructors and Students– Loads all users when CRN is first loaded– Creates Webtailor role WEBCTBB for
Webstar SSO– Subsequent users sent via database trigger
and XML
Batch Interface
• Student/Instructor Enrollments– Loads all enrollments when CRN is first
loaded– Subsequent enrollments sent via
database trigger and XML– Includes Waitlisted students
• Student drops– Not included in batch interface– Sent via database trigger and XML
Batch Interface
• End of process:– Inserts SCRATTR (entire set) and SSRATTR
VSTA attribute– Inserts marker in GZRJOBH for crosslist
group
• Script is run manually in TEST database, and uploads to test Blackboard server
“Manual” Crosslists
• SQL*Plus scripts (thru job submission)– Enter manual crosslist group code– Select multiple CRNs– Error checking:
• All CRNs must be WebCT• Code cannot be used before (stored in GZRJOBH)• No CRN can be in a Banner crosslist
– Also have script to add/delete CRNs from existing manual crosslist group
– Separate shell script SCP’s file for next scheduled process (BB checks every 5 minutes.)
Data Formats
• Colleges (Divisions):– Unique ID = M, V, or R– Title = College Name (example, “Moorpark
College”)
• Subject Codes (Groups):– Unique ID = SUBJ.M, SUBJ.V, SUBJ.R
(example, MATH.M)– Title = SUBJ – Subject Name – College
Name (example, “MATH – Mathematics – Moorpark College”)
Data Formats• Courses:
– Unique ID = SUBJ.CRSE (example, MATH.M01)– Title = SUBJ CRSE – Course Title (example,
“MATH M01 – Elementary Algebra”)
• Sections:– Unique ID = TERM.CRN (example,
200707.71823)– NOTE: This is backwards for My Courses SSO
to Luminis – changing in Spring 2009– Title = Term Desc - SUBJ CRSE – CRN –
Section Title (example, “Fall 2007 – MATH M01 – 71823 – Elementary Algebra”)
Data Formats
• Crosslists:– Unique ID = TERM.XLCODE (example,
200707.1A)– Title = TERM Crosslisted CRN1-SUBJ.CRSE,
CRN2–SUBJ.CRSE, … (example “200707 Crosslisted 70123–POLS.V12, 72615–ESRM.V03”)
MyVCCCD (Luminis) SSO
• Only Faculty have access currently• Logon link from “Work Life” Tab• My Courses won’t go directly to course
until Spring 2009 (CRN/Term backwards)
• Direct logon from My Courses if problems
Pseudo SSO via Banner SSB• Needed for students, faculty transition to
MyVCCCD• Uses secret code – PIN synch not an issue• Link is on main menu, Student Services,
and Faculty Services• Auto logon from WebStar (Banner SSB)• Had to switch from SPRIDEN ID to third-
party ID when Luminis implemented – no longer allow direct logon to Blackboard
• Based on Webtailor role WEBCTBB
PIN Reset Methodology
Immediate User Update
• Database trigger on GOBTPAC• Calls package to send User information
in XML to BB Vista server• Uses secret code, Oracle Wallet• Sends Information if:
– Instructor assigned to WebCT section– Student registered in WebCT section– PIN is not expired– PIN is not DOB
• Creates Webtailor role WEBCTBB
Immediate Enrollment Update
• Database triggers on SFRSTCR, SIRASGN
• Calls package to send Add/Drop information in XML to BB Vista server for Students and Instructors
• Creates Webtailor role WEBCTBB
Immediate Update Errors
• If errors encountered in User/Enrollments, sends email
• Types of errors:– Section not loaded (new subject code –
resolved)– Special characters in name– False errors
• Transaction stored in local table – can be “replayed” with a script
Future Plans
• Bring Blackboard in-house early 2009• Look at improving interfaces• Exception reporting between Banner
and Blackboard databases
Banner to Blackboard Integration via the
Snapshot Tool
Bob Hughes – North Orange County CCD
3 Campuses, 4 Systems
• Cypress College – Blackboard Academic Suite Release 8, hosted (ASP model)
• Fullerton College – Blackboard CE 6 (formerly Vista), supported in-house by academic computing
• School of Continuing Education – Moodle, hosted in-house by academic computing
• District-Wide – Luminis Course Studio
Cypress – Snapshot update
• Additional purchase from Blackboard• Provides a way to have frequent
updates to the Blackboard database from Banner (although not real-time)
• Expensive – required a significant up-front purchase, consulting engagement, and ongoing maintenance contract
The Process in a nutshell
• Option to create either flat text files or XML files from Banner to populate Blackboard
• 4 files needed: User, Course, Enrollment, Assignment
• Pushed to a dedicated FTP server• Files picked up by the Snapshot service
on their schedule• After update, e-mail sent to report on
errors, results
Banner Database
FTP server at NOCCCD
Snapshot
Controller
IS Help Desk Email
Blackboard Database
Assign, Course, Enroll, User files
Timeline for Implementation
• April 27, 2007 – Documentation received
• May 3, 2007 – Technical kick-off, • May, 2007 - Conference calls, filling out
workbook, coding• June 5 – 7, 2007 – Consultants on-site• June 15, 2007 – Go Live
Initially used Argos
Argos (cont.)
• Used the ‘Schedule and Delivery’ functionality in Argos to send files to the FTP server as needed
• Allowed for easy modification and troubleshooting of SQL’s
• Oracle 10G Upgrade, Oracle OLEDB driver update in August 2008 resulted in a significant performance hit and stability issues;
• Migrated to chrontab; now launching directly from Oracle
The Course File
• Looks for ssbsect_schd_code = ’72’ or ‘HY’ or course attribute code = ‘CB’
• Cross-list courses were a big challenge – concatenate all cross-listings into a single course
The User File
• Includes pidm, ID, encrypted PIN, name and e-mail of students enrolled in a Blackboard course
• Have to maintain prior term, current term and (in some cases) future term
• First iteration contained only Blackboard instructors; now includes all faculty for Staff Development
• Takes 10 minutes to run; need to improve this
The Enrollment File
• Very simple; lists the pidms of students with the courses they are enrolled in
The Assignment File
• Also very simple; lists the pidms of instructors with the courses they are teaching
Production Schedule
• 3 am, 5 am, 10 am, 12 noon, 3 pm, 5 pm for data from current term, users
• 3 am, 3 pm for data from future term and past term
• Snapshot controller runs at 4 am, 1 pm and 6 pm; can be run out of schedule to pick up more current files
• Email from Snapshot process sent to a folder at the helpdesk; shows status, errors from each file processed
Recommendations
• Do all your work before the BB consultants arrive on-site
• Watch out for password expirations on the FTP server; must be coordinated with Blackboard ASP
• Make sure the logs and snapshot e-mails are monitored
• Manual additions in Blackboard can cause problems
• Clarify the policy on cross-listed courses
Future Goals
• Standardize all colleges on a single Course Management System
• Real time (or near real time) updates; leverage LDAP
• SSO through myGateway Course Studio
• Tuesday 11 am Emerald Bay 3 – Luminis and LMS Integration – SSO to Moodle at NOCCCD – Adam Howard
top related