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The Joined up Web - Newcastle University, a case study

The Joined up Web - Newcastle University, a case study. Dr Tony McDonald Faculty of Medicine Computing Centre (FMCC) Medical School University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Background. Networked Learning Environments (NLE) project (TLTP 3-86) Four Consortium partners

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The Joined up Web - Newcastle University, a case study

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  1. The Joined up Web - Newcastle University, a case study Dr Tony McDonald Faculty of Medicine Computing Centre (FMCC) Medical School University of Newcastle upon Tyne http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/documents tony.mcdonald@ncl.ac.uk

  2. Background • Networked Learning Environments (NLE) project (TLTP 3-86) • Four Consortium partners Newcastle University Medical Programme scalability issues led to development of curriculum database Nottingham University Medical Programme Durham University Biomedical Sciences Northumbria University Subjects Allied to Medicine ‘non-funded’ partner - Sheffield University Medical School • Scalable Systems - eg no individual web pages written - extract from Database and output to other formats (HTML, RTF, PDF, XML-RPC, SOAP, etc) http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/documents tony.mcdonald@ncl.ac.uk

  3. DevelopmentSoftware/Hardware systems • Core System - Zope • Object orientated web delivery system • Rapid development of systems (Sheffield site created in < 1 week). • Excellent database connectivity / very rich permissions structure. Plug-in ‘products’, separation of code/content • Extensive use of ‘open-source’ / free software • Zope, Python, PHP, MySQL, Omnimark • UNIX servers / Solaris • Important for moving to other sites http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/documents tony.mcdonald@ncl.ac.uk

  4. Choice ofContent Management System • Project start - July 1998 • System requirements: • Low cost, scalable, easy to use • System chosen - Zope • Freedom from file ‘tyranny’ (.php3, .pl, .html etc.) • Excellent permissions system • Extensive database connectivity • Novel features - ‘undo’, ‘versions’ http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/documents tony.mcdonald@ncl.ac.uk

  5. Integration -MIS • Pivotal to a scalable system • Eg module codes, works for 10, works for 10,000 • Possible users/Simultaneous users distinction • Data Dumps - preferable to ‘live’ systems • Data warehousing • Student & staff info. • Leads to authentication systems • DON’T • Write single pages for a course, derive from database http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/documents tony.mcdonald@ncl.ac.uk

  6. Integration -Other ‘MLEs’ • Data dumps from MIS • Need primary key • eg Module code, student UCAS number • Reuse existing management material • eg module -> exam info, student-> course taken • Don’t reenter student data • Don’t reenter module, course data http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/documents tony.mcdonald@ncl.ac.uk

  7. Working with other sites • Scalability • Entering data a ‘no-no’ • Data source of staff/student/module information is essential • Zope allows editing site wherever a browser is available • Data Ownership (hosting our data at Newcastle? - no chance!) • Different Data structures not a problem http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/documents tony.mcdonald@ncl.ac.uk

  8. NLE in action • All sites hosted at Newcastle • Designed for portability in mind • Notts bought server to run their NLE • UNIX backend, MySQL, Zope, Python, PHP3 • Consortium sites have great autonomy • Can use ZEO to distribute load over other servers http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/documents tony.mcdonald@ncl.ac.uk

  9. Successes • Newcastle using NLE technologies extensively • MOFS (6200 modules, authenticated editing, resource upload and PDF output) • Nottingham purchased server • Addition of non-funded partner - Sheffield University • Generally high regard from staff/students • Remote Admins taking to Zope quite well http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/documents tony.mcdonald@ncl.ac.uk

  10. Problems • NIH? • Not generally a problem • Data Ownership • Reluctance to share data, eg staff ‘pet’ projects • Not always evident who owns the data • Resistance to change • Senior mgmt might agree, but at ground zero… • F2F communication - Invaluable http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/documents tony.mcdonald@ncl.ac.uk

  11. The ‘NLE’ way • Scalability • One source of data, ideally one data owner • Repurpose existing data • Create conduits (eg editing/uploading screens), not terminii (eg “I’ll upload that for you”) http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/documents tony.mcdonald@ncl.ac.uk

  12. Summary • Obstacles (data ownership, data structures) can be formidable, but committed people at the sharp end make a real difference • Open source systems help greatly • Easy to move to other sites, open data structures, lower cost • Need bottom-up and top-down driving • Staff/student & Dean/PVC • Hosting many sites at one location • No big deal (disk, processor and OS permitting) http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/documents tony.mcdonald@ncl.ac.uk

  13. Information Sources • Zope - Object Orientated Web Delivery Platform • http://www.zope.org/ • MySQL - Open Source RDBMS • http://www.mysql.com/ • Python - Scripting Language • http://www.python.org/ • Omnimark - Text Processing Language • http://www.omnimark.com • Roxen - Graphically Rich Web Server • http://www.roxen.com http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/documents tony.mcdonald@ncl.ac.uk

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