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Integrating an MLE with Voyager. Paul Hudson Learning Technology Development Unit University of Hertfordshire. What I will be covering…. Managed Learning Environments The Role of Voyager Reading List Manager Live demonstration How it works Where Next? Some links.
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Integrating an MLE with Voyager Paul Hudson Learning Technology Development Unit University of Hertfordshire
What I will be covering…. • Managed Learning Environments • The Role of Voyager • Reading List Manager • Live demonstration • How it works • Where Next? • Some links
What is an (MLE)? JISC’s definition of a Managed Learning Environment is one which includes…… ….the whole range of information systems and processes of a university (including its VLE if it has one) that contribute directly, or indirectly, to learning and the management of learning resources, and connects to external systems
Systems to integrate • MIS System - Genesis • Email • Library Catalogue - Voyager • Virtual Learning Environment - ?
The StudyNet development • Started December 2000 • Developed in-house by the LTDU • VLE aspects based on previous projects • Developed using Lotus Domino
The StudyNet development • ‘Pilot’ released September 2001 • Driven central student record system • 22,000 users • Every user has a personal portal • Every module has a website (over 3000) • 100 staff training events • 50% usage in April
StudyNet : The main components • Personal portal News, Courses, Personal Info, Calendar, Contacts, Email, etc. • Course Website News, Teaching Materials, Group Work, Discussions, Reading Lists, etc.
Voyager & the LTDU • Developed interface • On-line tutorials • Software for standalone terminals • Integrated search into LIS website • Waterstone’s search
Voyager Integration in StudyNet • Search Voyager from StudyNet • Automatic logon • Reading list manager • Targeting E-journal and Exam Papers
The need for a Reading List Manager Pilot with philosophy identified….. • Reading Lists generally out of date • Inappropriate stock levels • Voyager reading lists unmanageable
Features of a reading list manager • Create reading list items via Voyager • Check stock levels of core items • Request new copies • Librarians can help academics update reading lists to reflect new editions
How they communicate • All done with CGI and Javascript • Perl scripts used to grabs valid sessions id’s for ‘Auto-logon’ • Perl scripts used to grab records • Javascript passes info to StudyNet
How it works Toolbar Temporary Storage Area Work Area Voyager
How it works Toolbar Temporary Storage Area • Script on Voyager • Grabs previous page • Parse page and rips out necessary information • Creates new page to give back to browser Work Area Voyager cgi-script
How it works Toolbar Temporary Storage Area Getting Record….. • Page Returned • Page consists of Javascript • Load record in to toolbar • Redirects browser to ‘New Resource’ page on StudyNet Work Area Voyager cgi-script
How it works Toolbar Temporary Storage Area Work Area StudyNet page StudyNet requests the record from the toolbar
How it works Toolbar Temporary Storage Area Work Area StudyNet page Toolbar sets the details in the record
Domains • Default Javascript security stops pages on different servers from talking • Possible to explicitly tell the browser to allow machines in the same Domain to talk. I.e. www.studynet.herts.ac.uk voyager.herts.ac.uk • Requires HTML Header to be altered • Feature only available in 2000 release
Where next? • Search Voyager from StudyNet • Automatic logon • Reading list manager • Targeting E-journal and Exam Papers
E-Journals • Subject Librarians have produced lists of related E-Journals and websites • E-Journals are now in Voyager • Special ‘E-journals’ location • Produce subject lists based on RDN classifications
Librarians Record Data SubjectData External Database Voyager E-Journals - The records • Extract journal subset and hold externally • Data driven by Voyager • Librarians add RDN subject classification
E-Journals - The End User • RDN subject areas mapped to programmes and appropriate lists are presented to the user • Students can add areas of interest to their profile. • Students can add build personal journal lists • Students can review resources
E-Journals – The Library perspective • StudyNet logs ‘frequency’ of use • Student feedback will help renewals • Students and Staff can be made aware of new additions to our E-journals • Identify faculties where use is low and feed into induction
Cataloguing Things to consider….. • Key wordse.g. Course Codes in exam papers • Special ‘locations’e.g. ‘E-journal’ location • Subject Keywords in records
Useful Links • Learning Technology Development Unithttp://www.herts.ac.uk/ltdu/ • LTDU Magazinehttp://www.herts.ac.uk/ltdu/journal/ • Hertfordshire’s Voyagerhttp://voyager.herts.ac.uk • The StudyNet projecthttp://www.studynet.herts.ac.uk/project.html