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Working group on the Learning Resources Web Server - Report to the Web Steering GroupBased on the Minutes of meetings on 19 June and 10 July 2001Present at one or both meetings: Stephen Bostock (chair), Mike Brough, Norman Bridges, Paul Collis, Margaret Greive, Ian Stimpson, Colin Whitston, William Kirk, Anne Musgrave, Dave Collins, Sue Lees 1. Structure and navigation of the Learning Resources Web Server (ltr)1.1 At the moment there are too many ways to look for materials, too many places they might be. A simpler navigation structure should emphasize programmes (including principal courses, subsidiary programmes and postgraduate programmes). Programme pages should link to module materials and other materials. Navigating by module code or name should not be encouraged but should remain as a backup method. By default there should be global access to programme but not to module folders.1.2 Departmental web spaces on the ltr, containing generic resources when these exist, should not be in the navigation structure but should be linked by authors from modules and elsewhere. 1.3 Staff 'Personal Home Pages' would be the place for personal scholarship that might be used by many modules. 1.4 Undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and modules should be treated in the same way, in so far as postgraduate programmes become modularised. 1.5 The student membership of modules must be kept up to date by DAA, to allow email groups and appropriate web access. 1.6 KIS should continue to arrange courses for potential ltr authors, and maintain the visibility of the project. 2. Archiving2.1 Archiving of the 2000/01 resources to make way for those of 2001/01 in the 'current year' folders must wait for the new year's module structure to be constructed, which depends on the module data being provided by DAA as soon as possible. As some staff already want to modify this year's materials ready for next year, they should do this on a local copy until the new module structure is in place.2.2 If possible, an automatic check for the existence of absolute URLs (including the year number) to previous years' resources will be made so as to warn authors that links may not work after archiving. 2.3 As now, archive copies of previous year's module and programme materials will be read-only and will not be in the main navigation structure for the current year but, to minimize further the risk of students inadvertently using a previous year's module materials, web authors should make clear the period of use on their web pages . 3. Searching the learning serverText searching of the learning server would be useful as long as it continues to be possible to mark certain documents as not for searching. Searching would not allow external access to module materials with the default Keele-only access rights.4. Virtual Learning EnvironmentsA Virtual (or Managed) Learning Environment is not a suitable or feasible facility for Keele at the moment. Nonetheless, a degree of standardization of software is desirable for individual services such as discussion groups, database support, and assessment, to minimize the learning effort required of staff and students.(A short outline of the issues concerning database support and an outline of options for assessment and discussion support were discussed by the working group and are appended.) 5. Web discussion boards5.1 Although using FrontPage extensions would be an easy way for web authors to generate simple discussion boards it is difficult to provide on the Keele servers.5.2 Keele Usenet groups have been used well by Classics, for example, but they had limitations. They would continue to be available regardless of additional discussion services with richer facilities. 5.3 A discussion of the BSCW (Basic Support for Cooperative Work) software included on the one hand its better facilities for content structuring and access control and on the other its more complex user interface and slower response times from the public server. Other comparable systems have different detailed advantages and disadvantages but a comparison would take time. It is recommended that Keele install the BSCW software on a campus web server immediately for a two year trial period from October 2001. This would provide at least an adequate service and allow time for an evaluation in light of local use of its advantages and disadvantages, including administrative tools. (Note: the newly available version of BSCW promises a better user interface - SB) 5.4 Training material, workshops and support would be provided by KIS and/or Staff Development and Training. 6. Computer Assisted Assessment6.1 There are broadly two types of systems providing multiple choice questions for the web: simple ones for generating quizzes giving immediate feedback but without storing or analysing answers, and more substantial ones (e.g. QuestionMark Perception) requiring server side processing that could also store and analyse answers. QuestionMark Perception had been used a little at Keele: it was very flexible and could be used for formative or summative evaluation. Two issues were licensing cost and the need for ASP server support.6.2 Rather than recommend both a simple system and a substantial system for different purposes, staff time in support and in authoring would be saved if a single system were made available for all types of CAA. Therefore, it is recommended that Keele should obtain the ASP server to support QM Perception, and suitable QM licenses to support a pilot service for two years. Licenses on a per student basis would allow staff to elect to use it with particular courses. The evaluation of its use would include savings in staff time within large modules. 6.3 Training material, workshops and support would be provided by KIS and/or Staff Development and Training. 7. Database support.Many database applications are best implemented by static web pages generated from a database, but there are problems which require live enquiry or update. Amongst the architectures likely to be needed is ASP, in addition to its being needed for QuestionMark Perception. The expenditure on a web server with ASP recommended in 6.2 could therefore serve a wider function of piloting one type of web database support.Stephen Bostock 25/7/01 |
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