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Desire2Learn Learning Repository 4.0 September 30, 2009

Posted by YvonneMonterroso in : Comms, Technology , 1 comment so far

I thought a good introduction might be to talk a bit about the last release of the Learning Repository. Our development team is busily working away on the next release (Spring 2010) and hopefully soon, I will be in a position to share some of the exciting things coming there. LOR 4.0 was a landmark release for our team as we were finally able to nicely showcase the pieces that we had been putting together beneath the covers for some time.
For me, one the most exciting features was the ability to directly edit metadata on objects after they’d been published to the repository. It was very important to not lose sight of the importance of packaging objects in the repository to provide good support for complex learning objects and thus significant thought and effort were involved with the design to ensure package integrity while still providing the flexibility to edit metadata without forcing users to republish. With the metadata firmly integrated on the Learning Repository side as well as from Manage Content, several other nice features were enabled in this release such as searching metadata based on custom vocabularies and new browse capabilities.

Support for easy tagging with Creative Commons licenses was something that had become imperative from clients perspective given a main goal for the Learning Repository is to share resources and ensuring that content was clearly labeled with usage rights streamlines the sharing process. These new features accompanied by friendlier new interface with a customizable welcome area, browse counts and improved feature visibility continue to contribute to the success of the product and our clients. We’re very much looking forward to seeing how NTU will put these new features to use and working to understand how our future development can help assist NTU and our other clients.

Technology Workpackage update September 30, 2009

Posted by IanMathers in : Comms, Technology , 1 comment so far

As this is our first blog on the SHARE project, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the NTU team for inviting us to participate on the project.  For Desire2Learn, this is a great opportunity to work closely with our partners to help encourage sharing of educational content.  We firmly believe that Desire2Learn’s Learning Repository is the most useful repository available, but in the end, without integrating the technology within an effective enterprise-wide process, the true benefit of the technology is not fully realised.  By working closely with such strong leaders as the NTU team, we can ensure that our solution supports and encourages the project’s goals.

The main Desire2Learn contacts for this project are Yvonne Monterroso and Ian Mathers.  Yvonne is the Learning Repository Technical Product Manager, which means that she is the Product Manager within our Product Development group.  Yvonne is responsible for the features and content of the Learning Repository Product, which means that she really is the expert on how the Learning Repository works.  I am (it is Ian writing this) the Program Manager, which means that I am responsible for managing our development team and projects.  Yvonne and I work really closely together, so you will see blogs from both of us in the future.

Our contact information is:

Yvonne Monterroso,
Technical Product Manager, eP/LOR
Desire2Learn Incorporated
Yvonne.Monterroso@Desire2Learn.com

Ian Mathers
Program Manager, eP/LOR
Desire2Learn Incorporated
ian.mathers@Desire2Learn.com
 
Yvonne and I will be updating the blog with information about the Desire2Learn Learning Repository and the research that we are doing on behalf of this project, plus any other great features that we think you may be interested in.  If you have anything that you want us to blog about, please let us know!  With my Project Manager hat on, I have posted the Scope document to the Technology Workpackage area of the WIKI.  Comments are welcomed!

September Comms update September 29, 2009

Posted by sarahhorrigan in : Comms , 1 comment so far

The good news is that there isn’t really any news – which is excellent! The various systems we’ve set up are ticking along happily, this WordPress site is getting some great contributions (and we’d definitely encourage more from our Work Package Leads) and our Wiki seems to be running well too.

So, have there been any changes? Well, behind the scenes there have. We’ve now put in place our backup procedures for both sites and I have to say that having that safety net around to help look after everyone’s hard work is a relief! Another thing which we’ve got in place now is a Test Wiki site so that when we get requests from our community for changes / modifications, we can make them with the reassurance that we won’t be messing up everyone else’s view until the modification is ready to release. Many thanks to Marek Oledzki for sorting out our test wiki – I know we both feel like we’re getting our heads round these relatively new systems and are enjoying the learning curve along the way!

Here’s to more uneventful updates! At least, uneventful whilst they’re meant to be uneventful!

Sarah :)

Much progress and the importance of catch-ups September 28, 2009

Posted by vickimcgarvey in : Comms , add a comment

Just completed my first full week as Project Manager. Requirements Analysis has been very busy creating Use Cases whilst I was on leave and these will be really helpful for illustrating to colleagues how the LOR can be used. Roles and Permissions have been mapped on our test systems and next the use cases will be tested. Many thanks to Jon Tepper, Trevor Pull, Barry Gregory and Anna Armstrong at NTU for all this work. I had a catch-up phone call with Ian Mathers at D2L and I want to have a regular catch-up with workpackage leads. I am going to keep my eyes peeled for potential opportunities to meet up with D2L colleagues here in the UK. So that reminds me to create an events page in our WIKI, together with Q & A copyright page, workpackage leads catch-up pages…Mmm I am sure that is only the tip of the iceberg, that’s why WIKIs are excellent for this type of thing.

Project Manager Update – Vicki McGarvey September 22, 2009

Posted by vickimcgarvey in : Comms , add a comment

Just to let you know that I have been seconded to the role of Project Manager for the SHARE Project. I was already managing the Development and Implementation Workpackage and I will continue do this. This means that I will be giving up for my Senior eLearning Development responsibilities for the duration of the project.

I am extremely excited about this opportunity. In particular I look forward to working with our enthusiastic project team here at NTU and at Desire2Learn. I also look forward to building up relationships with other institutions in the inf11 programme.  I am also optimistic about encouraging academic colleagues to share their excellent learning content.

Back from my hols September 21, 2009

Posted by vickimcgarvey in : Comms , add a comment

Just wanted let you know that I am back from my holiday to Spain. Quite a hectic one but full of exciting and interesting experiences. We started off in Seville and 40+ temperatures, something I have never experienced before, although I am sure our friends at D2L have encountered the likes on their travels. Seville is an amazing vibrant place, exquisite tapas and the most stunning Alcazabar (Moorish fortification). We then went on to Cadiz, an extremely blustery city, again with a Moorish influence with two beautiful cathedrals, labyrinthian streets and an excellent view of the atlantic from our retro Parador. We then went on to Tarifa a very pretty whitewashed fishing town just in time for their fiesta, where most of the women and girls dressed up in traditional dress and statues of Mary and Jesus were paraded through the town, followed by a brass band and men on horseback. Whilst in Tarifa we went on a day trip to Morocco, to the city of Tanger which is only 35mins away by catamaran. Tanger is a port and 4th largest city in Morocco with over a million people and is particularly cosmopolitan. Whilst there we sampled their cuisine, had a rug and herbs and spices demonstration, and a visit to the Kazbah. We ended our holiday in Malaga, which I have visted before and would recommend to those who have not. It is an extremely attractive city, with a Cathedral, Alcazabar and of course the Picasso museum.

Just been through my e-mails and there seems to have been quite a lot of activity whilst I have been away, off to look at the paperwork in more depth…looking forward to the challenges ahead.