Here we go Alfresco and Blackboard (Version 9)

This project has been pending since our university is going through a Future LMS selection process. One of the main driven force is the Accessibility (ADA compliant). You can find some of information at: http://futureoflms.blogspot.com/ blog site. And, yes, my university has finalized the decision on moving toward to Blackboard9. So, here I am. Time to kick off the Alfresco and Blackboard integration. I have set up an Open Source project at Oscelot/alfrescoproject (http://projects.oscelot.org/gf/project/alfrescoproject/). You can find more information and future development there and, yes, you are always very welcome to join me on the development!

Blackboard: a script to check on Tomcat instance

From time to time it happens that Apache is up and running, but Tomcat crashed. The
loadbalancer does not therefore detects the problem and continues to forward clients. Here is a
script that I did to monitor mod_jk.log:

#!/bin/sh

BBMODJKLOG=/usr/local/blackboard/logs/httpd/mod_jk.log
SIG="`uname -n`: `date` "
if [ -e $BBMODJKLOG ]; then
if grep "(errno=104)" $BBMODJKLOG > /dev/null; then
echo "$SIG: Error Jk_Mod"
fi
else
echo "$SIG: $BBMODJKLOG not found"
fi

echo "$SIG: MOD_JK Ok"

This script is still being tested; so, there is no automatic fail over to restart the tomcat instance.
p.s. After the successful restarting tomcat instance, the log should be rotated. -- a note to myself.

Blackboard is in

Bb has granted MEA from CalState. I have started to prepare for NG pilot when it is released by th end of this month. Feb 2009!

Updated Road Map on LMS Pilot and Extended Projects

This is a updated ROAD MAP of the LMS Pilot and extended projects:

Learning Management System and ePortfolio

Pilots:

1. Moodle and Mahara (pilot Spring 2009)
2. Sakai and OSP (pilot Spring 2009)
3. Bb and ePortfolio (being constantly reviewed)
   

Potential pilots:

1. Elgg (piloted and available to be integrated with Moodle)
2. Keeps Toolkit
   

Projects:

1. Student ePortfolio and Peer Review (LMS pilot)
2. Project ePortfolio and Collaboration (Ida)
3. Department ePortfolio/Repository for Assessments (Ida)
   

Researches:

1. IMS Content Package (preparing potential Content Migration if we decide to move)
   current: IMS Content Packaging v1.2 CM/DN Release v2.0 Specification
2. IMS ePortfolio (preparing potential eP portability)
   current: MS ePortfolio Specification - Version 1 Public Draft Specification - HTML
   

Instruction Content System

Alfresco Lab 3c (pilot Spring 2009):

1. Integration with LDAP (and CAS if necessary)
2. Integration with LMS (Bb/Sakai?)
3. Integration with ePortfolio systems
4. Integration with Institutional Repository (library?)
5. Implementing Share
6. Integration with Social Networking Platforms (Goole/Facebook gadgets)
7. .. continuing streaming media and Podcasting/iTunes U implementation.
   

Social Networking

1. Implementing OpenSocial containers, mainly Google
2. Implementing OpenID application interface (consumer), mainly Google/LinkedIn
   

Max

The Pilot has Officially Taken Off!

The first "official" Moodle training took place on December 11th. Three faculty attended and spent time exploring the Moodle tools and preparing their spring 2009 Blackboard course for single sign-on to Moodle. Moodle Open Lab is scheduled for January 15th.

Participating faculty on the Moodle Pilot are enrolled in the Moodle Pilot Forum where they will experience the LMS from a student perspective and have easy access to training and documentation materials. More updates as conversations take place!

Moodle: Blackboard Course Content Converter

For converting Blackboard course content to Moodle, we have tested and are very happy with the tool created by LSU. You can find it at:

http://moodleconverter.lsu.edu/

I have contacted the development team and they are kindly to share the code; so, we will be able to host the application at Fresno State in possible Moodle future!

Initial Server Platform Setup

Set up the pilot server virtual instances today for Moodle and Sakai Project pilots:

• MySQL
  
• Moodle
  (reserved url) http://moodlepilot.tlt.csufresno.edu/
  
• Sakai Project
  (reserved url) http://sakaipilot.tlt.csufresno.edu/
  

Server: Dell PowerEdge 2950 / 8 x Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5440 @ 2.83GHz, 16GB RAM
OS: VMware ESX Server, 3.5.0
Virtual Machine Instances: 5

Base System:

• MySQL Pilot
  Redhat AS5 (64bit) installed / 2vCPU / 1024MB / 32G+64G diskspace
  
  
• Moodle Pilot
  Redhat AS5 (64bit) installed / 2vCPU / 1024MB / 32G+128G diskspace
  
  
• Sakai Project Pilot
  Redhat AS5 (64bit) pending / 2vCPU / 1024MB / 32G+128G diskspace