Focusing on SIS Frameworks: A Migration from Snapshot Integration Tools
Terry PattersonLMS Application AdministratorUniversity of Missouri - Columbia
Jeremy WieboldSIS Computer Programmer / AnalystUniversity of Missouri - Columbia
ABOUT TERRY
Terry PattersonLMS Application AdministratorUniversity of Missouri - [email protected]
I have used Blackboard for over 10 years.
Catalyst Award Winner and author of Blackboard Learn Administration
ABOUT JEREMY
Jeremy WieboldSIS Computer Programmer / AnalystUniversity of Missouri - [email protected]
I have worked with Blackboard for 3 years.
I am a "new" father of an 11 month girl named Madeline.
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITYOF MISSOURI
Facts About Our Blackboard Instance
1 Load Balancer and 6 App Servers
35,356 - Active Blackboard Users
625,093 - Average Daily Page Views in Bb
5,337 - Available Courses on Blackboard
315,689 - Avg Number of Weekly Emails
ABOUT THE UNIVERSITYOF MISSOURI
Facts About Our Enrollments
Total Student Enrollments - 32,563
Students Enrolled in Bb Courses - 29,575
Blackboard Student Course Enrollments - 121,513
Spring 2013 Enrollment
THINGS I CAN TAKE BACK TO MY INSTITUTION...
An understanding and comparison of the Snapshot and SIS Framework processes within Blackboard Learn
A possible solution to address not creating Blackboard Learn shells for every course offered
Understand the benefits and challenges of moving from Bb Snapshot to SIS Framework
OUR CHALLENGESync users information between our SIS and Blackboard systems
Develop a process which creates courses that:
- Give instructors flexibility- Is mostly or fully automated- Shortens the time to complete a course request
Enroll and drop users from courses based on SIS data
Move from Snapshot to SIS Framework
STARTING POINT
Users creation was based on quasi-snapshot implementation but lacked update functionality
Enrollments also were quasi-snapshot, but didn't allow for drops
Instructors reused course shells
Support staff had to export, archive, and clean out courses before the start of the next semester
OUR PLAN
A 3 step process...
Step 1 - User creation
Step 2 - Course creation
Step 3 - Enrollment creation and management
OUR INITIAL DECISIONS
- Use flat files
- Already being created- Simplest form of automation- Most comfortable for support staff and administrators
- Users actively enrolled or employed by the University
- New student users not added until enrolled in courses
SNAPSHOT VS. SIS FRAMEWORK
Flat File or XML File
Properties File
Command Line Driven
File Transfer via (FTP or Snapshot Controller)
Flat File or XML File
Framework Advanced Config.
HTTP Post to Bb URL
cURL, PHP, Coldfusion, .NET, etc…
STEP ONE...USER CREATION
Give users ability to change first name in Blackboard Learn
Clean up current Blackboard usernames to address duplicate or improper ones.
Create SIS Users Data Source Key
Create SIS Users Data Integration
STEP ONE...USER CREATION
Snapshot
SIS Framework
STEP ONE...USER CREATION
STEP ONE...USER CREATION
STEP ONE...USER CREATION CHALLENGES
Many users had multiple accounts (some invalid) and old data
Distinguish between local and Active Directory authenticated users
STEP TWO...COURSE CREATION
Only create requested courses
Address course merging, cross listing, and multiple sections
Allow faculty to add additional course users (i.e. Builders, TAs, and Graders)
STEP TWO...COURSE CREATION
SIS Database
Blackboard Crosswalk Table
STEP TWO...COURSE CREATION
STEP TWO...COURSE CREATION
STEP TWO...COURSE CREATION
STEP TWO...COURSE CREATION
Snapshot
SIS Framework
STEP TWO...COURSE CREATION
Use of Terms automatically assigns courses the proper term. Users can enable the Group By Term option in My Courses to organize a cluttered list of courses.
STEP TWO...COURSE CREATION CHALLENGES
Make sure SIS data was correct and up to date.
Work with staff in the culture change and the new automation process
Always finding new incidents and examples that required new coding
STEP THREE...USER ENROLLMENTS
Faculty and students demanded automated enrolls & drops
Need to update enrollments but not drop students during heavy usage
STEP THREE...USER ENROLLMENTS
Created a "clock” which adds user enrollments for the current semester every two hours.
Push of all enrollments and drops happens daily at 3:00am (lowest daily usage point).
During transitions we send multiple semester enrollments.
STEP THREE...USER ENROLLMENTS
STEP THREE...USER ENROLLMENTS
STEP THREE...ENROLLMENT CHALLENGES
Dealing with "accidental enrollments"
Ensure students who switched sections weren’t dropped from combined courses
DELIVERING THEFEED FILES
Snapshot
SIS Framework
SENDING THE FILES USING SIS FRAMEWORK
Using Curl
Using Coldfusion
SIS FRAMEWORKBENEFITS
- Users can be given secondary roles within Blackboard
- Course Term association
- Avoids use of third party services on campus for file transfers
- Ability to push data frequently and in smaller quanities
OUR FEEDBACK
“What fantastic updates you guys have made in the course request process. This was so much easier than it has been in the past. Pure genius!”
- Megan McKinstry
“The new form for requesting Blackboard sites is GREAT. It was so easy to do, took me about 45 seconds to request the first class and about 25 to request the second.”
- Karen Mitchell
“Just wanted to pass on to you that the new Blackboard site request process is soooo much easier now. Thank you for all the work you do to make instructors jobs easier. Much appreciated.”
- Crystal Gateley
LEARN MORE
CUTTING THROUGH THE NOISE: A DISCUSSION ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THE NEW SIS FRAMEWORK
Birds of a Feather SessionVenetian | Palazzo Congress Center - Bellini 2005Thursday, July 11th ▪ 2:00pm – 2:45pm
THANK YOU!
Terry [email protected]: @terrypatterson
Jeremy [email protected]: @J_Wiebs
CUTTING THROUGH THE NOISE: A DISCUSSION ABOUT IMPLEMENTING THE NEW SIS FRAMEWORK
Birds of a Feather SessionBellini 2005Thursday, July 11th ▪ 2:00pm – 2:45pm