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http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/[email protected]
The Joined up Web - Newcastle University, a case study
Dr Tony McDonaldFaculty of Medicine Computing Centre (FMCC)
Medical SchoolUniversity of Newcastle upon Tyne
http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/[email protected]
Background
• Networked Learning Environments (NLE) project (TLTP 3-86)
• Four Consortium partnersNewcastle University Medical Programme
scalability issues led to development of curriculum databaseNottingham University Medical ProgrammeDurham University Biomedical SciencesNorthumbria University Subjects Allied to Medicine‘non-funded’ partner - Sheffield University Medical School
• Scalable Systems- eg no individual web pages written- extract from Database and output to other formats (HTML, RTF, PDF, XML-RPC, SOAP, etc)
http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/[email protected]
DevelopmentSoftware/Hardware systems
• Core System - Zope– Object orientated web delivery system
• Rapid development of systems (Sheffield site created in < 1 week).
• Excellent database connectivity / very rich permissions structure. Plug-in ‘products’, separation of code/content
• Extensive use of ‘open-source’ / free software– Zope, Python, PHP, MySQL, Omnimark– UNIX servers / Solaris– Important for moving to other sites
http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/[email protected]
Choice ofContent Management System
• Project start - July 1998• System requirements:
– Low cost, scalable, easy to use• System chosen - Zope
– Freedom from file ‘tyranny’ (.php3, .pl, .html etc.)– Excellent permissions system– Extensive database connectivity– Novel features - ‘undo’, ‘versions’
http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/[email protected]
Integration -MIS
• Pivotal to a scalable system– Eg module codes, works for 10, works for 10,000
• Possible users/Simultaneous users distinction
• Data Dumps - preferable to ‘live’ systems– Data warehousing– Student & staff info.
• Leads to authentication systems
• DON’T– Write single pages for a course, derive from database
http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/[email protected]
Integration -Other ‘MLEs’
• Data dumps from MIS• Need primary key
– eg Module code, student UCAS number• Reuse existing management material
– eg module -> exam info, student-> course taken– Don’t reenter student data– Don’t reenter module, course data
http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/[email protected]
Working with other sites
• Scalability– Entering data a ‘no-no’– Data source of staff/student/module information is
essential– Zope allows editing site wherever a browser is
available– Data Ownership (hosting our data at Newcastle? - no
chance!)
– Different Data structures not a problem
http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/[email protected]
NLE in action
• All sites hosted at Newcastle– Designed for portability in mind
• Notts bought server to run their NLE• UNIX backend, MySQL, Zope, Python, PHP3• Consortium sites have great autonomy• Can use ZEO to distribute load over other
servers
http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/[email protected]
Successes• Newcastle using NLE technologies extensively
– MOFS (6200 modules, authenticated editing, resource upload and PDF output)
• Nottingham purchased server• Addition of non-funded partner - Sheffield
University• Generally high regard from staff/students• Remote Admins taking to Zope quite well
http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/[email protected]
Problems• NIH?
– Not generally a problem• Data Ownership
– Reluctance to share data, eg staff ‘pet’ projects– Not always evident who owns the data
• Resistance to change– Senior mgmt might agree, but at ground zero…
• F2F communication - Invaluable
http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/[email protected]
The ‘NLE’ way
• Scalability• One source of data, ideally one data owner• Repurpose existing data• Create conduits (eg editing/uploading
screens), not terminii (eg “I’ll upload that for you”)
http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/[email protected]
Summary• Obstacles (data ownership, data structures) can be
formidable, but committed people at the sharp end make a real difference
• Open source systems help greatly– Easy to move to other sites, open data structures, lower
cost• Need bottom-up and top-down driving
– Staff/student & Dean/PVC• Hosting many sites at one location
– No big deal (disk, processor and OS permitting)
http://nle.ncl.ac.uk/nle/[email protected]
Information Sources• Zope - Object Orientated Web Delivery Platform
– http://www.zope.org/
• MySQL - Open Source RDBMS– http://www.mysql.com/
• Python - Scripting Language– http://www.python.org/
• Omnimark - Text Processing Language– http://www.omnimark.com
• Roxen - Graphically Rich Web Server– http://www.roxen.com
