Monday October 6 th 2 30 pm Distance

Monday, October 6 th, 2: 30 pm Distance Learning CMS Integration Bill Pearce – Ventura County CCD Bob Hughes – North Orange County CCD

Blackboard Vista Interface Bill Pearce – Ventura County CCD

Batch Interface • SQL*Plus script run by a shell script every morning at 3: 00 am (Banner web is down) • Runs for two terms, new courses, sections only (includes enrollments and crosslists) • Creates. csv files, SCP’ed to Blackboard ASP server • Process at Blackboard checks for files every 5 minutes • Email sent from process and from Blackboard

Batch Interface • LCS File (courses, sections, crosslists) – Sections identified by Integration partner (Web. CT type) in SSASECT – Create SCRATTR (first time for course) and SSRATTR attribute VSTA to indicate upload – Crosslist group: • Uploaded if all sections are Web. CT • Tagged in local table GZRJOBH if uploaded

Batch Interface • Crosslist “enrollments” – Uploaded if all sections are Web. CT – Checks GZRJOBH for prior load • Users – – Instructors and Students Loads all users when CRN is first loaded Creates Webtailor role WEBCTBB for Webstar SSO Subsequent users sent via database trigger and XML

Batch Interface • Student/Instructor Enrollments – Loads all enrollments when CRN is first loaded – Subsequent enrollments sent via database trigger and XML – Includes Waitlisted students • Student drops – Not included in batch interface – Sent via database trigger and XML

Batch Interface • End of process: – Inserts SCRATTR (entire set) and SSRATTR VSTA attribute – Inserts marker in GZRJOBH for crosslist group • Script is run manually in TEST database, and uploads to test Blackboard server

“Manual” Crosslists • SQL*Plus scripts (thru job submission) – Enter manual crosslist group code – Select multiple CRNs – Error checking: • All CRNs must be Web. CT • Code cannot be used before (stored in GZRJOBH) • No CRN can be in a Banner crosslist – Also have script to add/delete CRNs from existing manual crosslist group – Separate shell script SCP’s file for next scheduled process (BB checks every 5 minutes. )

Data Formats • Colleges (Divisions): – Unique ID = M, V, or R – Title = College Name (example, “Moorpark College”) • Subject Codes (Groups): – Unique ID = SUBJ. M, SUBJ. V, SUBJ. R (example, MATH. M) – Title = SUBJ – Subject Name – College Name (example, “MATH – Mathematics – Moorpark College”)

Data Formats • Courses: – Unique ID = SUBJ. CRSE (example, MATH. M 01) – Title = SUBJ CRSE – Course Title (example, “MATH M 01 – Elementary Algebra”) • Sections: – Unique ID = TERM. CRN (example, 200707. 71823) – NOTE: This is backwards for My Courses SSO to Luminis – changing in Spring 2009 – Title = Term Desc - SUBJ CRSE – CRN – Section Title (example, “Fall 2007 – MATH M 01 – 71823 – Elementary Algebra”)

Data Formats • Crosslists: – Unique ID = TERM. XLCODE (example, 200707. 1 A) – Title = TERM Crosslisted CRN 1 -SUBJ. CRSE, CRN 2 –SUBJ. CRSE, … (example “ 200707 Crosslisted 70123–POLS. V 12, 72615–ESRM. V 03”)

My. VCCCD (Luminis) SSO • Only Faculty have access currently • Logon link from “Work Life” Tab • My Courses won’t go directly to course until Spring 2009 (CRN/Term backwards) • Direct logon from My Courses if problems

Pseudo SSO via Banner SSB • Needed for students, faculty transition to My. VCCCD • Uses secret code – PIN synch not an issue • Link is on main menu, Student Services, and Faculty Services • Auto logon from Web. Star (Banner SSB) • Had to switch from SPRIDEN ID to third-party ID when Luminis implemented – no longer allow direct logon to Blackboard • Based on Webtailor role WEBCTBB

PIN Reset Methodology

Immediate User Update • Database trigger on GOBTPAC • Calls package to send User information in XML to BB Vista server • Uses secret code, Oracle Wallet • Sends Information if: – – Instructor assigned to Web. CT section Student registered in Web. CT section PIN is not expired PIN is not DOB • Creates Webtailor role WEBCTBB

Immediate Enrollment Update • Database triggers on SFRSTCR, SIRASGN • Calls package to send Add/Drop information in XML to BB Vista server for Students and Instructors • Creates Webtailor role WEBCTBB

Immediate Update Errors • If errors encountered in User/Enrollments, sends email • Types of errors: – Section not loaded (new subject code – resolved) – Special characters in name – False errors • Transaction stored in local table – can be “replayed” with a script

Future Plans • Bring Blackboard in-house early 2009 • Look at improving interfaces • Exception reporting between Banner and Blackboard databases

Banner to Blackboard Integration via the Snapshot Tool Bob Hughes – North Orange County CCD

3 Campuses, 4 Systems • Cypress College – Blackboard Academic Suite Release 8, hosted (ASP model) • Fullerton College – Blackboard CE 6 (formerly Vista), supported in-house by academic computing • School of Continuing Education – Moodle, hosted in-house by academic computing • District-Wide – Luminis Course Studio

Cypress – Snapshot update • Additional purchase from Blackboard • Provides a way to have frequent updates to the Blackboard database from Banner (although not real-time) • Expensive – required a significant up-front purchase, consulting engagement, and ongoing maintenance contract

The Process in a nutshell • Option to create either flat text files or XML files from Banner to populate Blackboard • 4 files needed: User, Course, Enrollment, Assignment • Pushed to a dedicated FTP server • Files picked up by the Snapshot service on their schedule • After update, e-mail sent to report on errors, results

Blackboard Database Snapshot Controller FTP server at NOCCCD IS Help Desk Email Assign, Course, Enroll, User files Banner Database

Timeline for Implementation • April 27, 2007 – Documentation received • May 3, 2007 – Technical kick-off, • May, 2007 - Conference calls, filling out workbook, coding • June 5 – 7, 2007 – Consultants on-site • June 15, 2007 – Go Live

Initially used Argos

Argos (cont. ) • Used the ‘Schedule and Delivery’ functionality in Argos to send files to the FTP server as needed • Allowed for easy modification and troubleshooting of SQL’s • Oracle 10 G Upgrade, Oracle OLEDB driver update in August 2008 resulted in a significant performance hit and stability issues; • Migrated to chrontab; now launching directly from Oracle

The Course File • Looks for ssbsect_schd_code = ’ 72’ or ‘HY’ or course attribute code = ‘CB’ • Cross-list courses were a big challenge – concatenate all cross-listings into a single course

The User File • Includes pidm, ID, encrypted PIN, name and e-mail of students enrolled in a Blackboard course • Have to maintain prior term, current term and (in some cases) future term • First iteration contained only Blackboard instructors; now includes all faculty for Staff Development • Takes 10 minutes to run; need to improve this

The Enrollment File • Very simple; lists the pidms of students with the courses they are enrolled in

The Assignment File • Also very simple; lists the pidms of instructors with the courses they are teaching

Production Schedule • 3 am, 5 am, 10 am, 12 noon, 3 pm, 5 pm for data from current term, users • 3 am, 3 pm for data from future term and past term • Snapshot controller runs at 4 am, 1 pm and 6 pm; can be run out of schedule to pick up more current files • Email from Snapshot process sent to a folder at the helpdesk; shows status, errors from each file processed

Recommendations • Do all your work before the BB consultants arrive on-site • Watch out for password expirations on the FTP server; must be coordinated with Blackboard ASP • Make sure the logs and snapshot e-mails are monitored • Manual additions in Blackboard can cause problems • Clarify the policy on cross-listed courses

Future Goals • Standardize all colleges on a single Course Management System • Real time (or near real time) updates; leverage LDAP • SSO through my. Gateway Course Studio • Tuesday 11 am Emerald Bay 3 – Luminis and LMS Integration – SSO to Moodle at NOCCCD – Adam Howard

Questions? Bill Pearce bpearce@vcccd. edu Bob Hughes rhughes@nocccd. edu