integrating library resources into desire2learn a presentation and demo to the university of...

Integrating Library Resources

into Desire2Learn

A presentation and demo to the

University of Wisconsin and Ohio State

October 26, 2005

Shirley Bower, Susan Mee, Jonathan Jiras

Rochester Institute of Technology

Agenda

1. Big picture (Shirley Bower)

2. Demo (Sue Mee)

3. Technical Details (Jon Jiras)

4. Questions / Discussion

Historical Perspective

Courseware Progression:

FirstClass Blackboard Prometheus Desire2Learn

Distance Learning Courses Campus, Distance, Blended

Pilot Project Every Course with Course Shell

History of Strong Library Involvement:

Evaluation Vendor Training Implementation Faculty Workshops

The Challenges

• Duplicate Prometheus Features: Separate Reserve Module – integration of electronic reserve material into course outline or syllabus by Library staff Online request form for faculty to request electronic reserves “Widget-like” generic library information in every course Administrative access available for Library

• Meet Faculty Expectations for Integration

• Short Implementation Timeframe

The Solution – Simple but Eloquent

• Modular Web Based Application

• Is not a widget – avoids limitations of widgets

• Link from main navigation bar of D2L – available from every screen

• All the features of Prometheus + MORE

• Integration of all reserves + customized library resources

• Added to default course shell – appears in all courses

• myLibrary link branded for RIT’s myCourses

myLibrary Link – Added Benefits

• Sits completely outside of D2L• Links to existing systems – pages on web server, III reserve module• Does not require library staff to edit course shells or duplicate processing• Decreased reserve processing by at least 25%• Encourages librarians to participate in the success of D2L• Customizes the library experience for users• Makes the library and library resources important D2L assets• Easy migration from quarter to quarter

Three types of content

1) Course specific- reserve material

2) College or Program specific- contact info, database lists, subject guides, website lists

3) Neither (common to all courses, colleges, and programs) - research tools, library account, books tab

Views

• Student• Faculty• Distance Learner

Similar to an OpenURL link server

• Takes a URL parameter and returns related links

Software

ColdFusion and Windows Internet Information Server Can also be done in PHP, ASP, or other middleware

Not a database driven application All logic resides in cold fusion pages

Very simple application Took 70 hours of programming 3 or 4 meetings with Sue

Customizing the Nav Bar


http://ellie.rit.edu/D2L/course.cfm?CourseNum={OrgUnitCode}&Role={RoleID}

Available variables (pg. 65)

{OrgUnitId} {OrgUnitName} {OrgUnitCode} {OrgUnitPath} {OrgId} {OrgName} {UserId} {UserName} {OrgDefinedId} {FirstName} {LastName} {ExternalEmail} {InternalEmail} {RoleId} {RoleCode}

Variables we are sending

{OrgUnitCode} {RoleId}

Variables we can’t send

{OrgUnitName} {FirstName} {LastName}

Variables we can’t send

{OrgUnitName} {FirstName} {LastName}

Not URL Encoded

Course numbers at RIT

052210170.20051

05 is college 22 is program 101 is course number 70 is section 20051 is quarter

Course specific (reserves)

Uses ODBC connection to the ILS (Millennium III)• RIT is an Oracle III site• SQL script pulls reserve items• ColdFusion page generates links to catalog

College/Program Specific(contact info, find articles, subject guides, select

websites)HTML fragment files (find articles example)

databases_01.htm 01 – College of buisness

databases_06.htm 06 – College of Applied Science and Tech.

databases_0607.htm 0607 – Packaging Sciences

databases_0619.htm 0619 – Hospitality Service

databases_0627.htm 0627 – Instructional Technology

databases_0635.htm 0635 – Health Systems Administration

databases_0640.htm 0640 – Reserve Officer Training

websites)

Logic (find articles example)

<cfelseif college is "06"> <cfswitch expression = #program#> <cfcase value = '27'>

<cfinclude template = "databases_0627.htm"> </cfcase> <cfcase value = '35'>

<cfinclude template = "databases_0635.htm"> </cfcase>

websites)Fragment file example

<tr><td><a href="http://library.rit.edu/electronic/topic/engineering.html"> Engineering Databases</a></td></tr>

<tr><td><a href="http://library.rit.edu/electronic/topic/patents.html">Patent Databases</a></td></tr></td></tr>

Propagating the Link

D2L administrator • Added to Default Nav Bar• Made it appear across all existing shells• Occasional tweak

MaintenanceLinks are to web pages that list resources by discipline – not to the resources themselves.

Bibliographers update web pages (as they always have).

Minor tweaks/troubleshooting

Statistics

General D2L statsSpring 2005 -- (15 pilot courses)Summer 2005 -- (light load)Fall 2005 -- (3,422 courses)

myLibrary link statsavg. 300 hits per week3% have removed the link

Future Development

Bibliographers develop new web pages to support more programs.

May develop this into a database driven application (like University of Rochester’s Course Reserves and Resources Management System).

Integrate with additional courseware packages

ERM implementation

Content Management System

URL Encoded versions of variables

More information

Mee, Susan (2005, August). Bringing the Library to You: Integrating Library Resources into Online Classrooms. Presentation, video and handout for the 2nd International Desire2Learn Users Conference (http://library.rit.edu/desire2learn/), Madison, WI.

Contact Information

Shirley Bower – Digital Assets Team Manager [email protected]

Susan Mee – Distance and Online Learning Librarian [email protected]

Jonathan Jiras – Library Software Specialist [email protected]

integrating library resources into desire2learn a presentation and demo to the university of...

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