status 2008 ian d. thompson [email protected] ©university of strathclyde 2008
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 2: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
• in-house VLE project started in 1998• initially one developer (Ian Thompson)
• development contributions from• Tim Plumridge (SIPBS)• Ian Thurlbeck (STAMS) • Fraser Murray (Mathematics/ P&A Chemistry)• additional modules e.g. CIS student projects
SPIDERSPIDER
![Page 3: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Usage of SPIDERUsage of SPIDER
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Academic session
SPIDER - class growth
Classes 1 30 60 100 120 350 430 706 900 1010
98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08
![Page 4: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Usage of SPIDERUsage of SPIDER
06-07 includes ~2000 alumni accounts
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
Academic session
SPIDER - user growth
Users 120 400 1000 2000 2200 4100 7200 11000 17000 22000
98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08
![Page 5: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Table 1: Class and user growth since inception in 1998
* estimate, as true figures not availablea includes alumni accounts
Usage of SPIDERUsage of SPIDER
Session 98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03 03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08
Users 120 400* 1000 2000 2200* 4100 7200 11000a 17000a 22000a
Classes 1 30* 60 100 120* 350 430 706 900 1010
08-09
26,249a
1149
![Page 6: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Usage of SPIDERUsage of SPIDER
Faculty of Science• used by all departments• organised in 7 “clusters”, ~800 staff• used to support admin and research in addition to teaching
Business School 1 cluster: economics, since 2003
• MSc Economic Management & Policy• MSc International and Financial Economics• 37 staff, ~300 students (inc alumni)
Education• 3 clusters (education, CAS, SCA)• PDP, questionnaires, classes for 2200+ students, 109 staff since 04-05
![Page 7: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Usage of SPIDERUsage of SPIDER
Chemical engineering• ePDP for ~300 students (17 staff users) since 2004
LASS• cluster providing ePDP for all new ug since 05-06• approx 1800 students, 22 staff
• Law School • from session 06-07• approx 145 staff and 2000 students• 3rd biggest cluster (by usage) after pharmacy and bioscience
• Psychology• migrated from webCT to use in 07-08• 31 staff, 380 students
![Page 8: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Usage of SPIDERUsage of SPIDER
Geogsoc• Geography and Sociology currently testing with 1 class (2 staff, 36 students)
Modern languages showing some interest
‘Other’• students/staff not affiliated to any of the above• 47 staff, ~2700 students• central departments, service teaching
![Page 9: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Usage of SPIDERUsage of SPIDER
Monthly usage - term time ~1.5 to 2M+ page visits* per month, ~50-110,000 per day
• typically 4-7,500+ different users/ month• 9,315 users in semester 1, 2006-07• 10,005 users in semester 1, 2007-08• 10,246 users in semester 2, 2007-08
• 8,200 so far in Oct 2008 alone
* page visit - single page request by user, rather than “hits” - a single page request will generate many hits (one for HTML + each image or other media) - SPIDER gets 5M+ ‘hits’ a week
![Page 10: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
SPIDER hardwareSPIDER hardware
Primary server* Dual Xeon 3GHz CPU 2Gb RAM, RAID 5 ~90Gb SCSI ~£3,500 in 2004
Mirror server x2 PIII 800MHz, 1Gb RAM, RAID 5 ~60Gb SCSI rsync + MySQL slaves
Development server PII 533MHz, 512Mb RAM, 10Gb HD
* just ordered new Quad Core Xeon, 8GB RAM, 0.8Tb Raid 5 system (~£2k), will use iSCSI storage (shared with SIPBS file server) and offsite mirror in Royal College by end 2008/ Q1 2009
![Page 11: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Typical VLE
class class classclass
is in class
learner
controls
tutor
VLE structureVLE structure
![Page 12: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
SPIDER
cluster
department
class class class class
SPIDER
cluster 2
department
class class class
can view
department
is in class
learner
tutor
belongs to
canview
cluster 3
department
class class class
cluster 4
department
class class class
department
class class
profileclasses, groupsexam & quiz resultsprogressePDP...
VLE structureVLE structure
![Page 13: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
SPIDER “clusters” structureSPIDER “clusters” structure
• model university structure of degrees, departments and classes
• provide control & communication at• course/ programme level (cluster)• department level• class level
• allow customisation
![Page 14: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
SPIDER managementSPIDER management
each cluster has own admin(s)• one or more academic/technical/computing/administrative staff• 11 user groups - flexible administration
• distributed/ shared• “central”/ individual(s) • mix of both to suit departmental needs
after training local expertise• first line help & advice
+ help from other admins/ developers
![Page 15: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Class/ cluster content controlClass/ cluster content control
Editor, sub-admin and admins manage content at cluster level
“Class editor” user• any (staff) user can control one (or more) classes’:
• content• exam returns• class lists
![Page 16: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
open access to any class*• curiosity/ general interest• learner revision• view good practice/ staff peer review• no problems with late registration• class list is stored independently
* option to limit access to class list/ staff if required
SPIDER classesSPIDER classes
![Page 17: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
session tabs• groups class material by academic session (e.g. 2005-06)
• auto-archiving of materials
• student access for revision
• session tab access can be restricted to students on class list for matching session e.g. only allow revision students to access solutions
SPIDER classesSPIDER classes
![Page 18: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
student “object” allows SPIDER to provide class
independent:• information to staff• tools for students (+ staff)
examples• counsellees tool student profile
• performance monitoring/ tracking - EWS• ePDP• myCounsellor• attendance register• blogs• non-class groups
User objectUser object
![Page 19: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Any staff user can post news items• appear on home page (+class page if relevant)
• +/- email copy - replaces email lists for many depts• target any combination of 1 or more class(es), year(s), cluster• user can filter news “feeds”• moves to archive after 7 days or once “marked read” by user
Private messaging• appears in users private message space• +/- email copy• staff can target individuals, counsellees or sub groups of counsellees, user input list or
any ‘group’ they own/belong to • students can message each other via groups/ discussions
News/ communicationNews/ communication
![Page 20: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
EWSEWS
Early Warning System• Uses myCounsellees tool• Staff can quickly view student progress/results• Indication of poor performance
Remedial action can be taken early
![Page 21: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
DevelopmentDevelopmentSPIDER is an in-house system
• we own the core code• built to meet our needs/ teaching style• customisation to meet the needs of our users• flexible• rapid bug fixing/ tweaks• modular code
• cluster specific tools• anyone can contribute developments/ new tools/ ideas
• not just for teaching• dept web sites, radiation records, asset register, lab stocks, document
store….
![Page 22: Status 2008 Ian D. Thompson ian.thompson@strath.ac.uk ©University of Strathclyde 2008](https://reader035.vdocuments.net/reader035/viewer/2022062717/56649e555503460f94b4ca72/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Addresses
http://spider.science.strath.ac.uk
Development serverhttp://spider-dev.pharmacy.strath.ac.uk
Ian Thompson
x2969 [email protected]