Report of the RACL WebCT Working Group

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Report of the RACL / WebCT Working
Group Recommendations for a USG Solution for
Integration of Library Resources in USG WebCT /
VISTA Environments GIL Users Group Meeting May
19, 2005
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Topics and Presenters

• Review of the Report
• Caroline Cason, University of Georgia
• After the Report, Campus Perspective
• Sherrida Crawford, Valdosta State University
• After the Report, GALILEO Upgrade
• Lauren Fancher, Board of Regents

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Review of the RACL / WebCT Working Group Report

• Environment and Background
• Processes
• Recommendations
• Outcomes
• Caroline Cason, University of Georgia

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University System of Georgia Integrated Learning
Environment
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Purpose of RACL WebCT Working Group

• Review possibilities for integration of library
  resources and services into WebCT Vista
  Environment
• Test authentication scenarios
• Identify issues
• Make recommendations

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Group Members

• Shirley Lankford, State University of West
  Georgia
• Mary Morris, Macon State College
• Jan Ruskell, State University of West Georgia
• Sandra Stratford, Columbus State University
• Tammy Sugarman, Georgia State University
• Tyler Walters, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Phil Wetherington, Macon State College

• Carol Bray, East Georgia College
• Laura Burtle, Georgia State University
• Caroline Cason, University of Georgia
• Sherrida Crawford, Valdosta State University
• Kim Eccles, Atlanta Metropolitan College
• Lauren Fancher, Board of Regents
• Scott Gillies, Gwinnett University Center
• Jeff Heck, Augusta State University
• Chris Huff, State University of West Georgia

• Resources
• Brian Finnegan - BOR
• Doug Hyche - BOR

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Discussion Questions

• What should the students and faculty view of
  library resources within WebCT look like?
• What can we do now to get there?

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Campus Portal Services
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My WebCT (Student) View
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File Manager (Faculty) View
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Different Features and Functions for Students,
Faculty, and Librarians

• Students need links to library resources and
  services at main page, as well as to particular
  materials within courses and assignments
• Faculty need to be able to place durable links
  to pre-selected as well as self-selected
  materials within courses and assignments
• Librarians need to be able to create
  collections of durable links to materials at the
  discipline, section, course, and assignment level
  for selection by faculty. Also provide services.
  

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Authentication Issues

• Working towards a single sign-on environment for
  users across all campus services from a single
  place (portal and or course management)
• Most licensed library resources require IP
  authentication or separate user name and password

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Linking Issues

• Access to linked library resources should be as
  seamless as possible
• Links to library resources need to be durable
  over time so that as things change, they stay
  current
• Changes to links need to be easy to manage

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Solutions?

• Proxy products such as EZProxy ensure that links
  to IP-authenticated resources are seamlessly
  available to users
• Open URL link resolvers ensure that links are
  durable and easy to manage
• Content integration products provide ways for
  libraries and faculty to collaborate in use of
  library resources within online course management
  systems

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The Future?

• My Campus Portal

My Email
My Portfolio
My News
My Student Information
My WebCT
My Library
Links to Library Systems and Services
My Course
GIL
Links to EReserves, Ejournals, Pathfinders
My Course
Link Resolver
My Course
EReserves
My Assignment
GALILEO
Links to Articles, Learning Objects
Ask a Librarian
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Report Recommendations

• Preliminary recommendations focused on what could
  be done immediately collaboration and
  strategies
• Final report included additional recommendations
  related to the technical infrastructure
  software and technologies that are needed

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Outcomes

• Preliminary report provided to RACL Executive
  Committee June 2004
• Endorsement of initial recommendations
• Libraries begin to implement
• Final report produced in August 2004
• Presentation to RACL Fall Meeting 2004
• Endorsement of key software recommendations

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Initial Recommendations Endorsed by the RACL
Executive Committee in June 2004for Immediate
Pursuit by USG Libraries

• Libraries should be included in the
  implementation of campus portals and course
  management solutions.
• Links to GALILEO, GIL, the library website, Ask
  a Librarian, the Online Library Learning Center
  tutorial, and a citation style guide should be
  placed at the My WebCT level for each student at
  every campus.

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Initial Recommendations Endorsed by the RACL
Executive Committee in June 2004for Immediate
Pursuit by USG Libraries

• Libraries should ensure that designated
  librarians are trained in use of the WebCT VISTA
  course designer tools and are familiar with both
  the student and faculty views and tools in order
  to be of assistance to all.
• Librarians should ensure that they are available
  through outreach, advertising, and service
  offerings to collaborate with faculty in the
  development of their online courses.

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Technical Architecture Recommended for All USG
Libraries

• EZProxy
• Shibboleth
• Electronic Reserves management software
• OpenURL resolver such as SFX
• Course content integration software

• MetaSearch Software
• Digital Repository Software
• Virtual Reference Software
• Bibliographic Citation Management Software

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Technical Recommendations Endorsed by the RACL
Group in November 2004

• RACL / WebCT Working Group presented their
  report to the Regents Academic Committee on
  Libraries (USG Library Directors) in November
  2005
• RACL endorsed pursuing SFX linking,
  metasearching, EZProxy, and ERes solutions for
  the University System of Georgia, as part of the
  centrally-supported virtual library GALILEO.

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After the RACL / WebCT Working Group Report
Campus Perspective

• Strategies
• Processes
• Progress
• Outcomes
• Next Steps
• Sherrida Crawford, Valdosta State University

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RACL/WebCT Working Group, After the Report
What I Learned
Sherrida Crawford, Automated Systems Coordinator
Functional Lead, VSU Campus Pipeline Luminis
Project Team October, 2003 RACL/WebCT Working
Group member in April, 2004
May 18, 2005
S.J. Crawford, Odum Library
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After the RACL/WebCT Report, What I Learned
May 18, 2005
S.J. Crawford, Odum Library
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After the RACL/WebCT Report, What I Learned
REALITY CHECK
Authentication and resource management software
works together in combination to meet needs of
faculty, students and librarians
May 18, 2005
S.J. Crawford, Odum Library
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After the RACL/WebCT Report, What I Learned
WEB Strategy

• Business / E-commerce tool (Enterprise systems
  like PeopleSoft and Banner)
• Marketing tool (Institutions public
  face)
• Academic tool (Learning Management
  Systems, i.e. WebCT/Vista)

S.J. Crawford, Odum Library
May 18, 2005
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After the RACL/WebCT Report, What I Learned
Some Functional Similarities Comparisons
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S.J. Crawford, Odum Library
May 18, 2005
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After the RACL/WebCT Report, What I Learned
Report Summary Recommendation
Links to GALILEO, GIL, the Library website, Ask a
Librarian, the Online Library Learning Center
tutorial, and a citation style guide should be
placed at the My WebCT level for each student at
every campus. VSU WebCT VISTA login
S.J. Crawford, Odum Library
May 18, 2005
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After the RACL/WebCT Report, What I Learned
Three Cheers for the USG GALILEO Support Staff!!!
For making GALILEO single sign-on happen in the
Portal!
GALILEO Password not necessary for remote users!
BlazeNet / GALILEO Demo
S.J. Crawford, Odum Library
May 18, 2005
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After the RACL/WebCT Report, What I Learned
S.J. Crawford, Odum Library
May 18, 2005
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After the RACL/WebCT Report, What I Learned
Other interesting factoids picked up...
Shibboleth Enhancement suggestion for CP
Luminis portal

• WebCT Observations
• Sentient Learning inquired if shown at Rock
  Eagle or other conferences IT staff attended?
  Used as an opening to explain Librarys interest
  in e-learning tools that help faculty add library
  resources to Vista courses
• Fielded Faculty inquiry about Library purchased
  DVDs and WebCT Vista

Horizon Wimba Become more knowledgeable about
web conferencing software
S.J. Crawford, Odum Library
May 18, 2005
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After the RACL/WebCT Report, What I Learned
GALILEO Upgrade Metasearch Review Invitation
Observation From working with the Luminis
portal knew needed to be asking vendors about
RSS feeds and uPortal compatibility
S.J. Crawford, Odum Library
May 18, 2005
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After the RACL / WebCT Working Group Report
GALILEO Perspective

• Background
• Processes
• Progress
• Next Steps
• Lauren Fancher, Board of Regents

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Background

• GALILEO and review of metasearch and linking
  products
• GALILEO environment
• Unique and complex
• Consortial management capabilities are addressed
  in some way by each of these vendors
• Goals and features may not work equally well
  within the technical constraints of the
  environment
• Authentication, rights management, menuing, SFX
  linking, supported systems and servers

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Goals and Features

• Enhanced usability and ease of access for users,
  including more intuitive searching
• Interfaces with a customized look and feel for
  each user community (academics, publics, K-12)
• More customization of menus for user communities
  and individual institutions

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Goals and Features

• Cross-database searching opportunities, including
  search sets that are customized per user
  community
• Enable access to content and features from
  library websites, online courseware, campus
  portals, and other environments that better meet
  user needs
• Provide enhanced opportunities for user
  personalization

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Presentations to theGALILEO Steering
CommitteeDecember 2004 and February 2005

• December 2004 Proposal for GALILEO Upgrade in
  order to provide SFX linking and metasearch
  capabilities for all GALILEO communities (USG,
  DTAE, AMPALS, GPALS, Public Libraries, K-12)
• February 2005 GALILEO Steering Committee
  endorsed the Upgrade Proposal

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Process and Next Steps

• GALILEO Metasearch Process
• Product review with public service and technical
  representatives from all communities
• Participation decisions pending per community
• Possible RFP, pricing, contracts and licensing,
  assessing costs, financing
• Planning deliverables and multi-year
  implementation schedule
• Formation of working groups for review of
  audience interfaces academic, public, school

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Next Steps

• USG libraries continue to participate in campus
  WebCT and portal projects
• Implementation proposal for GALILEO Upgrade to
  GALILEO Steering Committee, June 2005
• Multi-year collaborative implementation,
  refinement, evolution

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For More Information

• GeorgiaView The USG WebCT VISTA implementation
  http//alt.usg.edu/gaview/
• "Interoperability between Library Information
  Services and Learning Environments - Bridging the
  Gaps http//www.imsglobal.org/digitalrepositories
  /CNIandIMS_2004.pdf
• Libraries and the Enhancement of E-learning, OCLC
  E-Learning Task Force White Paper, October 2003
• Report of the RACL / WebCT Library Working Group,
  August 2005
• Report and Presentation available at
  www.usg.edu/RACL
• After the Report What I Learned
  http//books.valdosta.edu/crawford/GUGM05/WebCTRA
  CL_GUGM05_VSU.ppt