Transcript Document
myUnisa Functionality: Expanding the Sakai Tool Offering
Francette Myburgh
Pretoria South Africa
Students using
my
Unisa • 1
st
registration 2006: 205962 students • 93000 students joined
my
Unisa • 10724 courses on
my
Unisa
Unisa Student Distribution
668
Unisa students in Africa
2% 8% 2% 2% 3%
Internet Accessibility 2005
47%
Work Home Library Internet Café Unisa Learning Centre Library Other
36%
28%
Access Frequency 2005
3% 13% Daily Weekly Monthly Hardly Ever 56%
Distance Learning
• Standard toolset – no choice to lecturer • Students not on campus – Few opportunities for dialogue beyond material – Single interface for all student info – Access to personal information – Intuitive navigation and use – 24/7 service (international timelines)
Questionnaire Results
• 60 000 requests sent • 20 000 students completed • Two HP iPAQs as prizes
Voted Features for LMS 2005
Online submission of assignments Academic calendar (exam and other dates) Assignment due dates and reminders Online subject registrations Online course materials (including tutorial letters) Online payments Email alerts Financial information Prescribed book information Track-and trace information (for packages mailed) Online research resources
my
Unisa Toolset
• Based on SAKAI version 2.0.1
• Previous LMS tools • 19 Unisa Tools – Kept to Sakai Style and Views – Seamless integration • 6 Sakai tools
Deciding on the Toolset
• Comparison of previous LMS functionality • Compare combined list with Sakai features and functions • Gap analysis • Comparative report
Methodology
• Requirements for myUnisa based on: – Functionality in LMS missing from Sakai – Functionality improvement from previous LMS – Feasibility study was conducted (in parallel) • Technical feasibility • Comparison with technology used for development (struts) • Compliance with SAKAI user interface standards
Methodology
• Project planning • Documentation – User specification – Functional specification – Test reports • Development in three environments
Style sheet information
Frequently Asked Questions (Lecturer list view)
Tool title: Frequently Asked Questions View style: Hierarchical List View with Actionable List attributes View title: Frequently Asked Question Action buttons: Update, Clear Selections
Add FAQ Item
Tool title: Frequently Asked Questions View style: Forms View View Title: Add Frequently Asked Question Action buttons: Submit, Cancel
↑ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ?
Add FAQ Create Category Student View
Frequently Asked Questions
Click on the FAQ to view or choose Revise to edit the specific FAQ.
▼ Title ▼Modified ▼General ►Examinations
16/09/2005 □ Year mark composition 16/09/2005 □ Revise Availability of old examination papers 13/09/2005 □ Revise
►Study guides
16/09/2005 □ Editions that can be used 16/09/2005 □ Revise Errata for the current guides 13/09/2005 □ Revise
Update Clear Selections Remove?
Joining
my
Unisa
• Must JOIN to use my Unisa – Not called “registration” • Activation of my Unisa account – Verification on each field (names/dates) – Option of being part of Class List – Incorrect e-mail addresses – Checking e-mails sent to students
Dear student, NB: This is an automated response - do not reply to this e-mail. Your myUnisa account has been created and must be activated before you can login. Please click on this link in order to activate your myUnisa account:
Activate myUnisa account
or copy and paste the following in the address field in your browser:
https://my.unisa.ac.za/unisa join/myUnisaJoin.do?action=activate
Student number: 31014712 Activation code: 61207442. After activation you may login to myUnisa at
https://my.unisa.ac.za
with your student number and chosen password.
Access to
my
Unisa
• Forgotten Password – Incorrect e-mail addresses – Check e-mails sent to students • Change Password – Directly in My Admin – No e-mail verification
Dear student NB: This is an automated response - do not reply to this e-mail. You've received this e-mail in response to having selected the "Forgotten Your Password?" link on myUnisa. If you did not forget your password and do not want to change it, ignore this e-mail.
Your new password will only be activated on myUnisa when you click on the link provided below.
You may change the password by selecting the appropriate link under "My Admin" once you have logged in.
Your new myUnisa user account details: Student number : 8806551 New password : 1284667988 Click on:
Activate new password
or copy and paste the following in the address field in your browser:
https://my.unisa.ac.za/unisa password/forgotPassword.do?action=activate&dpw=1284667988&stno=8806 551
Sites setup in
my
Unisa
For students:
– My Admin – Course sites – My Workspace
For lecturers:
– My Students – Course sites – My Workspace
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Unisa: My Admin
• Admin information for distance student • Unisa developed all the tools • Integrates with Unisa SIS • Tools have been aggregated – View and updates together
My Admin Site
• Assignment marks (summative) • Academic record • Biographical details • Change password • Examination results • Financial details • Parcel information • Registration details • Study fees quotation
My Students Site
• Assignments • Academic Record • Examination Results • File Manager • Financial Details • Mailing List • Parcel Tracking • Student List • Prescribed Books
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Unisa: Teaching/Learning
Communication • Discussion forums • Email to course • Bulk e-mail from Lecturer • Class List • Academic List • Announcements Learning • Welcome message • Resources • Prescribed books • FAQs • Schedule Assessment • Assignments submission • Assignment results • Examination results
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Unisa: FAQ Tool
• Existed in previous LMS • Modelled on structure of Announcement Tool • Add, Edit and Delete for Lecturer • View only for Students • Structure – Category – Question – Answer • Database design
FAQ Add FAQ DB Remove FAQ DB Revise/ Edit FAQ ViewAll FAQ View Specific FAQ Add FAQ Create Category StudentView FAQ Create Category Add FAQ Revise/ Edit FAQ Remove FAQ
E-mail Tool
• Supports individual e-mail exchange • By lecturer choice • Course mailbox • Access from mail client • Student e-mail address transformed • MIS
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Unisa: Mailing List
• Existed in previous LMS • Sends bulk e-mail to course or group of courses • Built on James • Shares functionality with Student List • Soon with SMS
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Unisa: Welcome Message
• MOTD used for general messages in My Workspace • Welcome Tool is course specific • Not an Announcement • Default message • Still need to add graphics capability
Roles
• Primary lecturer • Secondary lecturer • Undergraduate student • Postgraduate student • Tutor • Courseware administrator • Observer • Head of Department
Roles Updates
• Student system function • Departmental responsibility • Primary lecturer = site creation
my
Unisa Support
• Unisa ICT Portal and Academic Solutions team: – 4 system administrators and software architects – 7 software developers – 1 business analyst • Call Centre - 3 dedicated support staff for students (tel and e-mail) • 4 support staff to assist lecturers
Future Requirements
• Direct updates – Negotiate and develop more updating tools • Expand financial functions – Direct electronic payments • Integrate library functions via Twin Peaks • RSS feeds for recommended articles • Utilize authoring tools (Melete) • Incorporate XML syllabus information
Future Requirements
• Link to Courier service • Implement sections and groups – Post graduate courses • Personalize – Personal greeting – Language differentiation