Just to clarify the term 'locally' - in IT speak it means on your own desktop computer rather than on a network via a server, in this case the Xerte Online Toolkits server. I realise when I talked about Xerte I was thinking Xerte Online Toolkits as that's the only version I have used. Having an installation in your institution is another type of 'locally' but not the one Ron objects to (I think!).
-----Original Message-----
From: A list to facilitate and support teachers using Xerte Online Toolkits [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ron Mitchell
Sent: 15 January 2013 10:50
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Xerte on a network
In addition to what has already be said by Julian and Terry I'd add the following...
1. Don't even consider having it installed locally.
For me the only justification for that in your context is if you also have a developer who wants to use the local install to develop customisations or additional features.
A local install loses all the benefits of easy and college wide sharing and collaboration, embedding LO's in the VLE etc It's free and open source which means once installed it's available for ALL staff and ALL learners to use at no extra cost
More importantly compare the impact and cost of time in the following
scenarios:
Local install
If installed locally every user Teacher or Student has to export any LO's they wish to share and upload to somewhere online that others can access.
Let's say that takes even just 10minutes per LO and multply that by the number of anticipated users, the numbers of LO's they might create and the frequency they might create or change those LO's. Let's be conservative and say that's only 10 users creating 3 LO's each per week:
3 LO's x 10 minutes each to export and upload x 10 users = 300 minutes per week and the reality is it would be many many more users and LO's than this
Online college wide install
A member of the IT team completes the initial install but after that version updates and occasional fixes and improvements amounts to less than a week per year.
I've typed this quickly so my maths might be skewed but you get the point...
Which costs more in terms of time?
Which has clearer benefits for teaching and learning?
2. Adobe Presenter and Captivate are completely different tools and if you have them can be used very effectively together with XOT. I very much doubt you have a license to allow all staff and all students to use those tools and in terms of ease of use and T&L features there really isn't any comparison.
HTH
Ron
-----Original Message-----
From: A list to facilitate and support teachers using Xerte Online Toolkits [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Shirley Crawford
Sent: 14 January 2013 20:16
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Xerte on a network
Hi
Hoping that someone can answer the following.
I am still trying to get Xerte installed on the network but our Network manager is concerned about the amount of time and effort that would be needed to maintain it, can someone give me an idea of what is involved in running it on the network.
It has been suggested that we have it installed locally, I presume that the new version will need Xamp? I know from past experience that local installs are not ideal as LOs cannot be shared and the user needs to use the PC which has Xerte installed to edit the LO.
There is concern that staff would not use it. How does Xerte compare to Adobe Presenter or Captivate?
Alistair, I saw a message in December from Ian Hall at East Durham College, thanking you for documentation and advice in helping put a case for Xerte, would it be possible to have a copy of this?
I do feel that I am banging my head against a brick wall, so would appreciate any help to the above questions.
Regards
Shirley
Shirley Crawford
E-Learning Teaching Mentor
(Room J453 Tel: external: 01726 226755 ext 2755) Cornwall College - St Austell
This email is confidential and may be privileged. If you are not the intended recipient please accept our apologies. Please do not disclose, copy, or distribute information in this email nor take any action in reliance on its contents: to do so is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. Please inform us that this message has gone astray before deleting it. Please note that views expressed in this email are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Higher Education Academy. Please note that this e-mail has been created in the knowledge that Internet e-mail is not a secure communications medium. We advise that you understand and observe this lack of security when e-mailing us. Although we have taken steps to ensure this e-mail and attachments are free from any virus, we advise that in keeping with good computing practice the recipient should ensure they are actually virus free. The Higher Education Academy Registered No 4930131
|