Hello,

I shall reply inline as best I can

On 2016-10-28 18:09, John Robertson wrote:
> Hi Pat,
> 
> intriguing and prompts a few questions...
> 
> I'm interested in why UMW opted to building this for wordpress rather
> than using an open course on free canvas or running wp blogs in
> parallel with canvas.If it's written up anywhere I'd like to read it.

If you google "MOLIE initiative" there is a website about the project. I 
can't speak for UMW.
The only thing I am privy to is that the people I worked with wanted to 
use WordPress features to improve content display and such like. Plugins 
such like Beaver builder have been mooted and so on.

Also not the subject "of taking open" is only one option available - 
running in parallel, exporting and repurposing are other options. In 
theory, you could also write a course in WordPress and reverse it back 
into Canvas using this plugin.

> Canvas doesn't have a built-in a blog tool but I don't think that's
> the intent here and I'm struggling a little with what this does
> (assuming that you could do open pedagogy of some kind using student
> wp blogs and submitted urls in canvas). I feel like i've missed
> something. My best guess is that it's set up this way to open up
> campus courses to allow single edit updates on a cMOOC for fun and
> local course for credit (a more integrated infrastructure for ds106 /
> phonar type courses)?

In theory, probably, but I don't want to be explicit as to the intention 
of people using a plugin, as free will and so on. Also consider that WP 
isn't just blogs, once you've got custom post types and so on. Also, the 
edits are not simple, as you can opt for WP to send changes back to the 
LMS, and have WP download updates from the LMS when the content changes. 
It isn't a mere export, you can opt for content to be linked in 
perpetuity if you so wish. I appreciate I used export or import as a 
word, but linking undersells the complexity of what is happening, and I 
can't think of a word to describe it.

> Questions:
> 1) is this generic LTI based or more tailored to canvas?

It uses the Canvas API and no LTI

> 2) the directions are tied to installing on WP, is there any special
> set up in canvas that's needed or does this just run off consumer key
> and shared secret ?

All you need from Canvas is a token (no key and secret as not LTI). 
There are instructions in the plugin on how to get the token. Once 
you've got the token, it's a handful of clicks and the course is 
importing away.

> 3) any known conflicts with other wordpress based integrations - eg
> badgeos?

No, but the number of users at present is 4 :)

> 4) does this pass authentication / automatically set up student
> accounts on wp or are the student accounts already set up on local wp
> and this just joins the dots OR is this just sync instructor created
> stuff?

it doesn't create users, but does create a course roster, it could do 
without much effort

> 5) is this content page syncing only or does it tie or sync to
> assignments, quizzes, groups, discussions, grade book in any way?

It brings over assignments, quizzes and discussions. There is no link 
back to the gradebook.

However, I've only had 1 course to test against so this is somewhat 
under developed (only 15 days work on the project)

> I can't immediately think of any courses I'm working on that this fits
> but ponder, share this plugin with colleagues, and see if I can
> persuade anyone to tinker. Apologies for the laundry list of
> questions.
> 
> Have you posted this in the Canvas community site as well?

No, as I have no idea it existed, feel free to send a link

Pat