Moodle@Kidderminster College

An insight

Into the College VLE

Graham Masongmason@kidderminster.ac.uk

History

• VLE’s are like a phenomenon that moves sometimes at a ferocious pace and then sometimes at a pace that can infuriate

• Within the College we have had a VLE for a number of years (about five years) and always had a strong cohort that are willing to have ago

• I don’t need to convince you to use Moodle, Moodle will do it for you

• JISC advocates open source technology

• JISC Core Middleware Bid 04/2004

• Securing a successful JISC Bid as lead institution 04/04

• Started with an IdP on Linux (Fedora Core 2)

• Although the Internet2 documentation was accurate in its description of how Shibboleth works

• The technical guidelines were generic and not specific, this was apparent in creating an “SP”

The Project “Birth of KC-ROLO”

Get the Documentation in place

• Our main ally was documentation

• Log progress at each step

• With pre-written scripts to download

• Continually updating scripts

What is “Shibboleth” It’s “Middleware”

KC-ROLO Identity Provider

• Handle Service connected to Active Directory via Apache auth_ldap

• Then PubCookie from the University of Newcastle (good cookbook)

• Finally IIS “Integrated Windows Authentication” for a true once only login experience

• Attribute Authority connected to Active Directory (commonName) (department) (mail)

• We haven’t implemented the “EduPerson” class

The Project “Where to Start?”

KC-ROLO Service Provider

• Used different platforms to gain experience in each one

• Repository SP on a Windows 2003 Box

• VLE’s SP on a Linux Box

How we’re using Shibboleth• To share internal VLEs

with different sections

• To share VLEs with partner institutions

• To share learning objects with partner institutions

Moodle

• Use Moodle for Virtual Learning Environment

• Latest versions Shibbolized out of the box

• Split into sections, students/staff may need access to other Moodles

Repository• Open Source repository (in PERL)

• Contains learning objects, NLN and custom materials

• Search front end protected by shibboleth, no code change

• Shibbolized repository submitter, only members of Kidderminster College with the “Staff” attribute can submit.

Without Shibboleth

With Shibboleth

Benefits to the Users

• No multiple logins to put them off

• Access to resources at other sites provides greater choiceof materials

• Students & staff can collaborate with members of other institutions

Federation

Demo

• http://kc-vle.kidderminster.ac.uk/portal

Future Developments

Summary

• We now see Shibboleth as an intrical part of the College

• JISC and other communities are very helpful

• Has helped to link ICT Services and the LRC through collaboration

• Shibboleth in Further Education Report

Questions?

• More info at:

http://www.kidderminster.ac.uk/kc-rolo

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