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Education Requirements Document

by Caroline Meeks, Tzu-Mainn Chen

I. Introduction

This document describes the requirements for the ArsDigita Community Education Solution (ACES), a full-fledged university intranet built using ACS portals as a presentation layer on top of the rest of the ACS.

II. Vision Statement

The ACS contains a number of tools that are extremely useful for an education setting - for example, calendar and file-storage can help manage class schedules and assignments, while permissioning and user groups can help with user management. The ACES aims to make this functionality more explicit, so that educations can clearly see the value of the ACS.

III. System/Application Overview

System Dependancies: The ACES is designed to allow programmers to gain easy access to any ACS module. That being said, the ACES is pre-written with certain core education functionality, using the following ACS modules:
  • portals - used for presentation layer
  • calendar
  • threaded-bboard
  • evaluation - an optional package with a dependancy on education
In addition, ACES pre-creates the following:
  • Group Types
    • edu_class
    • edu_community
    • edu_department
  • Roles
    • professor
    • ta
    • student
    • dropped
  • File Storage Folders
    • handouts
    • assignments
    • Lecuture Notes
    • Exams
    • Projects
  • Calendar Categories
    • assignments
    • lecture
    • other
    • project
    • recitation
  • Portlets

IV. User-scenarios

  • Site-Wide Administrator

    After installing ACES, a site-wide administrator decides to set up a class - "Introduction to Computer Science." First, he creates a term for Spring 2001. Then he creates a department called "Computer Science." Next, the site-wide administrator creates a subject - "Introduction to Computer Science." Finally, he creates a class within that subject, associated with Spring 2001. He sends out an email to the professor of that subject, asking the professor to register.

  • Professor (Group Administrator)

    The professor receives the email and registers onto the site. After the site-wide administrator assigns him the professor role for "Introduction to Computer Science," the professor begins to set up the class schedule by inputting calendar events (lectures, recitations, and exams) and uploading class materiels. Finally, he decides that his class information should not be viewable by the public, so he goes to the class control panel and toggles the public-viewable option off.

  • Student (Site User)

    A student registers onto the site and tries to join "Introduction to Computer Science." However, membership into that class is closed, so the student emails the professor, asking him to add the student. Once the professor does so, the student's personal calendar is automatically populated with class data. The student now has access to class files and the various class bulletin boards.

    After three unfinished problem sets and one failed exam, the professor decides to drop the student. Once that happens, the student no longer has access to class materials.

V. Competitive Analysis

The table below provides a high level feature by feature comparison. If a feature is not currently part of ACES the table indicates which ACS module could be integrated and/or enhanced to provide the functionality. The main non-feature related advantages of ACES are:

  • Open-source
  • Basic system is free of charge
  • Proven architecture, easily extendible
  • Robust Dynamic Publishing Systems and Content Management/File Storage
  • Supported by world's top developers
  • No ongoing licensing fees

DEVELOPMENTAL FEATURES

ACS Education Solution

Black Board

WebCT

Content format will allow for simple transfer to/from another vendor's platform

Y

Y

  

Platform uses open data standard so that it can communicate with existing university database applications

Y

Y

  

Content can be authored on PCs running Windows 95/98/NT

Y

Y

Y

Content can be authored on Macs running OS 7.5 or greater

Y

Y

Y

Courses can be taken using a PC running Windows 95/98/NT

Y

Y

Y

Courses can be taken using a Macintosh running OS 7.5 or greater

Y

Y

Y

Platform provider is supportive of implementing IMS standard within product

Y

Y

Y

Platform provider is supportive of implementing AICC standards within product

Y

Y

  

Platform utilizes standard HTML for content creation

Y

Y

Y

Platform is structured so students can view all of their current courses when they log on

Y

Y

Y

Platform's server software will run on DEC Unix

Y

Y

Y

Platform's server software will run on Windows NT

Y

Y

  

Multiple choice questions can be created/scored with platform's authoring software

Survey

Y

Y

True/False questions can be created/scored with platform's authoring software

Survey

Y

Y

Matching questions can be created/scored with platform's authoring software

Survey

Y

Y

Short answer questions can be created/scored with platform's authoring software

Survey

Y

Y

Essay questions can be created/scored with platform's authoring software

Survey

Y

Y

Platform supports question database for management of test questions

Survey

Y

  

Platforms supports reporting features for test questions

Survey

Y

  

Platform supports Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x and newer browsers

Y

Y

Y

Platform supports testing stage for courses to debugged before making them live to students

Y

Y

Y

Platform allows author to view course as student without logging out

Y

Y

Y

Platform has built-in threaded discussion list capabilities

Y

Y

Y

Platform has built-in chat capabilities

Y

Y

Y

Platform can be integrated with Real networks video and audio products

  

Y

Y

Platform can be integrated with Macromedia Shockwave products

  

Y

Y

Vendor provides development services

v

v

  

Management component will create reports for tracking student progress

Survey

Y

  

Operates without java script for improved cross browser compatibility and ease of use for visually disabled users.

Y

    

Platform has a feature to import existing test questions in a tab-delimited format

Survey

Y

  

INSTRUCTOR TOOLS

ACS

Black Board

WebCT

Course planning

Y

Y

Y

Course managing

Y

Y

Y

Fast course revising

Y

Y

  

Course monitoring

Y

Y

  

Instructional designing

  

Y

Y

Presenting information

Y

Y

Y

On-line testing

Survey

Y

Y

On-line presentation creation

Wimpy Point

    

On-line grading

Y

Y

Y

Managing records

Y

Y

  

No HTML knowledge required

Y

Y

  

Customization of student curriculum

Y

    

Student tracking

Y

Y

  

Automated grading

Y

Y

  

Level of control over design

Display

Y

  

Instructor can assign specific course material to individual or group of students

Sections

Y

  

Multiple choice self test tutorial questions - (automatic marking)

Survey

Y

  

"Fill in the blank" self test tutorial questions - (automatic marking)

Survey

Y

  

Customized feedback to tutorial questions

Survey

    

Redirect path of tutorial depending on question answers

Survey

    

Timed quizzes (graded with permanent mark retention)

Survey

Y

  

On line marking and grades management of timed quizzes

Survey

Y

  

Generate random set of questions


Survey

Y

  

Allows developer to preview course as a student

Y

Y

  
       

Instructors can manage class membership as well as Tas and additional instructors

Y

    

Instructors control if class has open enrollment

Y

    

Instructors control if class is viewable to non-enrolled community members

Y

    

Separately configurable views of a class based on student type, i.e. distance vs on-campus students, paid vs unpaid etc.

Y

    

Separately configurable guest view of the class to allow for class shopping

Enhanced Portals

    
       

Allows instructor to manage class from single calendar on front page.

Y

    

INSTRUCTIONAL FEATURES

ACS

Black Board

WebCT

Faculty to student asynchronous communication is possible

Y

Y

Y

Faculty to student synchronous communication is possible

Y

Y

Y

Faculty can make their own changes to content

Y

Y

Y

Training is provided for faculty

  

Y

Y

Courses can have consistent interface

Y

Y

Y

Platform includes an internal e-mail client

Webmail

Y

  

Platform has e-mail management capabilities for students

Webmail

Y

  

Platform has e-mail management capabilities for faculty

Webmail

Y

Platform supports multiple instructors for a single course

Y

Y

Y

STUDENT TOOLS

ACS

Black Board

WebCT

Authentication

Y

Y

Y

Bookmark management

Y

    

Multimedia support

  

Y

  

Private e-mail

Webmail

  

Y

File submissions

Y

Y

  

On-line presentation creation

Wimpy Point

    

Threaded discussions

Y

Y

Y

Email alerts from discussions by topic, author or message

Y

    

Digested Email from bboards, daily, weekly or Mon-Thurs

Threaded Bboard Enhancement

    

Ability to respond to an discussion message by email

Y

    

Ability to rate messages by email or on the web

Threaded Bboard Enhancement

    

Course Chat rooms

Y

Y

  

Threaded Chat and automatic posting of formatted chat

Chat Enhancement

    

Logged chat

Chat Enhancement

Y

  

Whiteboard

  

Y

  

Self-assessing

Survey

Y

  

Progress tracking

Survey

Y

Y

Desktop based file management for uploading to server

Y

    

Study skill building

Survey

Y

  

Un-timed quizzes

Survey

Y

  

One question-at-a-time function

Survey

Y

  

Bulletin board/conferencing tools

Y

Y

  

Image database

Y

    

Student access to own grades

Y

Y

  

Access to course grade distribution

Survey

    

Automated glossary tool

Glossary

    

Automated index tool

Site Wide Categories

    

Online assistance

  

Y

  

Search tool for course content

Site Wide Search

Y

  

Student presentations area

Homepage

Y

  

Allows student to view all class events on one consolidated calendar/page once logged in.

Y

    

Sync of class calendar with palm pilot

Palm

    

Ability to view all the contributions of each student in all of their classes

Y

    

Students can sign-up for office hours automatically and the appointment shows up on both the students' and instructors' calendar

Reservations

    

Students can add or drop courses from their home portal

Y

    

Student can make private annotation of material.

Customized General Comments

    

Student Homepage Tool.

HomePage

Y

Y

Personal Address Book

Y

    

Personal Address Book syncs with Palm

Palm

    

ADMINISTRATOR TOOLS

1

2

8

Server

Y

Y

Y

Client/Web interface

Y

Y

Y

Authorization tools

Y

Y

Y

Logout feature

Y

Y

  

Resource monitoring

Y

Y

Y

Remote access tools

Y

Y

  

Crash recovery tools

Y

Y

  

Student support tools

Y

Y

  

Instructor support tools

Y

Y

Y

Administrator support tools

Y

Y

  

Built-in file management tools

Y

    

Ability to export raw data

Y

Y

  

Customization of text messages

Some

Y

  

Resume session function

Survey

    

Security access

Y

Y

  

Variable level of security

Y

Y

  

Online registration

Y

Y

  

Registered markers

  

Y

  

Batch upload to register students

Y

Y

  

Multiple Institutions on the same server

Display and additional customization

    

Guest account creation

Y

Y

  

Student class list hidden from non-registered students

Y

    
       

On-line reservations for rooms and other resources that are integrated with users calendars

Reservations

    

Instructors can create groups of students

Sections

Y

Y

Educational Communities

ACS Education Solution

Black Board

WebCT

Create communities for Clubs, Alumni, interest groups etc.

Y

    

Community resources equal to class resources. Ie Calendar, File Storage, Discussions etc.

Y

    

Can give individual students administrative privileges based on the community.

Y

    

VI. Related Links

VII.A Requirements: Data Model

10.0 The Data Model

10.1 Terms

10.1.1 terms must have a primary key

10.1.2 terms must have a name

10.1.3 terms must have a start date and an end date

10.2 Departments

10.2.1 departments must be created as a group type

10.2.2 departments must have a supplemental _info table

10.3 Subjects

10.3.1 subjects must have a primary key

10.3.2 subjects must have a name

10.3.3 subjects must have a many-to-many mapping to departments

10.4 Classes

10.4.1 classes must be created as a group type

10.4.2 classes must have supplemental _info table

10.4.3 classes must map to a single term

10.4.4 classes must map to a single subject

10.4.4 classes must have additional pre-created roles:

  • professor
  • ta
  • student
  • dropped

10.5 Communities

10.5.1 communities must be created as a group type

10.5.2 communities must have a supplemental _info table

10.6 Support for Other ACS Modules

10.6.1 file-storage must have the following folders pre-created for each class and community:

  • handouts
  • assignments
  • lecture notes
  • exams
  • projects

10.6.2 calendar must have the following categories pre-created for classes:

  • assignments
  • lecture
  • other
  • project
  • recitation

10.6.3 portals must have pre-created portlets, desecribed in the overview

VII.B Requirements: Education Site-Wide Administration

100.1 Site-Wide Administration Activities

100.1.10 Site-wide administrators can add/edit term information

100.1.20 Site-wide administrators can add/edit department information

100.1.30 Site-wide administrators can add/edit subject information

100.1.40 Site-wide administrators can add/edit class information

100.1.45 Upon creation of a class, a class portal is automatically created

100.1.50 Site-wide administrators can add/edit community information

VII.C Requirements: Education Class Administration

200.1 Class Administration Activities

200.1.10 professors and tas must have group administrative privileges over their class

200.1.20 class administrators must be able to manage class membership and roles

200.1.30 class administrators must be able to decide whether class information is public-viewable or not

VII.D Requirements: Education Site Users

300.1 User Site Activities

300.1.10 Users must have personal portal pre-created for them upon registration

300.1.20 Users must be allowed to sign-up for public classes

300.1.30 Users must be allowed to request communities

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