Transcript Slide 1

DIY SIS Integration
An Overview and Explanation of the
Missouri Baptist University Snapshot System
Copyright © 2010, All
Rights Reserved
MBU Blackboard Environment
Original Environment
Current Environment
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Blackboard 6.3
Windows 2003
SQL Server 2000
SIS is CAMS Enterprise
SnapshotGenerator 1.0
Blackboard 9.0 SP3
Windows 2003
SQL Server 2005
SIS is CAMS Enterprise
SnapshotGenerator 4.0
All SnapshotGenerator updates from 1.0 to 3.2 were to add functionality,
not because updating Bb broke anything.
Version 4.0 was developed to fix flaws inherent in the original Database Views
on the SIS side, again nothing broke when we updated Bb.
How we got here
• 2000 offered first online classes using WebCT 3
• 2004 moved to Blackboard 6.3 Basic
• December 2005, I took over as Technical Director
(Blackboard Administrator)
– Everything was manual up to this point
• 2006 moved to Bb 6.3 Enterprise
– Snapshot was the main factor
• Summer 2006, developed SnapshotGenerator 1.0
• January 2007, updated to Bb 7.1
• March 2007, SnapshotGenerator 2.0
– --help option, multiple terms
How we got here
• November 2007, SnapshotGenerator 3.0
– 8-week scheduling, automated course availability
• December 2007, updated to Bb 7.3
• June 2009, SnapshotGenerator 3.1
– Re-configured to use properties file to load config settings
– Developed installer for SnapshotGenerator
– Developed Snapshot Controller
• Prior to this, integration had been accomplished by Windows
shell scripts that were scheduled, but had to be updated
every semester
• August 2009, updated to Bb 9.0
• December 2009, SnapshotGenerator 3.2
– Removed limitation on number of concurrent terms to
process
Today
• SnapshotGenerator 4.0 put into production June 18
– Nearly complete rewrite of system
– Original system made use of recursive SQL functions
• The presenter did not write these, our former DBA did
– New views were developed in the SIS database
• The presenter did develop these
– All processing of data now takes place in
SnapshotGenerator
– Typical runtime for snapshot generation went from 5-7
minutes to a matter of seconds (always less than 1 minute)
Components of the Snapshot Process
• The MBU Snapshot System
– CAMS Enterprise Database Views
• SQL Server 2008
– Snapshot Generator
• Java application
– Snapshot Controller
• C# application + Windows Command Script
– Blackboard™ Snapshot Tool
Copyright © 2010, All
Rights Reserved
Snapshot System Components
Snapshot Generator
Snapshot Controller
• Java application
• C# application
• Run every 15 minutes by
Windows scheduler
– Developed with NetBeans
• Run by Snapshot
Controller
– Can be run manually
– Generates snapshot files
for each term currently
identified in SIS database
as “current”
– Term active now, +30 days,
+60 days
– Launches Snapshot
Generator
– Launches snapshot tool for
each snapshot file
generated
MBU Snapshot System Architecture
Blackboard Server
Snapshot Controller
Launch
Launch
Query
Snapshot
Command Script
Snapshot Generator
CAMS
Result
Write
Launch
Read
Feed Files
Bb Snapshot
Tool
“We’ve never heard of CAMS”
• We use CAMS Enterprise from Three Rivers
Systems, inc.
• Three Rivers Systems, inc. is 25-years old, and is
based in Saint Louis, MO
• The important factors
– SQL Server database (SQL Server 2008)
– Access to the database allows us to create custom views
• These principles should apply to any SIS running
on an accessible SQL database
Copyright © 2010, All
Rights Reserved
Features of the MBU Snapshot System
• Changes to SIS appear in Blackboard within 15
minutes
• Cross-listed courses are automatically combined
into a single Blackboard shell
– This will require us to develop a custom application for
importing grades from Bb to our SIS
• This is in the planning stage now
• It will make use of Bb 9.x Web Services
• It will reside within our Faculty/Staff Portal, which is part of
our SIS
• Students who add a class are automatically
enrolled in Blackboard
Features of the MBU Snapshot System
• Students who drop a class are automatically
disabled in the course on Blackboard
• Courses are made available to faculty 60-days
before the start of the term
• Courses are made available to students on Friday
before the course starts
Understanding Snapshot
• Snapshot is Blackboard’s method for importing and
updating data within the Blackboard LMS
• Requirements
– Blackboard Enterprise
– Snapshot Files
• Students, Faculty, Courses, Assignments, Enrollments
– Data Source Keys
• SIS.FACULTY, SIS.STUDENTS
• For each term: COURSES, ASSIGNMENTS,
ENROLLMENTS
Understanding Snapshot
• The key to understanding the Snapshot process is
understanding data sources
• A data source is a batch of data which will be
manipulated collectively within Blackboard
• You can have any number of data sources, we use
two permanent data sources: Faculty and Students
• We also use three additional data sources per term:
Courses, Assignments, and Enrollments
• Each data source is identified by a unique data
source key
The MBU Snapshot System
Please provide feedback for this session by emailing
[email protected].
The subject of the email should be title of this
session:
DIY SIS Integration