[ale] [OT] Software and file formats for on-line/correspondence chemical education

[Ron Frazier]

Hi Tom,

Good luck in the new job.  I taught for a little while at Lanier Tech 
and was just getting into the online learning technology when my 
assignment ended.  I've also been doing some research into online video 
and audio conferencing for a private mini online learning project I want 
to do with some associates involving learning Java.  I've gathered a few 
links that might be useful to you, while not specifically about file 
formats and such, they address some of the needs you'll face with 
distance learners.

If the school is a Windows shop, then I'm sure they don't want 
additional expense or problems based on the introduction of Linux or Mac 
technology.  That doesn't mean you can't use those technologies, but it 
does mean your solution has to be seamlessly compatible with and 
accessible from Windows.  Also, most of your remote users will probably 
have Windows PC's at home, unless the school issues Macs or something.

Regarding robustness, Lanier Tech used a very interesting technology 
which might be helpful to you.  It's a product called Deep Freeze, from 
Faronics.  They used it on all their computer workstations.  Basically, 
the product completely locks down a user workstation.  Once it's set up 
to a desired configuration and the other application software is set up, 
you "Freeze" the system.  This stores all the critical data and 
applications and configuration in a hidden spot.  Then, let the students 
have access to the system, in a lab, for example.  No matter what they 
do, whether they change the background, alter the setup, inject a virus, 
even delete the whole C drive, all the staff has to do it just reboot 
the computer and it's back to the way it was.  It's pretty awesome.  
This dramatically reduces the maintenance that the staff has to do.  You 
can unfreeze it to apply patches and change things, then refreeze it.  
Also, you have to make allowances for any new data you want to survive a 
reboot to be stored elsewhere other than the frozen drive.  It's mainly 
for workstations, but could possibly be used for a server too.  It's 
available for Windows and Mac, and is definitely not free, but very cool 
technology.  Their standard edition is about $35 / yr / seat.  They have 
enterprise offerings too.

http://www.faronics.com/enterprise/deep-freeze/

For Linux, you might look into the ZFS file system, which, I believe, 
can do system snapshots to give similar functionality.  I know nothing 
about it, other than what I've heard on a few podcasts.  You might have 
to go to FreeBSD or something to make that work.

You're going to need some sort of web conferencing and web collaboration 
software, most likely.  Lanier Tech was using a system called Angel and 
a system called Elluminate, which you mentioned.  Unfortunately both of 
these have now been bought by Blackboard, so there's less competition.  
My (anecdotal) understanding of Blackboard software is that it's very 
powerful and very expensive.  If you've got the budget, it might be a 
good solution.

Blackboard's Angel system:
      
http://www.blackboard.com/platforms/learn/products/blackboard-learn/angel-edition.aspx

Blackboard's Elluminate like product:
      http://www.blackboard.com/platforms/collaborate/overview.aspx

Blackboard's learning product:
      
http://www.blackboard.com/Platforms/Learn/Products/Blackboard-Learn/Teaching-and-Learning.aspx

Here's an open source solution for web conferencing which some of the 
people here on the list recommended for my Java project.  It has audio 
and video conferencing and whiteboard capabilities.  It's probably the 
one I'll use.

Big Blue Button
      http://www.bigbluebutton.org/
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Blue_Button
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_learning

Here's one of many companies that can run a Big Blue Button server for 
you and provide web conferencing and e-learning services so all you have 
to worry about is your teaching, not running the technology 
infrastructure.  Prices are very reasonable: only $ 25 / mo for 10 
people and $ 75 / month for 50 people with various levels in between.  
They also have a 5 person plan.
      http://www.genericconf.com/en/articles/distance-learning

TeamViewer is another web conferencing software I've heard good things 
about.  It is compatible with with Windows, Mac, Linux, Iphone, Ipad, 
and Android.
      http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx

I hope you find this information helpful.  Please post back here and let 
us know what you come up with.  I know I and probably others would be 
interested to know.

Sincerely,

Ron


On 1/20/2012 10:20 AM, Tom Freeman wrote:
> I have accepted the job of teaching an on-line chemistry course for majors
> next fall, with the requirement that the course be written this spring.
> I for see an issue which I could use a whole heaping bunch of help with,
> specifically ensuring that the students engage in using/generating the
> visual aspects of chemical "language" and formally engage in showing
> (documenting and defending) numeric problem solving. I am not being paid
> enough to accept just showing a picture to the student, and accepting a
> multiple guess regurgitation. I expect details given without hints from
> me.
>
> The education technology types at the school have ideas which partially
> get the problem solved, if we only accept Windows on all sides. Since I
> use Linux (Ubuntu and Fedora mostly), with a little Mac work to help my
> own children, setting a requirement to use Microsoft products only
> _really_ has my back up, and heels dug in. Plus, I need to avoid more cost
> to the student, as it looks like budgeting for this course is potentially
> headed north of $600. Achieving sufficient interactivity to accommodate
> online office hours in Moodle using Eluminate is a real positive here.
>
> What then am I looking for? Software which reads/writes a useful,
> well defined file format which will support a work flow pattern which I
> will attempt to describe below. Obviously cross platform availability; at
> least including Linux/Unix, Mac, and Windows having software available,
> with IOS and Android availability a plus. I'm open to commercial software,
> but in the interest of holding costs down and personal values, I really
> want open-source, with zero-cost ("free beer?") running a close second.
> Plus I want it robust as a get out, since the students I've had so far in
> class can break just about anything just by walking past it.
>
> With respect to the work flow, the current idea is that the student will
> perform some task any way that they can. Unless it is already in an
> appropriate form, the student will then scan their work, and upload the
> resulting file to me. Using a tablet&  stylus, I then annotate the
> student's work with circles, arrows, and indications of doom and dispare,
> followed by returning the file to the student. At which time the cycle
> will repeat until exhaustion or learning occurs, or a grade is assigned.
> If possible, and it may not be, within the file being transferred, I would
> like to keep the individual entries separate, such that the teacher's
> notes can be easily obscured in order to view just the student's work. (In
> my seated classes, any work performed in red gets a zero, since _all_ my
> comments/notes/grading gets done in red. As a result, both the student and
> myself have a chance of determining got what right/wrong and where. I want
> to retain this ability.)
>
> So far, I _think_ the Adobe pdf format has the capability to handle my
> needs, but I haven't proven it by discovering which software used how will
> cause this to happen, especially happen reliably.
>
> If anybody on this list can make sense of the above word salad and suggest
> a possible solution approach, I'd love to hear it.
>
> I thank everybody here for the use of their bandwidth and their patience
>    

-- 

(PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new messages very quickly.)

Ron Frazier

770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
linuxdude AT c3energy.com