[Building Sakai] Reaction: Sakai course on CD

[Philip Fedchin]

Mark, 

thanks a lot for clarifications! It does help. Yes, I understand that it was wrong on my side to mess SCORM and IMS-CP in this case. And I agree that the whole idea to put the course on CD is technologically rather backward-looking. But in our context this is explained by the fact that it is the only way to get official registration of Sakai courses as e-publications (essential for tenure track and related faculty development issues).

You mention that 'SCORM "could" be used to delivery encrypted tests - could you give any insights on what is the way for achieving the task? 
And another concern I mentioned is related to the necessity to download full course content from CD in order to do the search/use the content. Do you consider this as a problem at all? 

With best wishes,
Philip

----- "Mark Norton" <markjnorton at earthlink.net> wrote:

> First off, lumping SCORM and IMS-CP (I assume you mean IMS Content 
> Packaging) together does them a disservice, since SCORM is based on 
> IMS-CP.  CP is an envelop specification.  As such, it DELIBERATELY 
> doesn't place any  restrictions or requirements on what goes into it. 
> 
> So saying that CP is flawed because it won't encrypt tests kinda
> misses 
> the point.
> 
> SCORM (sharable content object resource model) provides a way to
> define 
> reusable learning objects and includes ways to deliver content that 
> includes sequencing, navigation, tracking, communications (that
> includes 
> grade capture), and bookmarking (btw).  While SCORM "could" be used to
> 
> delivery encrypted tests, in practice, most don't bother.  Why? 
> Because 
> learning objects are focused on learning.  Assessment, like tests, and
> 
> high stakes tests, like finals and qualification exams require a more
> 
> secure environment (as you have pointed out).  So the fact that SCORM
> 
> doesn't encrypt tests isn't a flaw, it was a design decision.  That
> may 
> make it unsuitable for your needs, but it doesn't make it any less
> useful.
> 
> As for SQLite, while it may be the most widely deployed SQL database 
> solution in the world, it uses a C/C++ interface.  Sakai is largely 
> based on Java (there are a few exceptions).  As such, Java developers
> 
> tend to prefer Java database solutions, like MySQL or Oracle.  Adding
> 
> encryption to an existing Java database solution (even a generic,
> cross 
> platform solution) wouldn't be difficult to develop.  Finally, SQList
> 
> doesn't include encryption out of the box.  A separate organization 
> provides SQLiteCrypt, that does.
> 
> All that aside, there is a need for good security in delivering tests.
>  
> Most of Sakai assessment applications, including Samigo and Melete,
> rely 
> on the fact that tests are delivered via the web.  The content
> available 
> to students at the time of the test DOESN'T include answers.  It would
> 
> require direct access to the server and finding the particular XML
> files 
> in question to find answers to a question.  This is further
> complicated 
> by random question selection at delivery time.  So, used as designed,
> 
> Sakai can deliver secure assessment.
> 
> It therefore seems to me that your problems arise BECAUSE you want to
> 
> deliver it on a CD.  It's no surprise that moving to an older delivery
> 
> technology would re-introduce old security issues.
> 
> - Mark Norton
> 
> Philip Fedchin wrote:
> > Dear Collegues!
> >
> > We do appreciate your help and constructive suggestions! And sorry
> for the delay in reaction. I would like to outline our position (and
> reaction to expressed suggestions) in one message. Once again, I will
> be really thankful for any additional
> criticisms/clarification/comments etc. Sorry, if I missed any of your
> arguments.
> >
> > 1) Yes, we did consider Solo initially as a possible option. But the
> problems with Solo, it seems, that offline search and test
> functionality would not be possible to realize?
> > 2) Concerning using SCORM (and IMS) packages as the background
> format for this offline instrument there are the following obstacles:
> > - SCORM and IMS packages are zip archives as opposed to the solution
> we envision where data is stored in SQLite database;
> > as a result of using these zip files the search functionality will
> be limited (all the data needs to be downloaded to active memory) - it
> means the resources needed are rather large and it will be a rather
> serious burden for end-user workstation; 
> > - Am I right to suggest that both SCORM and IMS do not have any
> serious support of content encoding? On the opposite in the SQLite
> there is AES password encrypting support and so even if you download
> the database on other workstation, you would not be able to decipher
> the data. This is essential if we want students to run tests offline
> and then to synchronize the results. My understanding is that in SCORM
> package case the student will be able simply to open the folder and
> find the correct answers ;
> > - Another functionality missing in case of SCORM/IMS would be
> bookmarking of the course content.
> >
> > With best wishes,
> > Philip
> >
> >
> > Interesting idea, John, but there are some pretty serious
> restrictions
> > in IMS-CC.  There is no sequencing defined in the spec, for example.
>  
> > Melete modules would need special treatment, though SCORM is
> supported
> > as a data type in CC.  Glossary should be simple enough - burn it
> as
> > HTMLpages.  CC has no support for Search.  Also tests would have to
> be
> > in the restricted form of QTI supported by CC.
> >
> > Zach and I worked on getting IMS-CC import to work in Sakai some
> time
> > ago.  The spec definition changed out from under us (in part because
> IMS
> > took waaay too long to validate the spec and make it "public".  Zach
> and
> > I both moved on to other (paying) projects, so there is some code,
> but
> > it's broken.  It's a good place to start from, however.
> >
> > - Mark Norton
> >
> > John Norman wrote:
> >   
> >> In addition to other comments, this sounds like a slightly unusual 
> 
> >> (from Sakai perspective), but very reasonable scenario for IMS
> Course  
> >> Cartridge support. If you could find or create a lightweight  
> >> distributable IMS Course Cartridge player and distribute/develop
> that,  
> >> then Sakai will be wanting to support Course Cartridge export (if
> we  
> >> don't already) as part of its archiving strategy. The reason I
> mention  
> >> this specification is that the scenario you outline seems very
> similar  
> >> to the Publisher use-cases that informed the development of the
> spec,  
> >> and distributing materials on CD that include content and
> assessment  
> >> is very similar to some of the online active textbook projects that
>  
> >> publishers are developing and distributing using the spec.
> >>
> >> A key issue might be around expectations of communication back from
>  
> >> the system running the CD, about the activities and scores of the 
> 
> >> student.
> >>
> >> John
> >>
> >> PS there are commercial Course Cartridge players.
> >>
> >>     
> >
> >   
> >> On 5 Jun 2009, at 11:31, Philip Fedchin wrote:
> >>
> >>  
> >>     
> >>> Dear Collegues!
> >>>
> >>> We have a rather urgent need at our university to create
> CD-versions  
> >>> of our Sakai courses.
> >>> In relation to this need we are considering a development of  
> >>> specific tool on the basis of OCW. We would be really grateful for
>  
> >>> your comments/suggestions/expressed interest to participate.  
> >>> Although we are very much looking forward to Sakai 3, but the task
>  
> >>> is much more urgent and we are forced to base the process on
> current  
> >>> Sakai 2.5.4 version with the addition of couple Contrib tools. May
>  
> >>> be you have some ideas concerning more productive way of realizing
>  
> >>> our short term goals in terms of Sakai future.
> >>>
> >>> So, we have in mind the following list of tools/functions
> available  
> >>> from the disk/local workstation:
> >>> 1) modules content (Melete and Resources, perhaps Conditional  
> >>> Release);
> >>> 2) tests (Test&Quizzes);
> >>> 3) glossary (glossary);
> >>> 4) search (new tool for the search on CD).
> >>>
> >>> The preliminary plan is to develop the tool on the basis of OCW.
> The  
> >>> tool would consist of server and client parts. The server part
> would  
> >>> be fullfilled by Sakai through the creation of standard course
> site  
> >>> with modules created using Resources, Melete, Test&Quizzes. The  
> >>> client part is a player (interface), which allows to present on
> the  
> >>> CD the course downloaded from Sakai.
> >>> And we plan to use Adobe Air (Flex) as the technology behind the 
> 
> >>> client part.
> >>>
> >>> The standard scenario is the following:
> >>> 1) Professor creates a course in Sakai using Melete, Resources,  
> >>> Test&Quizzes and Glossary
> >>> 2) Using the tool the course materials files are downloaded
> together  
> >>> with the XML file reflecting the structure.
> >>> 3) The files are copied to CD
> >>> 4) The course is played from CD using Adobe Air based player.
> >>> There will be an opportunity if needed to create client interface 
> 
> >>> using SWT (The Standard Widget Toolkit) as we are planning to  
> >>> document and make available the code.
> >>>
> >>> Looking forward to your reaction.
> >>> Best,
> >>> Philip Fedchin
> >>> Associate Director for Information Resources
> >>> Smolny College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
> >>> (St.Petersburg State University & Bard College)
> >>>       
> >
> >