VLE - Sharepoint with Class Server.

[gazboy7]

Hi there,

I have just taken on a role as a VLE administrator for a school in Barking, Essex.

The idea is to go live this September using MS Sharepoint 2003 with Class Server and integrating CIMS.

This is an exciting role, but we may need as much help as we can.
Are there any schools in London that are using these tools - we would like to see them in action.

Thanks for your help,
Gary

[GlennT]

You may want to have a look at Sharepoint 2007 & the SLK before you get too far down the Class Server route. As Class Server is now defunct, you will probably run into problems later on.

[apearce]

I too recommend sharepoint 2007 as well. There you can still use class server teacher as your SCORM creater but you will not be able to link the Class Server webparts with 2007 - only 2003.

CMIS have a set of web parts that are ok for 2007.

Let me know if you want to see a 2007 site and I'll give you a few links.

There are a lot more develops for SharePoint 2007 than 2003 for education.

[plock]

I too recommend sharepoint 2007 as well. There you can still use class server teacher as your SCORM creater but you will not be able to link the Class Server webparts with 2007 - only 2003.

CMIS have a set of web parts that are ok for 2007.

Let me know if you want to see a 2007 site and I'll give you a few links.

There are a lot more develops for SharePoint 2007 than 2003 for education.

I'd be interested in seeing these in action too. I've setup 2003 here a while ago and am now looking at a possible upgrade. Could I have a few links?

Cheers!

[john]

I;d be interested if anyone has a screen shot on the CMIS webparts they could post, clearly not breaching the DPA, but if they have some or can give some more info on them please

[Cravon]

Sharepoint 2007 with LDK and office sharepoint would be what i recommend after going to the developers event at microsoft.

if you go to MSDN - Events and look for the 10th Jan event there are powerpoint slides on 2007 sharepoint and office sharepoint

[apearce]

Here are a few links worth reading/looking at - as soon as the new Community Kit for SharePoint:Education is avialable I'll let you know, which will allow to see a decent sharepoint 2007 site for education.

http://blogs.msdn.com/ukschools/arch...way-story.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/uk/education/events/bett.mspx - if you go to Connected Learning Gateway - download the presentation - it includes slides from a sharepoint install at a school and other companies as hosted solutions
http://www.sharepointlms.com/ - look at the demos - try not to fall asleep to the guys voice though.
http://www.click2learn.ch/Free%20Vid...ning%20Kit.wmv - demo of shaerpoint learning kit

[apearce]

just tried to find the sharepointLMS videos myself and found it hard - so heres the link directly

http://www.sharepointlms.com/tutoria...tLMS/index.htm

[NotSoFast]

Just to echo what others have said, we have had the above setup for 3 years and - though it has served us well - we are planning to either upgrade to 2007 & SLK or go for another platform entirely in the next 6-12 months. Class Server is no longer supported and the engineers from the company who support our SharePoint server are already struggling to remember how 2003 works and telling us how much better 2007 is. If you look for support for CS on the web you'll find that most of the forums are inactive and the Microsoft user forums have actually been closed down.

Going for 2003 and Class Server would be like buying a car that's just gone out of warranty, is less reliable and has fewer features than the new model. Oh, and only a few specialist mechanics can help you fix it if it breaks.

[zag]

SLK is useless though at the moment, last time I checked it you couldn't even add groups from active directory.

Its open source with only one developer, its no where near ready to be relied on in a school environment imo.

[ElearningForce UK]

Hi Gary,

I am picking up on the information 'apearce' provided and I'll gladly do you a 'live meeting' demo of SharePointLMS if you wish and provide you with further information.

If anyone else would like to see SharePointLMS in action just drop me a line, I'll gladly organise a webinar for people to attend.

info @ elearningforce.co.uk

Paul Andringa
Managing Director
ElearningForce Ltd
www.sharepointlms.com

[gazboy7]

You may want to have a look at Sharepoint 2007 & the SLK before you get too far down the Class Server route. As Class Server is now defunct, you will probably run into problems later on.

Hi Glenn,

Thanks for the advice, sorry taken so long to get back to you.
Today we are having Ramesys (education) coming in today to clarify this for us. To be honest, we would prefer to use SLK and seeing some 'screenshots', they don't look too unsimilar to what we are using at present.

Have you had problems with SP 2003?
Have you used Ramesys?
Do you use SP or CS with your employer?

Thanks,
Gary.

[plock]

@gazboy7 - Wouldn't recommend Ramesys! I had a full implementation, whole new school, installed by them; we're only just coming to the end of the 'snag' list, only a year on! I've found their helpdesk support poor too.

[gazboy7]

I too recommend sharepoint 2007 as well. There you can still use class server teacher as your SCORM creater but you will not be able to link the Class Server webparts with 2007 - only 2003.

CMIS have a set of web parts that are ok for 2007.

Let me know if you want to see a 2007 site and I'll give you a few links.

There are a lot more develops for SharePoint 2007 than 2003 for education.

Hi,

Thanks for your reply, sorry I have taken so long to reply back to you.
Can you tell me what is SCORM?
I think we would prefer to use SP 2007, everyone has raved about it. Can you use it with SLK and how easy it is to install?

You said ... "but you will not be able to link the Class Server webparts with 2007 - only 2003". Why is that?

Yes please, if I can have some links, that would be much appreciated?

Are you working in a school/college, etc? Which versions are you using and did you have any problems?

Thanks,
Gary

[gazboy7]

@gazboy7 - Wouldn't recommend Ramesys! I had a full implementation, whole new school, installed by them; we're only just coming to the end of the 'snag' list, only a year on! I've found their helpdesk support poor too.

Hi,
Thanks for coming back to me.
These are some of the questions we will ask Ramasys?
How long were you on a contract for and what training and support did they provide you in that time?

Thanks again,
Gary