Microsoft Learning Gateway

[Twisted-Pony]

We use a MLG at our school as opposed to the SWGfL option offered by our LEA. There have been a few teething issues, mainly to do with fine tuning what is a corporate product into one that works well in the education field, but it's a far better option for us. If anybody wants to pick our collective brain about MLG's....................[align=justify]

[davec]

Do you by any chance use CMIS if so do you tie this in with MLG?

[meastaugh1]

So, are you using portal and class server? Do you know how many of your staff/students use it, or have you just launched it? Did you try any other products before deciding on the MS solution?

We're going to start using WSS as a document/resource repository and intra/extranet to replace what we have at the moment. With a view to move to portal server in the future, possibly with the SIMS learning gateway web parts.

[Twisted-Pony]

Hi,

We don't use CMIS, so cannot help there. Would guess that it's as easy to integrate CMIS as SIMS was ))))
We are using Class and Portal. All of our staff use it; forced to by GPO, and again all of our students use it. Some staff (10) use class server to post assignments and homework exercises; all staff and students are moving to our internally hosted exchange email in September. Its been launched for about a year now and so far (barring) a few teething stresses, no real issues.

We trialled SWGFL portal; not for us, we trialled Moodle; not quite flexible enough for us; and we looked at sims gateway; but not ready in time.

Sharepoint is expensive and complex; but if you do the homework and read; its easy enough.

[CheeseDog]

Do you by any chance use CMIS if so do you tie this in with MLG?

Yes and Yes for me send me a PM if you want to know more.

[crc-ict]

Sharepoint is expensive and complex; but if you do the homework and read; its easy enough.

I think you are confusing two different things with Sharepoint. Sharepoint Portal Server is expensive and complex. Windows Sharepoint Services are free with Server 2003 and pretty straightforward to set up. WSS might not be comprehensive enough for a complete VLE, however. It's horses for courses really, depends what you need it to do.

[Twisted-Pony]

Thanks for clearing that up. We use Sharepoint Portal Server; I always refer to it as either Portal or Sharepoint having never used Sharepoint Services for an MLG, allthough it can be done. Main difference seems to be in terms of scale regarding the amount of schools that you want to offer an MLG to.