Anyone using My Big Campus ?

[Bashir]

I was wondering if anyone here has implemented My Big Campus ?

 

It looks like a game changer and we are looking into rolling it out acroos our group of schools and colleges. Just wondered what the feedback was from those who have done this already.

 

Thanks in advance

Bash

[Eappariello]

Bash,

 

Not sure you will find many MBC users here, they tend to use MBC itself to discuss deployments and experiences etc.

 

If you are not on there already PM me and I will send a link to the demo signup page. If you are a customer already I can send you a link to the Wiki article explaining how to link MBC with your filter (WAM or TTTC), and below are the help videos for using MBC.

 

Video Tutorials - My Big Campus

 

Simon

[callen]

We have jumped into My Big Campus with both feet. We are a one to one campuses 7th -12th grade. Our students have Apple laptops. We use MBC to communicate to students from teachers and administrators. The teachers use it for assignments, class discussions, resources, and clubs or groups. The students love the feel of facebook and the parents love that it is filtered, blocked from the outside, and monitored 24/7. We are finding that we are having to teach some students internet etiquette. With lightspeed, we can put them in a non-messaging group for a while, so they can still do assignments, but can't write on walls or blogs. We are in our second semester with MBC. Please feel free to ask any questions.

Chrissie

[Bashir]

Thank you Callen, I have us hooked up to MBC now.

 

Its amazingly powerful, it certainly has us thinking how we might fully utilize it, and what implications it has on our systems and VLE etc.

 

Thanks for the feedback.

Bash

[kenrick]

I got my DP to have a look at it and he said it looked like a VLE. Is this correct? Personally I didn't think it was. We have a Moodle based VLE and it is awful, just wondered if MBC could actually do more for us than the DP thinks.

[frank_7]

I got my DP to have a look at it and he said it looked like a VLE. Is this correct? Personally I didn't think it was. We have a Moodle based VLE and it is awful, just wondered if MBC could actually do more for us than the DP thinks.

 

The user base for MBC is growing all the time in the UK and therefore there are many schools who can share their experiences with you. Its changing the way schools approach collaboration.

[synaesthesia]

It is a VLE. Would be good to see some working examples of it, it doesn't appears to be very common here at least (yet).

Trouble with things like Moodle is that it's entirely down to you how it works - I don't think we could be much happier with ours and we're very proud of our colleague that handles it. Same goes for the sharepoint related stuff, there's no set template to work to. Whereas MBC would appear to be a set solution.

 

Perhaps, in the spirit of collaboration, it would be worth a fully MBC set up school to give a live demo.

[Eappariello]

I will try to explain what MBC is, as it’s something that does not fit into an existing label, or product type, and is something new!

 

My Big Campus (MBC) does have VLE type functions, these are being expanded upon on a regular basis due to customer feedback. It also has collaboration features, blogging, document creation, personal storage, and many other functions, but unlike other learning environments it is tightly integrated into the Lightspeed web filter, and has E-Safety at the heart of its design. The integration between the cloud based MBC environment and the local web filter, means a fully monitored and recorded environment that is linked to the schools local MIS and authentication systems. It also means that the integration with the web filter provides smart and dynamic content control for resources used on MBC by teaching staff, and students and can mean the end of overblocking for those using MBC.

There are lots of other benefits of a blended learning environment that is not an island on a network, and its easy enough to have a look around MBC so I have put some links below if anyone is interested:

MBC Tour - My Big Campus Tour - Overview

BETT School - signup code c2mx8ey9, school BETT 2012 - https://www.mybigcampus.co.uk/sign-up

 

Hope that clears things up.

 

Simon

[plexer]

So it's not exactly something new but a mashup of lots of other systems.

 

Ben

[jmak]

Resurrecting very old post - hoping that some of the original contribtutors might have some input.

 

I have exactly the same question as the OP - is anyone using My Big Campus? We're seriously considering Lightspeed for MDM and filtering, so it looks like a natural fit. The features look to be a good match to how we currently use our VLE and how we want to use Office 365 when we finally roll it out.

 

Thanks

[RTFM]

We are also looking into lightspeed as a replacement for smoothwall and are interested by the possibilities MBC brings.

 

We currently have Moodle and can see scenarios where we will continue to use Moodle as our primary VLE but allow staff who want to to also use MBC. If it takes off, who knows, at the very least we'll allow staff to look at it, experiement with it and give us feedback.

 

Really impressed with Lightspeed

[Bashir]

My last place went from Moodle to My big Campus. It helped that there was an import tool for Moodle groups, and the interface is so easy to use, unlike a lot of others I have seen.

The App went down well with the students also.

 

 

We are also looking into lightspeed as a replacement for smoothwall and are interested by the possibilities MBC brings.

 

We currently have Moodle and can see scenarios where we will continue to use Moodle as our primary VLE but allow staff who want to to also use MBC. If it takes off, who knows, at the very least we'll allow staff to look at it, experiement with it and give us feedback.

 

Really impressed with Lightspeed

[Simcfc73]

I have a LS test box till May so don't want to do too much configuring but fancy rollign out MBC to staff. The way you upload the users and groups is interesting. Real shame it doesn't have SSO, it would be useful for our kids not to have to remember more than one password. Also... not too keen on the US based theme, be nice if they UK'd it. Ohh and if they get a timetable facilty... boom... be perfect.

[Eappariello]

If you hook the rocket into your directory, MBC will then hook into your rocket for authentication so the kids will just use their usual school username/password. Plus content on put on MBC by your staff will be dynamically allowed.

Uploading of user and group info / integration with MIS systems, getting easier and more connector based in the summer.

Interested to know which bits you find US based, always looking to add more localization options (9 languages coming soon)

Parent portal is also available now.

 

Simon

 

 

I have a LS test box till May so don't want to do too much configuring but fancy rollign out MBC to staff. The way you upload the users and groups is interesting. Real shame it doesn't have SSO, it would be useful for our kids not to have to remember more than one password. Also... not too keen on the US based theme, be nice if they UK'd it. Ohh and if they get a timetable facilty... boom... be perfect.

[Simcfc73]

If you hook the rocket into your directory, MBC will then hook into your rocket for authentication so the kids will just use their usual school username/password. Plus content on put on MBC by your staff will be dynamically allowed.

Uploading of user and group info / integration with MIS systems, getting easier and more connector based in the summer.

Interested to know which bits you find US based, always looking to add more localization options (9 languages coming soon)

Parent portal is also available now.

 

Simon

 

You got any pointers for this integration. I don't fancy messing arounfd with CSV's. I found this article Login - Lightspeed's Support Wiki but its CSV based.

[Eappariello]

You got any pointers for this integration. I don't fancy messing arounfd with CSV's. I found this article Login - Lightspeed's Support Wiki but its CSV based.

 

Thats the only way to integrate with a MIS systems right now as it is a universal technique. However there is work going on to create an easier method to connect to a SIMS system.

 

The support guys can help also - let me know if you would like me to get them to contact you.

 

Simon

[Simcfc73]

Thats the only way to integrate with a MIS systems right now as it is a universal technique. However there is work going on to create an easier method to connect to a SIMS system.

 

The support guys can help also - let me know if you would like me to get them to contact you.

 

Simon

So is there no way to let them use their AD passwords?

[Eappariello]

So is there no way to let them use their AD passwords?

 

Yes. MyBigCampus links to your rocket appliance and can use the LDAP connector to hook into your AD directory for user authentication.

 

The CSV import document you found is for schools to provision in advance user accounts, groups, and group membership from their MIS system. This is a worthwhile step for the VLE elements.

If you just want to have students and staff sign in, and use MBC without this provisioning step you can direct them towards the sign up link on the home page.

They can use the sign up steps to create thier user accont or you can create an invitation code (use the man with cog icon and select note users to MBc) and send this code to your students and staff.

 

Support guys can step you through this.

 

Simon

[Eappariello]

Sign Up with My Big Campus

[Simcfc73]

Thanks for this, the UK support sorted me out straight away with an issue on the box. As I am testing I won't do the ad authentication just yet. I uploaded all staff details and its sent them all out invites so I have a few testers. One teacher did get back to me regarding the US bias. He said the standards aren't up to date or haven't followed the UK curriculum. Sciences not bring split, and there is no ks5 stuff. I think the grades bit when you allocate pupils to a year needs to say year. We had to put up with favorites for years so need to make a stand now.

[dobsonl]

Hi Simon,

 

Are you able to let us know when there is an update on the MIS Intergration for SIMs in available?

[Eappariello]

Hi Simon,

 

Are you able to let us know when there is an update on the MIS Intergration for SIMs in available?

 

Yes, as soon as I have an ETA for release I will st a response.

 

Thanks

Simon

[jmak]

Has anyone got My Big Campus linked to Office 365 / Skydrive?

 

I have - but no idea what I've achieved and what it enables me to do. Still playing, but I found the applications section and there is an option to integrate sky drive. I tried my test Office 365 account details and the auth call was made successfully. It's now apparently integrated, but I can't see what I've gained. I was hoping that I'd be able to view files and folders in my Skydrive account.

[Eappariello]

Has anyone got My Big Campus linked to Office 365 / Skydrive?

 

I have - but no idea what I've achieved and what it enables me to do. Still playing, but I found the applications section and there is an option to integrate sky drive. I tried my test Office 365 account details and the auth call was made successfully. It's now apparently integrated, but I can't see what I've gained. I was hoping that I'd be able to view files and folders in my Skydrive account.

 

Hi.

 

Yes that's what it is for. It should display documents and files that you can use anywhere in MBC the same as google docs.

 

I have just tested mine and I can see all my word and PowerPoint docs

 

Give the support team a call or email, they can test this further but seems to be working for me.

 

Simon

[synaesthesia]

Resurrecting an old thread, I heard today about SIMS integration for MBC but I think the wrong end of the stick was gotten.

Is there any ability for MBC to handle reporting from SIMS in the manner expected by OFSTED (or whoever wants it these days! Behaviour, attendance etc)