penfold_99

I see the script i wrote has found a new home.

I would agree with this as the best method.

When I said unsecured I really meant unauthenticated. SDC doesn't allow you to pass a username and password to the server that the file you wish to access resides on. I was discussing with the developer how we could embed SDC but replace how I'd connects to the data source As we would like to connect SDC to our SIF agents data source. This would be constantly upto date and with app engine integration allow right back into sims.

I believe there has been some mods to MRBS to allow it to import from SIMS.net, but i believe the import is once only for the year. I'm not sure how it handles changes in the timetable after bookings have happened.

I had a chat with a google developer at BETT about Google Secured Data Connector to see if it was possible to link SDC to a protected source of information. The issue with SDC is that the source of the information has to be unsecured (ie internal web server etc) you can't pass a username and password to if the source requires authenication. The best use of the data would be as a data source for a mail merge, this would allow admin staff to create the document in google docs instead of SIMS>net reporting.

Wow, capita's pricing must have gone through the roof as previously it only about £175 ish to write back to SIMS.net per school.

I would agree with @secretlife over the flexibility of moodle. We have partnered up with LUNS (@mrverral can confirm) so they can use ZiLink to deliver MIS integration. ZiLink will also be the first moodle integration to support progresso via SIF. So if you do decide to migrate from SIMS.net to Progresso there wouldn't be an issue.

I would keep the details out of sims and use the csv as a mail merge data source for word until the ATF turns up.

@matt40k well i have been beating the sif drum for a long time and it seem now suppliers are taking notice. For a new entrant into the uk on the MIS side sif is a no brainier if you make it cost effective for supplier to integrate with you.

@plexer Please can you PM the name of the cashless catering system and i will try and use my position within sif to start a conversation?

@vikpaw sorry i missed you, was it the SIF Association Stand that you went to? We were really busy at bett as with were either on the SIF stand or supporting LUNS who were demonstrating ZiLink to integrate schools MIS and moodle via SIF. We also spoke to a lot of companies that are now seeing SIF as a way to reduce development costs, this is mainly down to progresso coming out and serco are pushing sif as the interface to use. What is your perception of suppliers looking at SIF?

Moodle under high usage can really slow down when you have theme designer mode turned on.

Well if they did the datrford crossing at least the vip would have to pay the toll charge

We were at bett and a lot of teacher we spoke to were on the look out for SLG alternatives as they wanted to dump it due to the cost and lack of benefits. Teachers were only wanting a subset of what slg offered but wanted it extended in other areas like tight integration with VLEs to have the whole picture of the students learning.

County will send an ATF file via the schools2schools website. Are you looking for getting the new year 6 details in for transition days etc, before they start in year 7?

I think its going to be massive next year as emap have got excel for free next year as part of the deal to move from olypmia. The stand pricing have gone up as well £12 per foot of open space.

Has anyone come across the ovei pods before? I was chatting to a friend about immersive technology and he mention the ovei pod, it looks great for a personal gaming environment as demo at a gadegt trade show. I thought there could be an application for these pods in education in aiding pupils with emotional and behavioral difficulties and as reward for other students. What everyone view? Yes, No, possible fad?

Given how partnership exchange implements SIF, it uses a custom message broker to allow multiple schools to be in one zone, it wouldn't be possible to add facility to the mix. I haven't heard of any implementation that is uses it. I will double check at the next SIF UK technical board meeting next week.

it can a bit, from speaking with the capita developer at the SIF conferences, this is one of the common problems they face.

This will give you an insight to the framework, found this in the e2bn website. http://www.e2bn.org/files/E2BN_Learning_Platform_Framework_Capita_-_Final.pdf http://www.e2bn.org/files/capita_response.pdf

As there have been several discussion about SIF and interoperability, i thought i would make everyone aware of the next SIF conference. It's being held at the paragon hotel in Birmingham on the 7th December. To attend its £55 for SIF non-members, so if you local or in traveling distance it will be good opportunity to get some more information about what SIF is and how is can benefit schools.

How does this effect academies as they are outside LA control? Are the certificates comodo?

The SSL certificate would have a Common Name of ABC.com and have SANs for A.ABC.com,B.ABC.com,DEF.com,A.DEF.com,B.DEF.com and could be used on both servers.

It means your allows to installed the certificate on multiple servers. For example if you had 3 web servers hosting http://www.domain.com you can install it on all three but if you had another web server that was hosting a domain that wasn't in the SSL certificate you could install it but it wouldnt be trusted.

AFAIK you have to have a .ac.uk domain to get a free certificate.