November 25th, 2009
Summary
Yesterday afternoon we discussed in further detail the directions the ICE community would like to see ICE taking with respect to Concept Map integration.
Issues and concerns
- user tool needed to create concept maps, mind maps and argument maps
- uses:
- document and resource organising,
- assignment preparation and
- alternative method of course navigation
- IMS package in Moodle isn’t used to its full potential. If it was students could tick the content completed and linear navigation might be less of an issue.
- different types of concept map users; expert and learner
- prefer web-based tool rather than a separate software tool
- link to a glossary
- application for use as a Moodle tool
Proposed action
- CMAPTools has a server version http://cmap.ihmc.us/download/ to be trialled for student or staff collaboration.
- use of ICE organiser-style concept mapping
- use of semantics to define common concepts
Modified: Nov 25, 2009
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November 24th, 2009
Summary
This morning we discussed in further detail the possibilities of linking LaTeX with ICE and alternative web editor input.
LaTeX with ICE
Issues noted
- image resolution and scalability which affect student comprehension when equations are represented in html
- html rendition would require a standardisation of a subset of the currently used LaTeX
- progress in the area of MathML is seen as slow and rendering MathML objects is reliant on users’ browsers.
Proposed solutions
- using a basic LaTeX ICE template, upload basic LaTeX to ICE and simple render to html determined by user
- convert LaTeX to pdf using ICE with relevant class file(s) to take advantage of the IMS packaging and the pdf linking from LaTeX
- basic conversion is available in ICE, so further development for USQ can be sought through StudyDeskURG
Online Editor
Issues noted
- software like TinyMCE is doable, but doesn’t have collaborative options or reference management
- edit ability on mobile devices would be desired for minor edits
- Google Docs have an api that may link with ICE
- user interface can have a detrimental affect on a product, eg GOOD
Proposed solutions
- Can GoogleDocs be an initial collaboration point prior to using ICE to render and store content. This may have possible research implications.
- Investigate new Word (currently downloadable in beta) may have collaborative functionality
- Drop Box or Lock functionality for collaborative content creation.
- Follow up with Birkbeck and their GoogleDocs template project
Modified: Nov 24, 2009
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November 23rd, 2009
Summary
For the week 23 – 27 November 2009, we are exploring where ICE is headed. What new features are required and what development direction should we take.
Today the Monday the 23rd, we have invited interested parties from across USQ to join us for a discussion of good and bad features that ICE has and requires. We hope to get the viewpoint of both courseware authors and collators as well as those interested in ICE from a research perspective.
Topics discussed
- The evolution of ICE - what worked and what didn’t in it’s predecessors.
- LaTeX is able to create a pdf with links and high quality print output. Further discussions planned on ICE and LaTeX integration.
- GOOD was excellent for semantics within the course content. ICE hasn’t been expanded in this way to any great extent.
- XML editor in GOOD was not a success for the masses. Should we change the way content is edited? Use of an online editor as an option? Could we use Google docs as a start point for authoring?
- Concept Map and Ontology integration in ICE, use as a navigation aid as a compliment or instead of an organiser. Should this be introduced to ICE or Moodle? Different levels of Concept Maps could be explored: course, module level or as a student organiser to aid study and learning outcomes.
- Media content. Plans are underway to remove the Media traffic from ICE to make it more efficient for course content.
- Alternatives for version control. What happens if we remove versioning for multiple authors? Should we look at the Google docs model?
- It was questioned if the content could do MORE? Closer integration with Moodle and making the content more interactive.
- eBook publication is a feature to look at for the increased use of mobile technologies. Can ICE create course books in eBook format?
- Integration with SiteCorp and Sharepoint, USQ standard technologies for hosting of content.
- Theses and referencing ability.
- Annotation of courseware and ICE content in Moodle, making the courseware more interactive and enabling discussion at trigger points in the course, rather than discussion forums. Things to consider are: editing annotations and alert users of an annotation being submitted.
- Others things for consideration include syndication of audio and video content from U-tube, Facebook, inline quizzes and infopath Sharepoint forms into ICE content. Implementation of a global glossary and integration with Moodle2 repositories and Mahara.
Further discussions sessions planned
- LaTeX
- Online Editor
- Concept Maps and Ontologies
- Extend courseware content
- eBook
- Annotations
- Syndication
http://ice.usq.edu.au/trac/roadmap
Modified: Nov 23, 2009
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September 30th, 2009
Summary
ICE2.1 code has been branched and we are testing madly. As a result, there are plenty of tickets are being submitted and solved. Ron was away for some of this week, so we will have to wait till next week to complete changes.
General ICE template and bug-fixing continues.
Work on preparing USQ Policies using ICE has commenced. It is envisaged a user will prepare the policy documents using an ICE policy template and harvest them using an instance of The Fascinator for view in a Policy repository. We are in the early stages with preparation of the template in its basic form and definition of basic meta-data styles completed.
Predicted work units: 20
Overview of completed tasks
Components
Administration
- ICE2.1 testing
- preparation of USQ Policy demo
Application
Overview of new tasks
- Concentration on testing and fixing ICE2.1
About the cycle notes
The cycle notes are used to summarize the outcomes of the completed cycle and provide stake-holders with an overview of the tasks for the next cycle. They are also used to raise any issues for discussion and provide other information for those who are unable to attend the meetings. Specific information on tasks to be completed are available in the ticketing system, see below.
More information
http://ice.usq.edu.au/trac/roadmap
View archived cycle notes
Modified: Sep 30, 2009
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September 30th, 2009
Summary
This week we assisted Link Affiliates in the movement of their servers, part of the process meant moving the ICE content from one server to another and this gave us a few issues to fix along the way.
General bug fixing continued as well as a spring clean of the tickets and template directory in the trunk.
Cynthia tried to modify the refresh of the portal, to maintain a place in the html view of a document. This has resulted in a flow-on effect and other refresh changes have been required. In addition, Cynthia has discovered that IE8 will be challenging for us from a css point of view.
We await Ron’s subversion changes and testing will start soon.
Predicted work units: 20
Overview of completed tasks
Components
Administration
- Assist Link Affiliates ICE
- Clean up ICE tickets
Application
- DC incorrect when rendered
- PPT fixed in Firefox 3.5.3 on Windows
Templates
- Refresh button
- Investigation of USQ stylesheet in IE8
- Clean up Template directory
Outstanding tasks
- Subversion changes for ICE2.1
Overview of new tasks
Components
Administration
Templates
About the cycle notes
The cycle notes are used to summarize the outcomes of the completed cycle and provide stake-holders with an overview of the tasks for the next cycle. They are also used to raise any issues for discussion and provide other information for those who are unable to attend the meetings. Specific information on tasks to be completed are available in the ticketing system, see below.
More information
http://ice.usq.edu.au/trac/roadmap
View archived cycle notes
Modified: Sep 30, 2009
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September 15th, 2009
Summary
Another quiet week, bug-fixing continues and Ron is still working on the subversion improvements.
Linda documented ICE service set-up on Ubuntu.
Predicted work units: 10
Overview of completed tasks
Components
Administration
Application
Overview of new tasks
Components
Administration
-
Cleaning up ICE tickets
-
Finishing website
Application
About the cycle notes
The cycle notes are used to summarize the outcomes of the completed cycle and provide stake-holders with an overview of the tasks for the next cycle. They are also used to raise any issues for discussion and provide other information for those who are unable to attend the meetings. Specific information on tasks to be completed are available in the ticketing system, see below.
More information
http://ice.usq.edu.au/trac/roadmap
View archived cycle notes
Modified: Sep 15, 2009
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September 15th, 2009
Summary
ICE work has slowed with predominantly bug-fixing and honing the more recently added features.
Ron has been working on making the subversion processes more efficient and we await his committal of these, so we can test their affect.
Unit tests for the Toolbar have been taking up most of Cynthia’s time.
Predicted work units: 10
Overview of completed tasks
Components
Administration
Application
Templates
Outstanding tasks
-
Bug-fixing
-
Toolbar unit tests
About the cycle notes
The cycle notes are used to summarize the outcomes of the completed cycle and provide stake-holders with an overview of the tasks for the next cycle. They are also used to raise any issues for discussion and provide other information for those who are unable to attend the meetings. Specific information on tasks to be completed are available in the ticketing system, see below.
More information
http://ice.usq.edu.au/trac/roadmap
View archived cycle notes
Modified: Sep 15, 2009
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September 15th, 2009
Summary
Minimal work completed this week. Other projects are taking our time. Cynthia did modify the Atom Pub blog posting mechanism and bug fixed the toolbar.
Predicted work units: 10
Overview of completed tasks
Components
Application
Overview of new tasks
Components
Application
About the cycle notes
The cycle notes are used to summarize the outcomes of the completed cycle and provide stake-holders with an overview of the tasks for the next cycle. They are also used to raise any issues for discussion and provide other information for those who are unable to attend the meetings. Specific information on tasks to be completed are available in the ticketing system, see below.
More information
http://ice.usq.edu.au/trac/roadmap
View archived cycle notes
Modified: Sep 15, 2009
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August 24th, 2009
Summary
We updated ICE website to a new look, thanks to USQ graphics staff for the inspiration and as a companion to The Fascinator development, a new ICE conversion server was set-up in the clouds.
While Ron had a week off, Cynthia forged ahead with Toolbar unit-testing and ATOM Pub enhancements. ATOM Pub can now cache the Wordpress URL in your ICE browser view and assign categories to blog posts.
Predicted work units: 10
Overview of completed tasks
Components
Administration
Application
Templates
Outstanding tasks
Overview of new tasks
Components
Administration
About the cycle notes
The cycle notes are used to summarize the outcomes of the completed cycle and provide stake-holders with an overview of the tasks for the next cycle. They are also used to raise any issues for discussion and provide other information for those who are unable to attend the meetings. Specific information on tasks to be completed are available in the ticketing system, see below.
More information
http://ice.usq.edu.au/trac/roadmap
View archived cycle notes
Modified: Aug 24, 2009
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August 18th, 2009
Summary
Bug fixing this week. Ye olde Framemaker from USQ’s EPS had conversion problems to ICE, so Linda helped out there.
Ice service was being re-vamped this week in light of development with the Fascinator’s need for conversion services.
Predicted work units: 10
Overview of completed tasks
Components
Application
-
ICE plugin for ffmpeg to convert audio/video files to flv
-
Generating image tumbnail in ICE service
-
Fix ppt/odp on ice service
Templates
Outstanding and new tasks
Application
-
Bug fixing
-
Ice conversion plugin
Templates
About the cycle notes
The cycle notes are used to summarize the outcomes of the completed cycle and provide stake-holders with an overview of the tasks for the next cycle. They are also used to raise any issues for discussion and provide other information for those who are unable to attend the meetings. Specific information on tasks to be completed are available in the ticketing system, see below.
More information
http://ice.usq.edu.au/trac/roadmap
View archived cycle notes
Modified: Aug 18, 2009
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