I'm researching XML and perl right now. This looks promising as perl is the language of choice for
people who are processing text. Here are my modules of choice so far. XML::Generator XML::Writer
Right now this project is in infancy / beginning but here is the issue. I need to translate our course info into Sakai somehow. This can be done using a variety of methods: webservices (calls to add each site), use of the CM tables. I would like to pursue the use of the Sakai's CM tables and Sakai's CM group concepts.
Here is my outline of what needs to happen for this to take place.
- 1 current UDB extracts need to be converted to xml
perl XML::Generator
perl XML::Writer - 2 a Quartz job needs to be created that will process said xml file nightly
What this would provide is a full population of Sakai's CM tables with term course/section/group data. This would allow an instructor to log in to Sakai and through the Worksite Setup page be able to select a course they would like to create.
The course would already be populated with a roster. Furthermore the sections (if any) would fall under the master course and or the instructor could break them out further if desired.
Another less desirable solution (IMHO) is to bulk load courses and members into actual sites. The disadvantage to this is it will create un-necessary clutter in the sakai db. If a course never uses the CLE then why create a site for the course. The bulk load of individuals to a course could confuse a student if he / she is loaded into X number of courses per semester and only a few are actually used.
I'm sure I will hash out more of these issues at a later date...
Posted by Kevin Foote in sakai on May 16, 2008
