edulab - Test Service for e-Learning Tools

About the Test Service

Having access to professionally supported web applications is a great thing! But usually the setup, maintenance and formal decision taking requires considerable resources and efforts. Therefore the eduhub team has decided to install and maintain selected e-learning related web applications for a limited period for testing purposes.

The criteria for choosing an application to be installed as a test service:

• The application is assumed to be useful for the swiss academic e-learning community
• The complete amount of time to start the service should not exceed 5 workdays (install, test, shibbolize, document)
• The application should have a certain potential for a long-term service after the test service ends.

Sevice Description

• There is no guarantee that a service is available.
• The eduhub team takes reasonable efforts to keep the hosted applications up and running, and to meet common security requirements.
• The services have a limited running period. After the service ends it has to be decided by SWITCH, the eduhub team and the e-learning community if a specific service should be stopped,  continued, or officially deployed.

Currently Available Test Installations

Tool	Description	Test Service Start	Test Service End
Mahara with AAI-Login	e-Portfolio tool	1. Jan 2011	31. Dec 2011*

 

* Selected institutions who participate in the SWITCH innovation engine for an e-portfolio service can use the test system until July 2012.

 

Future

The following tools or environments have been suggested to be offered as test service:

• Etherpad: A very easy to use collaborative real time text editor.
• Docendo: A powerful SCORM editor and asset management system.
• SCORM Editor of Ilias
• Project Wonderland: Virtual World.

History

From 1. Aug 2009 until 31. Dec 2010 a the e-portfolio system Mahara test service was hosted in the edulab. Due to the big interest and widespread usage, it was decided to extend the Mahara test service by one year to end of 2011. The new instance is set up that supports AAI/Shibboleth authentication.

From 20. Jan 2009 until 31. Dec 2009 a shibbolized version (AAI) of Cogit CaseStudy was hosted in the edulab. Cogit CaseStudy is a web based environment to conduct a didactical case study workflow with students. During the test period of 11 months about 60 educational case studies were created. Although the feedback for the tool was generally positive, there have been no requests for a continuation of the service.

Feedback

If you have comments, feedback or suggestions about the edulab test service then please leave a message below.