Www.open.ac.uk/telstar/ Jason Platts Lead Technical Developer The Open University An overview of how...

www.open.ac.uk/telstar/

Jason PlattsLead Technical DeveloperThe Open University

An overview of how the Open University has incorporated bibliographic references within their Moodle-powered VLE

References and bibliographic management within Moodle


How to ‘Hack’ TELSTAR

WARNING!


It’s all about…

Reference data:• Creating• Importing• Interpreting• Storing• Displaying• Providing


Moodle does:

• Creating (Interface)• Importing (Accessing)• Interpreting• Storing• Displaying• Providing


RefWorks does:

• Creating• Supplying (File + RSS)• Storing (MyReferences)• Displaying (Styling)


Generating reference data and importing into Moodle.

We need data in a structured format

Title: Using Moodle: Teaching with the popular open source course management systemAuthor: Cole, Jason Publisher: O'Reilly Community PressPlace of publication: Sebastopol, CAYear of publication: 2005ISBN: 0596008635Format: Book

We need to collate references


References

Generating reference data and importing into Moodle.

RSS feedXMLRIS

RefWorks XML Format

Storing (MyReferences)Displaying (Styling)


What we’ve added to Moodle:

Bespoke Modules

References Filter

References code library

Resource Page + MyReferences


Bespoke Modules: Resource Page

Internal OU module – used to present lists of resources used on a course to students.

Might be several per course e.g. ‘Library resources’, ‘Block 1 optional readings‘.

Resources:• Files (usually PDF or mp3)• Web links (inc RSS feeds)• Links to other Moodle activities (forum etc)• References (web links)



What we support:

• Web links• References• Files



References:• Imported from file or RSS• Styled (RefWorks)• Link generated using ref data• Ref data stored• Interactivity (export)



Reference importing process

File RSS

1. Check file2. Convert3. Sort4. Get styled ref5. Get Links6. Get description (<no>)

7. Create item

1. Check feed2. Add feed title3. Convert4. Sort5. Get styled ref6. Get Links7. Get description (<no>)

8. Create item



Reference styling process

Resource page mod

APIBib


XMLOpenURL service

(SFX)Online source

Generate OpenURL from data in XML:• Looks at reference format (e.g. book)• Uses set of ‘rules’ to form URL• Manual override using set data fields

SFX connects to Library catalogue and authentication services to ensure source is accessible


Providing links to reference sources



Storing reference data

Ref data (RefWorks XML) stored in Moodle DB

<reference><rt>Journal Article</rt><a1>Author</a1><t1>title</t1><jf>journal full name</jf><yr>2010</yr><vo>volume</vo><is>issue</is><sp>start page</sp><no>Notes</no>…


Move reference data into other areas of the VLE• MyStuff (e-portfolio)• MyReferences (Moodle module)• Collaborative activity (Moodle filter) – enables sharing of references

Download reference data for import into bibliographic management software e.g. RefWorks, EndNote, Zotero


Adding functionality to references



Key Files

mod/resourcepage/ - Class based

addreferences.php

export_references.php

extensions/rssfeed/rssfeed.php

resourcepage_item.php – display reference


MyReferences

Connects via API to users RefWorks accounts

“Core” RefWorks functionalitySimple familiar interface

Extra functionality:• “Shared” accounts• Connect to other services• “Push” references to students

MyReferences – Bibliographic management module; integrating Moodle with RefWorks.


MyReferences

Needs RefWorks API access key and password

Contact RefWorks for this – free.

You must have RefWorks at your institution.

These details need adding to local/references/rwapi/rwapi/php

http://code.google.com/p/telstar/wiki/TelstarLocalizations


MyReferences

mod/refworks - Class based (static classes)

http://code.google.com/p/telstar/wiki/MyReferences_code

refworks_base.php – Main library

refworks_connect.php – Connection to RW

refworks_ref_api.php – RW API calls


Moodle Reference Filter

http://code.google.com/p/telstar/wiki/RefFilter

This feature allows users to share reference data with each other in collaborative activities

(wiki, forum, blog).1. Export to filter format (Collaborative Activity)2. Filter interpretation + display

1. Search for ref text (refworks xml)2. Create text summary3. Drop down of export types

Uses AJAX to call export in background.


Moodle Reference Filter

http://code.google.com/p/telstar/wiki/RefFilter


Reference library

Local/references/

Connection to external services • RefWorks API• WorldCat• CrossRef

Styling of references (RefWorks)Conversion types (import and/or export)Export menuLink generation


Uses RefWorks XML as data format

RefWorks API:• Supports all RefWorks features• RESTful service (HTTP + XML)• Authentication (access key + password)• Accesses institution instance

Reference library

rwapi/rwapi.php – handles sessions + key functions

RWAPI


Reference library

Other services

• WorldCat (data from ISBN)• CrossRef (data from DOI)

File: getdata.php

Connection details (user/password etc) hard-codedIn this file.

All services (inc RefWorks) are connected to usingcURL library.


Reference library

Reference styling

APIBIB – Performs same function as RefWorks QuikBib service; but uses API.

Imports refs into VLE ‘Master’ account in tmp folder.

Uses API to return styled output.

Deletes folder + refs.


Reference library

Conversion

Convert to and from RefWorks xmlFormat Import Export Export type

RefWorks XML Download

RIS Download

RefWorks RSS

MyStuff Export

Reference Filter Export

RefWorks Direct Export Export

RDF-a (Experimental!) Export


Reference library

Conversion

convert/ folder

Base class controls format.Tests contents.

export.php – export functions• Export menu• Defines export type


Ideas for extra functionality

• Add references to other Moodle areas

• Add extra format support• Other bibliographic formats

• Add extra features to resource page• Populate from alternate source

• Use alternate services• Reference styling


www.open.ac.uk/blogs/telstar

Want to find out more?

Code released under open-source licence

http://code.google.com/p/telstar/

http://groups.google.com/group/telstarou

Advice

Www.open.ac.uk/telstar/ Jason Platts Lead Technical Developer The Open University An overview of how...

Documents

Transcript of Www.open.ac.uk/telstar/ Jason Platts Lead Technical Developer The Open University An overview of how...