Managed Learning Environment Project

Architecture

The Big Picture

Back-end Connectivity

Use of Middleware (ANGEL)

John Eyre, Alan Glover, Steve Beech

MLE (Web) Server

User Manager

Resource Manager

MLE Usage Database

Student Record System

Authentication System

Client Application(Web Browser)

NESLIINGENTA

BIDSEDINAAHDSMIMAS

e-Journalsetc

Remote Authorised Resources

Timetabling

Finance System

Course Management

Secure, Authorised Access

e-Learning – VLE App

Past Exam Papers

Course Notes,Study Guides

Library

Diary

Discussion Lists,Groupware, email

Entertainment, Social

MLE Architecture

Web Browser

Web Browser

Client App. Web Browser

MLEWebServer

Student Records

Finance

Course

Timetables

Thin Client Software, withlimited function support

Internal Intranet Firewall

Point to Point Firewall Rules

UsageDB

Student EmailSystem

Student Photographs

Library

VLE

Web Resources

Web Services

Web Databases

A

C

D

F

B

E

A: Registered Users Log In.

B: Student IDs are checked against the student emailsystem using an LDAP connection.

C: If the user is valid, the MLE checks the local usagetracking database for personal preferences and recordsthe access.

D: The MLE retrieves the student’s ID photograph andinserts it into the web page as a binary stream.

E: On the first user request for Course data, the MLEsends a secure request to the Student Record System andgets their Faculty, Course and Module details.

F: The MLE should provide personalised, single-sign-onaccess to services that already exist on the Internet,including Virtual Learning Environment applications.

De Montfort UniversityManaged Learning EnvironmentArchitecture Diagram. (Nov 2001)

VLEVLE

Sys Admin

CourseAdmin

Vendor API

IMSStandards

Request for StudentAccounts

Download Users

Upload AssessmentResults

MLE

Browser

SRS

UCAS

University

IntermediateFiles

Joining-Up the SRS and VLE

Directory Serviceor ANGEL System

SRS

Sys Admin

Users

DB

VLE

Sys Admin

Users

DB

MLE

Sys Admin

Users

DB

Finance

Sys Admin

Users

DBLibrary

Sys Admin

Users

DB

Modules

Sys Admin

Users

DB

Timetable

Sys Admin

Users

DB

Resources

Sys Admin

Users

DB

Remote

Sys Admin

Users

DB Other

Sys Admin

Users

DB

Joining-Up Everything?

protocol servers

protocol clients

ANGEL servicemodules

HTTP (etc)IMSXRR*Z39.50

Server-Broker

Client-Broker

HTTP Z39.50 XRR* IMS (etc)

Resource Manager

User Manager

Scheduled Services Mgr

resourcemetadata

usermetadata

taskmetadata

ITE VLE SRSITE VLE SRS

ITE VLE SRS SRSITE VLE SRS Res

IMS

IMS

Server Broker

Client Broker

ResourceManager

UserManager

ANGEL Architecture

Managed Learning Environment Project

Back-end Connectivity• We have developed a Visual Basic

program that provides a secure connection to institutional administration systems

• It can return records in IMS Enterprise Format (in XML)

• It can be configured to work in new environments

Managed Learning Environment Project

ANGEL• “Authenticated Networked Guided

Environment for Learning” is a DNER project funded by JISC and lead by LSE

• We have created a User Manager, a message router and started to interface with WebCT and Blackboard

• LSE have built a Resource Manager and linked it into their student portal