Supporting Open Source Software for Education
August 30, 2010
Earlier this month, we released the fourth service pack for the rSmart Sakai CLE 2.6. This release contains more than ninety bug fixes and many enhancements, including integrations with several external third-party solutions:
July 29, 2010
We're pleased to announce the release of rSmart Sakai CLE Version 2.7. Get ready to explore its new tools and features!
This latest version of the CLE is based on the community Sakai-2.7.0 release. We’ve made sure the rSmart Sakai CLE 2.7 is the best possible platform you can get from the open source community, with a broad range of enhancements that are thoroughly tested and reliable, fully integrated, and ready to use. Visit RSN to download the complete release notes.
June 23, 2010
The upcoming 2.7 CLE release will include two previously unsupported “stealthed” tools: Profile2 and Blogs (BlogWow). Each tool provides users with some new resources for creating and sharing information in the CLE.
Profile2 is an alternative to the Profile tool. It offers a Facebook-style interface, as well as integration with Twitter. In Profile2, you may:
May 26, 2010
This month, the Kuali Coeus project reached an important milestone with the release of Kuali Coeus 2.0. The release adds considerable functionality to Kuali Coeus, a comprehensive open source solution for research administration.
At many schools, the awards process can often be cumbersome and inefficient, involving ad hoc combinations of manual entries, paper trails, and various third-party software applications. Kuali Coeus now represents a viable and cost-effective alternative.
May 26, 2010
With the 2.0 release, Kuali Coeus (KC) now offers a flexible, integrated system that can support all aspects of research administration. But you may be concerned about how to evaluate this open source system. Given the unique complexities of research administration processes at your institution, how can you be sure that Kuali Coeus is the best fit—and that you fully understand the migration challenges that will be involved?
May 26, 2010
Kuali Rice is a very powerful middleware resource. It helps developers integrate a broad array of applications and services, allowing them to build enterprise-level systems with common workflows and customizable user interfaces. But the deep capabilities of Kuali Rice present a challenge: How can developers best learn to tap into its full potential?
May 25, 2010
In the Kuali Financial System, you complete year end processing by following this sequence:
May 20, 2010
Readers of our Smart Talk newsletter may recall the "2+3 Hybrid" project, which was the focus of an article earlier this year. With many community members contributing to Sakai 3 development, this project's goal is to help provide a smooth transition from Sakai 2, by creating a "hybrid" mode for Sakai 3. In this mode, users log into Sakai 3, but still have access to the Sakai 2 environment.
May 20, 2010
In the upcoming 2.7 CLE release, you’ll find some handy new options for accessing and managing content. This release integrates the CLE with two popular services—Google Docs and iTunes U from Apple.
May 20, 2010
If you’re attending the 2010 Sakai Conference, be sure to leave room on your calendar for the pre-conference events taking place on Monday, June 14.
On Monday night, please join us for an rSmart Customer Appreciation Dinner, being held at the Centennial Room in the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Enjoy food and drinks while you meet with rSmart staff, other rSmart clients, and invited guests. For more information, click here.
During the day, you'll find several events to choose from, including the following:
May 20, 2010
We hope you can attend the 2010 Sakai Conference, being held June 15-17 in Denver, Colorado. As it does each year, the event will bring together the many people who make up the diverse and vibrant Sakai community. Conference sessions reflect this diversity by exploring all aspects of Sakai—including support and training, innovative teaching and learning, new tools and integrations, and future directions.
If you’re attending, you’ll find members of the rSmart team presenting on a variety of topics:
May 14, 2010
Learn more about rSmart and our work with Kuali and Sakai.
The Kuali Financial Consultant plays a key role on the Services team by working directly with clients to ensure the smooth implementation and long-term success of the Kuali Finance System (KFS) at their institutions. The incumbent works with other rSmart colleagues, including project managers and programming and technical staff, to execute a series of onsite and remote engagements that result in the successful deployment of KFS as an enterprise system. This individual provides business analysis, consultation, and configuration recommendations prior to and during implementation; prepares and conducts hands-on systems training for each client’s finance implementation team; and provides ongoing consultation regarding system administration, policy, and procedural matters. The incumbent also provides input into rSmart’s strategic planning process and may periodically provide expert advice regarding add-on service opportunities and otherwise support the sales team. This position requires a strong functional understanding of the KFS and financial administration in higher education; outstanding assessment, problem solving, and communication skills; and the ability to manage client expectations while forging a strong bond based on commitment and trust. Well-developed leadership and collaboration skills are also critical.
May 7, 2010
Learn more about rSmart and our work with Kuali and Sakai.
rSmart is looking for an energetic and motivated Java Engineers to join our team working on an open-source, web-based financial system used by colleges and universities around the country (Kuali).
May 5, 2010
Learn more about rSmart and our work with Kuali and Sakai.
We are looking for an energetic and motivated Data Base Administrator to join our team working on an open-source, web-based financial system (Kuali) used by colleges and universities around the country. The DBA will Oversee the design and maintenance of online communications, including database-driven Web sites and distance learning programs; assists and supports organizational members and clients with network, database, and application training and technical support; plans and prepares correspondence.
Office Operations Support
Assists staff in developing procedures, forms, exhibits, and database documentation; configures hardware and software utilized on database and Web servers; allows end-users to access management information systems directly by using Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) and other methods of connectivity; assists office staff in the creation of database reports and exhibits; trains and provides technical direction to staff as needed; supports internal operations, local area network administration, budget management, and project planning.
April 21, 2010
rSmart would like to welcome the University of Florida, a recent rSmart client, to the Sakai community. The oldest and largest university in the state, with 16 colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes, UF serves over 51,000 students.
April 21, 2010
The upcoming release of CLE 2.7 includes support for Gradebook 2, an exciting alternative to the Gradebook tool. It offers many new features but still retains the basic functions of Gradebook. So if you’re comfortable using that tool, you’ll have no problem getting up to speed with Gradebook 2.
The most obvious departure from Gradebook is the user interface. Gradebook 2 offers an easy-to-use, spreadsheet-style format.
In Gradebook 2, all functions and features are on a single screen. This interface helps streamline what you do with the tool, in a number of ways:
April 19, 2010
The CLE displays WebDAV instructions whenever users select Upload-Download Multiple Resources in the Resources menu bar. As an admin, you can change the instructions that the CLE displays.
First, you’ll need a copy of the default instructions, which are saved as an html file. You can either request the file from rSmart’s support staff, or retrieve it from the source code.
Once you have a copy of the html file, make all of your changes to the instructions. Then, log into the CLE as an admin, access the Admin workspace, and follow these steps:
April 1, 2010
rSmart Sakai CLE Certification Training
Improve your skills, share your insights, and gain experience from others through our comprehensive certifications program.
When an institution implements the rSmart Sakai CLE, the rSmart team usually trains a small group of core users who then go on to train other staff. But schools often discover the need for additional training - either for those unfamiliar with Sakai or who want to be more effective in using the CLE. Many institutions eventually provide their own in-house training which can be time-consuming and costly.
You are not alone
April 1, 2010
This week rSmart welcomes West Liberty University to the Sakai Community as one of its recent rSmart Sakai CLE support customers. Located in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia between southwestern Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio, West Liberty is a forward-thinking institution dedicated to providing a well rounded, educationally diverse, liberal arts focused learning experience.
March 17, 2010
The technology landscape in higher ed is constantly evolving--and nowhere is this more apparent than in the use of video. Whether for teaching and learning or for collaboration, video content is playing an increasingly prominent role. It’s also putting new demands on institutions. As instructors move to incorporate video—and video production—into courses, many schools are struggling to provide adequate support.