Alex Pearce's SharePoint Blog

For christmas I got a brand new IPod – something I wanted as I had filled my old 4GB one.  I got the new IPod Touch with a capacity of 16GB.  I can now fit all my podcasts on there and listen to the music I want instead of having to select before going out.

For those of you who dont know the IPod Touch looks the same as an IPhone but without the phone features.  It does come with a wifi connection which I connected fine to my home network with WEP encryption.  You can then connect to youtube and watch videos that are streamed to your ipod.

IPod Touch and the IPhone both come with Safari as their web browser.  I put in my MOSS address – got the log on screen which is form based from ISA 2006 and it took me to my home page for MOSS.  The layout was the same – no slowness to load the page.  If you turn your IPod from vertical to horizontal it also changes the screen that way as well.

One of the features with the safari web browsing is the you can double tap on the screen and it will zoom into that part of the screen.  You also get a full standard onscreen keyboard and if you are typing away the screen will move to where you are typing in.

I could add annoucements, view the calendar and update my internal blog.  I also got onto my mysite but encounted my first problem.  I have a inbox, calendar and contact (Exchange/OWA 2007) web part within my first page and these didn't load – got the error message – "Access to Calendar folder from Outlook Web Access Web Part is supported only for Internet Explorer 6 and later".  Within one of my SharePoint Site I have a page viewer web part which loads OWA with in it.  This loaded fine as the light version and if I go straight to OWA it works as well.

SharePoint Learning Kit didnt work – I first tried to assign a SCORM learning resource to myself but when I did elearning access it errored.  The webpart loaded fine – no issue with that.  I saw a learning resource was assigned to me and it tried to open the IMS file but then sat at Please Wait.  Nothing happened.  It now on my wish list to get sorted – the IPod Touch and IPhone could be a really asset to education.

 A list of things that did work

• Search
• All default master pages
• Adding Annoucements
• Adding calendar event – but you have to type any dates in manually – eg 07/04/2008
• load images an image in document library
• load txt file
• Update blog
• add links.

Things that didnt work

• OWA web parts
• SharePoint Learning Kit
• View word, powerpoint documents – error message says – safari could not download this file

Its great to see so many more posts out there now on SharePoint Learning Kit.

If you want to see how to assign a document to yourself through the application have a look at the video below.

http://www.click2learn.ch/Free%20Video/Sharepoint%20Learning%20Kit.wmv

The Microsoft Learning Gateway (MLG) consists of many products from Microsoft from Windows Operating Systems to the Office System.  SharePoint is a product that is required to make up the MLG but other products that can be added, these are not necessary to make up your MLG.

What does Microsoft say on the Learning Gateway?
“The Learning Gateway from Microsoft is a solutions framework that helps improve education by integrating the tools you already use and putting them to work connecting people with the information and processes they need to teach and learn more effectively. “

It's all about using Microsoft technology in teaching and learning.  How it is used depends on the school/college/university and the processes within the school.

What products does it include?
Well it could be any of the Microsoft products – it depends on how you use it in teaching and learning.  SharePoint is the main product as it can deliver content to the pupil through a web page but here is a possible list.  Learning Gateway Version 3 includes the below list but you can use previous versions as they can be integrated as well.

ú         Windows 2003 Server

o   All products are installed on the latest Windows Server technology

o   www.microsoft.com/windows2003/ 

ú         Active Directory

o   AD is used as the log on service for all users

o   www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/directory/activedirectory/ 

ú         SQL Server 2005

o   The database server used for SharePoint, SharePoint Learning Kit as well as other products

o   www.microsoft.com/sqlserver/

ú         Exchange 2007

o   Email Service for all pupils/staff

o   www.microsoft.com/exchange

ú         Office Communications Server 2007

o   Instant messaging including voice and webcam services

o   office.microsoft.com/en-us/communicationsserver/

ú         SharePoint 2007

o   Main delivery point of content through a web page

o   www.microsoft.com/sharepoint/

ú         SharePoint Learning Kit

o   Microsofts Virtual Learning Environment solution

o   www.codeplex.com/slk

ú         Internet Accelerator and Security 2006

o   Firewall protection

o   www.microsoft.com/isa

ú         Microsoft Learning Gateway Web Parts/Templates for SharePoint 2007

o   www.codeplex.com/lg

Client Software 
You can use previous version but for full functionality for the above products you need.

ú         Windows XP/Vista

o   Client OS

o   www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/

o   www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/

ú         Office 2007

o   Microsoft Office system including, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook (not necessary for Exchange 2007), Publisher, Access, InfoPath, Groove, OneNote.

ú         Internet Explorer 7.0

The extent of the Microsoft Learning Gateway is never ending.

I would like to blog somewhere else for the Microsoft Learning Gateway as it is more than just sharepoint.  Can anyone recommend anywhere?

You thoughts and views are always welcome.

Well I have just got home and complete my first Live Meeting webcast today.  Presenting with Microsoft about the Microsoft Learning Gateway.

I would like to thank everyone for coming to watch and listen.

I will be presenting something similar on the Microsoft Stand at BETT08 in January.

When I have completed my first presentation at BETT I will upload the videos you have seen today and the presentation slides.

The links I showed on my last slide are.

Codeplex
                SharePoint Learning Kit – www.codeplex.com/slk
                Microsoft Learning Gateway – www.codeplex.com/LP

SharePoint In Education Form
                http://suguk.org/forums/31/ShowForum.aspx

If you want to get in contact with me please send me a private message through my blog.

Look forward to seeing you at BETT – www.bettshow.com

Its now available for download

http://www.codeplex.com/aks

Read my previous post for more information

/ajp/archive/2007/11/15/accessibility-kit-for-sharepoint-aks.aspx

A few weeks ago I posted on how there are currently two version of the SLK application for sharepoint 2007.

Andrew Woodward has posted to say that Microsoft are intregrating the versions back.  Have a look at his post

http://www.21apps.com/2007/11/mlg-version-of-slk-to-be-updated.html

If you receive HRESULT: 0×80040E14 when trying to add an item like announcements/webpart/saving documents before running going through the Microsoft steps you have need to check the following

1. Your SQL server data drive is not full
2. Your mdf and ldf database files havent reached there full allocated size
3. Your database files are set to increase when full.

If you are still having this issue after checking the above follow the step listed in this link

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/841216

Microsoft teamed up to HiSoftware to develop templates, master pages and webparts to help individuals with disabilities, especially those with vision impairment.

HiSoftware have ensured they are W3C which is something some of my schools have been crying out for to help with their kids.  One of my schools I look after directory are a special needs school and will be very happy with this.

Released by 27th November – when I get a copy I'll let you know how they are.

http://www.codeplex.com/aks

SharePoint Learning kit can be downloaded from www.codeplex.com/slk.  Some of you may have noticed that you can download other peoples add-on, patches etc for SLK.  Haven't tried any myself yet but have a look.

http://www.codeplex.com/SLK/SourceControl/ListDownloadableCommits.aspx

I've been asked to give a 5 – 10 minute presentation on the technologies I use in my school at Microsoft next month.

One thing I am keen on is networking with others to find out what they are doing, how I can help them and how they can help me to improve my SharePoint environment.

In the first 5 minutes i want to talk about the collobration between the 10 schools that are on my sharepoint and how they work together as steering groups and produce learning resources to share and save time.

In the other half i want to talk about how important it is for someone to network to improve their sharepoint environment, whether this is a teacher, pupil or sharepoint administrator.  I have found by doing this my sharepoint knowledge has grown, features have been added and have improved learning generally in my school.

I want to know your stories as part of my research for my presentation – do you do much networking, what sites do you use to help you – has it improved your sharepoint environment!

Thanks
Alex