Hi Guys
I've found a major issue with using the "Offline Content" feature of Learning Place (LP). Put simply, as [ICT] teachers, we often create instructional videos and other large documents for students; however, these documents quickly fill up LP's & SharePoint's disk quotas for teachers. I have designed a simple solution of creating a folder on our network with material sorted without hierarchy and by concept/tool (e.g. python, programming theory and so on). I then create, in LP, "Offline Content" links in my LP course that point to resources on a shared folder on the school network: This works perfectly!!!! (when the CDROM drive variable in LP is set correctly) The final enhancement of this solution is for students to plug in their USB at school, download the content (from the faculty's common folder), go home, plug in the USB to their home computer, set the CDROM variable in LP to their connected USB, and allons-y (French for "lets go") 24-7 learning. However, Modern browsers prevent links from remote sites to point to content on local disks/media as a security measure. Naturally, MOE & C4T's has this security feature enabled and locked down; also, most home computers have this security feature enabled by default. I have done a couple of hours of homework with varied success; i.e., I have an elegantly working [yet technical] solution for firefox and no solution for Internet Explorer 8 Firefox: viable solution source <http://www.uic.edu/depts/accc/itl/blackboard/FAQlogin.shtml> Using MS Wordpad or Notepad (not MS Word!), create (or edit) "user.js" in your Mozilla profile folder, typically under something like 1. For C4T's - "D:\<EQ_username>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\<RandomString>.default\". 2. For home computers - C:\Documents and Settings\<yourWindowsUsername>\Application Data\Mozilla\Profiles\default\<RandomString>.default\". Include the following 3 lines to create a security policy allowing Blackboard to link to local content: user_pref("capability.policy.policynames", "offlineok"); user_pref("capability.policy.offlineok.sites", "http://elearn.eq.edu.au";); user_pref("capability.policy.offlineok.checkloaduri.enabled", "allAccess"); Save the file (make sure to quote the filename, or it will be named user.js.txt and won't work), then restart your browser. Internet Explorer 8 (XP SP2 applied): no solution * Several hours wasted trying to find and test a solution for IE. * A starting point for a solution can be found here <http://www.phdcc.com/xpsp2.htm> . This issue has created a serious educational access problem for students and families with low ICT skills. The ability to install Firefox and then create/edit a configuration file is regarded as a Certificate II level skill (nominally minimum year 10). Given the scope of this issue, I propose that EQ, LP, & Microsoft collaboratively develop, implement, test, and release a customised package/security patch to fix IE8 to specifically work with LP's offline content feature on C4T's and students' home computers (default IE8 installation). Someone out there may have a solution already, are working on this problem, or have the power to commission a project; please, * Respond, and * Make this solution happen, or * Come up with a better solution. Kind Regards Ross Hunter ICTs Teacher ------------------------ (07) 4979 9777 Tannum Sands SHS 65 Coronation Drive Tannum Sands 4680 This message (including attachments) is intended for the addressee named above. It may also be confidential, privileged and/or subject to copyright. If you wish to forward this message to others, you must first obtain the permission of the author. If you are not the addressee named above, you must not disseminate, copy, communicate or otherwise use or take any action in reliance on this message. You understand that any privilege or confidentiality attached to this message is not waived, lost or destroyed because you have received this message in error. If you have received this message in error please notify the sender and delete from any computer. Unless explicitly attributed, the opinions expressed in this message do not necessarily represent the official position or opinions of the State of Queensland or the Queensland Department of Education. Whilst all care has been taken, the Department of Education disclaims all liability for loss or damage to person or property arising from this message being infected by computer virus or other contamination. --- You are currently subscribed to qsiteict as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://apps-7.edna.edu.au:83/u?id=705742.d42ea647e85be3beb25392eea1a77f09&n=T&l=qsiteict&o=1640368 or send a blank email to leave-1640368-705742.d42ea647e85be3beb25392eea1a77...@edna.edu.au
