Leveraging 3rd partY web services
P. Colin Manikoth
P. Colin Manikoth
* Faculty Lecturer, VCD
* Web consultant: design and development
* Work on Internet: "don't get too attached"
* Work anywhere
* Always have access to files on any device
go ahead, catch on fire
Canvas
* Cannot (should not) be everything
- Support, Maintenance, & training- Faculty needs & policies change
* Canvas is evolving & is an extensible LMS via LTI
*APIs (application programming interface) are now common place
* Canvas & 3rd party web services have limitations
Goals today
* Don't let technologies get in the way
* No coding necessary
* Supplement, not replace Canvas
* Canvas is central (links out) to web services
* Must be available on mobile, tablet, & desktop
caveats
* Free comes at a cost
* 3rd party services are reliable, but do go down
* Logins. Logins. Logins.
Login stack
* Good stack of widely accepted logins
- Twitter
- GitHub
- Google
- FaceBook
* Use a Password Manager
EASY STUFF
TLK.io
* http://tlk.io/bootcamp
* Supplement Canvas Conversations. Chat no longer offered by Canvas
* Pros:
- Public to everyone
- Can include non-EWU members, e.g. Guest Lecturers
- Easy to use. Non archival.
* Cons:
- Public to everyone
- Moderation
SLID.ES
* Slid.es
- create, store, & share slide decks
* Pros:
- Compatible on mobile, tablet, & desktop devices
- Slides always available online
* Cons:
- Free account, no private presentations
- Free account, only 250 MB of storage
Screenr.com
- Screenr.com encodes & delivers video
Cons:
- Free trial, but no free account
Medium-ish stuff
Why?
why Dropbox?
* Take advantage of all DropBox features
* Canvas limits file storage to 500MB
* Used by many schools - Space Race
* 2GB free account with more Free Space
* Extensible. Newly announced DropBox DBX. Like Canvas has an API.
DropBox: File Sharing
* Add links to Canvas Pages, Modules, Assignments, etc.
* Right-click Copy public link
* Simple CDN (content delivery network) or "easy file
sharing & hosting"
* Sharing links
- Posting links to downloadable files on Canvas
- Not-attaching large files to emails
- Sharing photo galleries
- Sharing video
DropBox: Sites
* Easily and quickly host a website saved on DropBox
* Site44 turns a DropBox folder into a web root
* Pros:
- Free web hosting using DropBox
* Cons:
- No databases or PHP, e.g. No WordPress installations
Google analytics
* Google Analytics is a free website tracking service
* Metrics
- Visitors
- Content (pages visited)
- Demographics (location, browsers, devices)
- Downloads
Pros
- free
Cons
- Small bit of code to copy & paste
DropBox: Events
* Pros:
- Simple backup of files
- Simple version control of files by date saved
* Cons:
- Every save is its version. Creates many versions.
- Cannot set own "milestones for saves (commits)". See GitHub up next.
hard stuff
Backup vs.
Version contorl
Backup:
* Duplicate file(s).
* Single backup.
* Does not track versions.
Version Control:
* A time machine for files(s).
* Tracks changes.
* Steep learning curve, but worth it.
Canvas Equivalent
* Restore a Deleted Item
* Undelete item, but which version?
* Last saved? What about past versions?
git vs. github
* git is the software
* GitHub is the web service using git
* Interfaces: web & GitHub for Mac/Windows app
* "Time Machine" of data
Why?
* Track student progress & collaboration
* Any team based projects
* Unlimited Storage.
* Job Requirement
demo
* Setting up a repo or collection of files
* push to GitHub for safekeeping
* Make - commit - more changes
* revert changes. push to GitHub
* Delete local copy. Sleep soundly.
Git Resources
why, again?
For Students:
* No Excuses
For Faculty & Stuff:
* No Excuses
* No more Final_v1, Final_FINAL, etc.
* Collaborative Version Control
conCLUSION
* Canvas itself and LTI apps stored on GitHub
* Add LTI app if available & has required feature(s)
* Be wary of apps in beta
Available LTI Apps
Thank You.
P. Colin Manikoth
PH: ext. 4086
Email: pmanikoth@ewu.edu
Twitter: @poukong
Skype: colin.manikoth
URL: manikoth.com