Completion Report

Background

This DEI008 project is to create a small number of Social Hub spaces using the same technology, for each identified ODL programme. The ‘Social Hub’ concept is about providing a programme level space, separated from the spaces where teaching happens, where students, staff and alumni can discuss programme level topics, create special interest groups, network professionally, and generally socialise online as a cohesive community. It provides an opportunity for those studying at a distance to interact with students at all stages in the programme, across all courses within the programmes and to leverage an amount of peer support. If a programme chooses to have the hub publically available, then the Social Hub can also form part of the marketing of a programme, showing a lively community around a programme.

This project will deliver a Social Hub sites for each of the following programmes:

• MSc in Creative Writing (Dilys Rose) LLC
• MSc Health and Social Care (Karen Watchman) HiSS
• MSc in Global Challenges (Sam Spiegel) SPS-(25/6/12: Not required anymore)
• PG Cert in Research-Informed Science Education (RISE) (Karon McBride) Physics

Each Social Hub site will be built by IS Apps as follows: :

• Configuration requirements will be captured from each of the programme owners by USD TEL using a template list. This template will be based on the standard offering defined as part of DEI003:
  • WordPress Installation
  • BuddyPress Plugin
  • Twitter Hashtag plugin
  • Events Calendar plugin
  • Tweetme plugin
  • Link Order plugin
  • Anti-Spam plugin
  • Creative Commons plugin
• For each Social Hub a website space will be set up with chosen/preferred URL (as per programme request).
• It will integrate with EASE for authentication. Each programme will choose whether they want their installation to be “completely private behind EASE” or “read public/write Ease”
• A Service Description detailing each site delivered will be produced and stored on Insite.
• The customisation for each programme will not be done as part of this project, but locally within each school with support from the IS-Apps TELS team as required (as part of normal service support).

Note there will also be a follow up project to build a scalable ‘farm’ solution in 2012/13 to cope with the expected increased numbers of new ODL programmes. All participants this year are aware that they will be expected to move to the farm solution in 2012/13 (with assistance from IS). If they choose not to, IS will not support their standalone site any longer and full responsibility will pass to them.

Were the project goals met?

Yes, the 2 goals were:

1. Install WordPress, BuddyPress and trusted plug-ins on a common Social Hub platform for each required Social Hub space.
2. Deliver the 3 Social Hub Live sites, as well as 3 Test sites for each programme.

Were the project deliverables fully or partially accomplished?

All agreed deliverables were met:

1. Configuration requirements. Consult programme owners and agree list of configurations.
2. Set up a Live and Test site for each of the 3 the Social Hubs, integrating both WordPress and BuddyPress, and agreed plug-ins. Re-use the Theme applied to the pilot. The Test site will be used for play and test plugins as per required customisation to be done by schools (programme banner, for example, and additional plugins).. 
3. Integrate each of them with EASE for authentication as per configuration requirement.
4. Deliver each Social Hub site to the programme owners for further customisation.
5. Produce a Service Description and support FAQ: https://www.wiki.ed.ac.uk/display/insite/Social+Hub+Service+Definition

Did the project deliver a solution to the problems being addressed? Have the desired operational results been achieved? Yes

Were additional results achieved besides the original success criteria? Were there any unforeseen benefits delivered by this project?Yes.

We were able to rectify some problems with the EASE plugin even within the reduced timescales and have since shared this plugin with a colleague in the Vet School who is doing something unrelated with WordPress - so there is a wee spin off benefit in there.

It will also benefit what the follow-on service would look like. We're going to start capturing some of this on the wiki so that we are in good shape to write the BRD for the next project.

Does the Project Sponsor agree that this project can be closed at this time? Has been agreed with Business Lead from USD: Closure milestone sign off

Project Manager's Commentary on Reasons For Variance From Plans

·         The project scope was reduced to the delivery of 3 Social Hubs from the 4 originally requested.

·         The Service Management team benefited from the skills learned during the DEI003 project (Social Hub Pilot build), enabling a great reduction of the effort.

1.     What went well?

-       Project was delivered in time and under budget.

-       Deliverables were all met.

-       Communication with users was well managed by USD to capture their requirements, and for the handover of the websites.

-       Good partnership between Service Management and USD throughout the project.

-       Re-use of the skills learnt during DEI003 social hub pilot project.

2.     What didn't go so well? N/A

3.     If you had a project like this again, what would you improve? N/A

N/A

Anne-Marie Scott (Service Management- TEL)

Franck Bergeret (IS Project Services- PM)