This site is rarely updated. benbrophy.com is more up-to-date. - Ben
Stellar site downloads
One of the most requested enhancements for Stellar from faculty and students was to be able to "download a copy of my site." We did some interviewing to dig into what that meant. The baseline requirement seemed to the ability to get a download that includes all of the files that have been uploaded to the site, so that the instructor or student can keep a sort of personal archive of the class materials.
In our initial release we will likely include only the files, meeting the clearest requirement. Based on community response, we might add the additional ability to get a copy of the full website as well.
On clicking a link to download a copy of the site's files a zip file will be start downloading to the user's computer. Once unzipped, the user will have a directory with the site's course number. Here's what's in the directory:
- Folder for every topic
- Folder for each kind of file
- Individual files
- IMS content packaging xml file
- readme.txt
Homework and class materials share the same topic structure in stellar, so we can load them into the same folders based on topic name. The Folders for "kind of file" include 'lecture note,' 'reading,' 'solution,' 'syllabus' etc. Instructors should get all files. Students should get most files, but electronic reserves will be replaced by a text document containing the citation for that file (this not what the students want, but its the most we can do while staying in the bounds of MIT's fair use policies).
The IMS content packaging file is there to facilitate other kinds of use - it may be possible to use that file to import the materials into another course management system, or into DSpace. We're going to include it at the encouragement of the CWSpace team.
The readme file will explain the directory structure, and give more context about how to reuse materials.
There is a lot more we're not doing - we're not downloading discussion board messages, student submissions, membership lists, custom Stellar pages, the class description and more. Those issues are trickier, and not something we heard a call for. We'll see if the initial ability to download a site satisfies of people realize they want more.