Maintaining LMS Session Connection.
March 25, 2005 12:00 AM
Hi,HELP!!!! We're using Lectora 2005 and have run in to a timeout issue with our LMS.We need to launch some 3rd party content (non-AICC) in a new window from within a Lectora AICC title that itself launches from our Saba 3.5sp1 LMS. Once the learners are done with the third-party content, they return to the Lectora title and take a test on it.The "Kicker": Our LMS has a 30-minute session inactivity timer, so if the learners spend longer than 30 minutes on the third-party content, their session with Saba times out.When they come back to the Lectora content in such a scenario, the content is still "active" (we have separate content servers from the LMS) and the learner can progress through it and take the test.When they exit the course after their Saba session has timed out, they get a message from Saba that their session has been timed but that their scores and status has been retained by the LMS.Well, in actual use, we find that things sometimes get recorded and sometimes not.So, is there a way in a Lectora 2005 AICC course, when the learner leaves a certain page in the course, that that page can continue to communicate with the LMS on a regular basis (say, every 15 minutes) while the learner is working on the third-party content?Is it possible to send something like an AICC lesson status or bookmark every 15 minutes from a Lectora course page--something that communicates to the LMS "Hey, I'm still here!"Or does Lectora do something like that now? (When does Lectora normally communicate with the LMS--after ever page?)Putting the third-party content into Lectora form is not an option. We need something that maintains the connection with the LMS on a regular basis.Modifying the timeout on the LMS is also not an option.Thanks!- Gerry
Discussion (4)
Well, I'll reply to my own topic since I think I've figured out one way to do this but it's kind of clunky. Hope there is something more elegant.It's based on the assumption that Lectora communicates to the LMS each time you move from one page to another. (Can someone confirm this for me?)Take the Lectora page that launches the 3rd party content and add an action to it to move to the next page after the maximum number of seconds (600 seconds, or 10 minutes, I believe). Add a next page button to that launch that when clicked moves to a specific next page in the course.Then make X copies of that launch page to allow for the maximum amount of time (plus some extra time) a learner needs to get through the external content.So, if you have a 30 minute non-AICC WebStream that you need to launch in a new window, create at least 2-5 copies of the launch page to allow for 30-60 minutes with the launched external content.The launch pages will keep progressing in the background and maintain the connection (I assume) with the LMS.Because of people going in and out, I'd probably turn off bookmarking so people always started at the first launch page.Not very elegant but it might work if Lectora communicates with the LMS with each new page.Here's hoping there's a more elegant solution. Again, something like sending a bookmark or lesson_status every X minutes would be preferred.Anyone got anything better? THANKS!!!!- Gerry
HiJust a thought...How about a piece of JavaScript that eg sets the lesson location every 20 minutes by calling LMSSetValue and LMSCommit? This ought to be a harmless script that could be easily integrated into Lectora and used on whatever page external content is provided.The script would thus automatically send information to the LMS on preset intervals and therefore be able to reset the inactivity timer regularly.
In the words of Homer Simpson--DOOH!!!That makes so much more sense. THANKS for the sharing . . .- Gerry
On the page you go to could you have it just return to your page with the counter? Then you only have 2 pages.On the page you go to could you have it just return to your page with the counter? Then you only have 2 pages.
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