1. Background Current Mobile Environment:
Built on Banner Mobile Connection platform
In production since May 2011
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2. Background (Continued)
Banner Mobile Connection:
FREE
Four virtual windows servers (PROD and TEST)
Released to iTunes and Google Play
Uses Ruby
Access Banner for class/professor information, grades, holds, cashnet, classes, directory.
Access to Google Calendar (iCal) for events
Access to RSS / Twitter for other news

3. Background (continued)
Stats on usage over One month
Directory: 623
Schedule: 3516
Grades: 856
CASHNet Cashiering: 680
Hold Service: 333

4. Why so Low? Issues with Adoption Students unaware of the app.
App is not as responsive as ‘normal’ apps.
App missing requested functions ( , etc.)
Inconsistent feeds / iCal updates

5. Technical Issues New languages (Grails and Ruby) to learn
New developer / testing environment setup
Open ports between servers and DB / Firewall
Permgen errors (Server JVM/Service memory)
Branding (graphics creation and display)
Multiple device layouts (Android and Apple)
Low support by Sungard (Community forum)

6. New Direction Integration of 2 applications: Blackboard Mobile Learn
Ellucian Mobile

7. BlackBoard Mobile Blackboard Mobile will provide: Campus Directory
Course Schedule
Campus Map
Campus Photos
Campus publicly accessible
Athletics
News feeds
Events
Emergency App
Library

8. Ellucian Mobile Ellucian Mobile will provide:
Individual class schedule for a term
Grades
Holds
Registration (when it comes out)

9. Integration Issue
BlackBoard Mobile can not call out directly to other mobile apps:
Resolution: Use "intent-filters" to call/open another app
Result: Both apps will need to be downloaded by the student.

10. The NEW Ellucian Mobile App
2 Versions:
Platform Edition (version implemented by MSU Denver)
Application Edition
MSU Denver is implementing the Platform Edition to make modifications
Uses same Tomcat servers, adds Cloud server
Still uses Grails for server
Uses native iOS / Android code
Limited to full customization of app
Costs $$$

11. Ellucian Mobile: Version differences
Application Edition:
Hosted by Ellucian
No Source Code
Entire application resides on Ellucian Cloud servers – no local Mobile servers
Least amount of control
Costs less annually
Not Sure:
What kind of link used to get appropriate data to the cloud
How would a school get customizations?

12. Ellucian Mobile: Version differences
Platform Edition:
Includes Source code
Requires Setup of Own Mobile Servers on site
Still requires some configuration on the Ellucian cloud server
Not sure…
Where is the application downloaded from by users?
What is the role of the cloud server when we have our own local server?
Where do customizations reside?

13. Issues Resolved Cloud configuration. Documentation unclear
Server configuration. Documentation unclear
PERMGEN issue resolved once and for all
Configuring Android developer platform (Platform edition)
Ports, DB connection, server creation already in place with prior app.

14. Issues outstanding Setup of XCode development environment.
Branding and layout
Publishing and notifying students of NEW app

15. Improvements from Connect
Ellucian support
Faster response on App
Local Grails server works out of the box

16. Shortcomings of Platform
Not free
Documentation needs improvement
More functions desired (IE: notifications)
App layout and design more static

17. Current status Both servers (Platform and Connection) up
Connection app still available in iTunes / Play
Android version of Platform tested / working

18. Future Adding Notification possible
Adding other BANNER features possible
Adding virtual reality is possible

19. Questions? Rick Beck beckr@msudenver.edu
Ed Jacobs
Mohamed Elshakh
John Warren