Blackboard Ultra Chat Helper Extension
Overview
This project is an extension for Blackboard Ultra, designed to enhance the educational experience by integrating a chat helper feature. The extension leverages AWS Lambda for backend processing and API Gateway for managing API requests, all orchestrated using the Serverless Framework.
Prerequisites
- AWS Account with appropriate permissions to create Lambda functions and API Gateway.
- Serverless Framework installed on your local machine. Installation Guide
- Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager).
- Access to Blackboard Ultra with permissions to install and configure extensions.
Installation
-
Clone the Repository
git clone https://github.com/Pacific-College/uef-bb-chat-integration
cd uef-bb-chat-integration
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Install Dependencies
npm install
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Deploy to AWS
serverless deploy
Note down the API endpoint provided after deployment.
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Blackboard Ultra Configuration
- Log in to your Blackboard Ultra Developer account.
- Create a new application and add the application key, secret, and id to your serverless parameters.
- Navigate to the extensions management area.
- Add a new LTI, placement and new REST API using the parameters parameters assigned to your application.
Configuration
- AWS Lambda Configuration: Adjust memory, timeout settings, and environmental variables as needed in
serverless.yml.
- API Gateway Configuration: Modify
serverless.yml to define new endpoints or adjust existing ones.
- Blackboard Ultra Settings: Configure the extension within Blackboard Ultra to specify when the chat helper should be active.
Usage
After successful installation and configuration:
- Users can access the chat helper link via a the chat icon within the Blackboard Ultra environment.
Support
For issues, questions, or contributions, please use the following channels: