Backup groups and group data

[Kristina Hoeppner]

Discussion at http://mahara.org/interaction/forum/topic.php?id=2987

Currently, only individual portfolios can be backed up as HTML web site and as Leap2A file. However, views, files and discussions in groups can't be backed up. Views and files can be transferred into one's individual portfolio and backed up from there, but if you have many group views / files that can be quite cumbersome.

It would be easier if groups could be backed up. Backup options could be:
- entire group as HTML web site
- (series of) individual pages as HTML and Leap2A so that they can be imported into one's own portfolio later
- only forum discussions as HTML web site

[Shinichi Okada (okada-shin)]

I think we need a plugin for whole site backup as well. Similar to this one, http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/ezpz-one-click-backup/

[Domi Sinclair (domi-sinclair)]

Has any progress been made on this?

[Gordon McLeod (g-mcleod1)]

I'd add a further possible option of "Backup to PDF". This would be useful for archiving group content (eg used for assessment) which doesn't need to be online but does need to be retained by institutions, or even for students wanting a copy of their work offline to keep or showcase. The ability to backup groups (for future restore) the same way individual portfolios are exported would be much more important, but I thought I'd just add the comment.
Regards, Gordon.

[Kristina Hoeppner (kris-hoeppner)]

Hi Domi and Gordon,

Sorry, no progress has been made on this yet. If you know of anyone who'd be interested in funding this project, please let me know.

Gordon: We've been mulling over the PDF export also in regard to regular user portfolio backups, but always come to the point of "it's not enough" because videos or audio files would most likely not play and linked files wouldn't be taken along either. It seems that the HTML version is still the best for viewing without importing back into Mahara as we can retain embed code for external videos and can also click individual files for displaying them when for example the "Files to download" or "Folder" blocks have been used.

Cheers
Kristina

[Kristina Hoeppner (kris-hoeppner)]

All portfolios can be saved as PDF. That doesn't resolve downloading forums and other group data, but I wanted to mention it as some progress had been made.

[Sam Taylor (samwisefox)]

Hi Kristina,

Thinking along the lines of GDPR - the ability for admins to export a group's page/collection would now be a key feature for us as we could create copies of the group work prior to deleting a student's account. In fact, what would happen to student's contribution to a group when they are deleted? Does the work stay? Would this have to be included in what the student wants deleting from the site?

Thinking about future uses, the LEAP2A export could be imported into a designated 'past examples/archive' account where we could then anonymise it for demonstration purposes (e.g. conferences, journals, show and tell to colleagues) without any personal data being shared.

What are your thoughts? I guess it depends on what is in our user acceptance statements...

Sam :)

[Sam Taylor (samwisefox)]

Another thought - would we be allowed to take copies of the group page if the student wants their Mahara work deleted?

[Kristina Hoeppner (kris-hoeppner)]

With the GDPR we are only looking at the right to be forgotten at personal content created in a learner's portfolio area, but not in the group area. The group area is a collaboration and thus not strictly always personal. It gets a bit murky. Until there is more information available on how to deal with group content, it would be best to put something into the privacy statement and say that group content is not deleted automatically.

Please see the comment on https://wiki.mahara.org/wiki/Developer_Area/Specifications_in_Development/GDPR_compliance#Nice-to-have_technical_changes :

"Before group content is deleted though, it might be good to have it in a pending state so that the group admin can review the request to prevent students deleting content that they shouldn't because other group members still need it or where the content has proper license that allows re-use for example. Comment: The definition of 'personal data to be deleted' is quite vague because exactly what 'personal data' is, is defined by a data controller in practice. There are also arguments supporting preservation of data that is group content on the basis of not infringing on the rights of others, but collaborative works are not really covered in the GDPR on any level. Giving an administrator the choice to delete or not delete would provide suitable functionality from Mahara's perspective."

In regard to you being allowed to make copies of student pages before they are deleted: Best check with them. We implemented the approval of deletion of personal accounts so an institution could review things. This is not available for groups yet due to the different status there.