Authentication

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OVERVIEW

Authentication is the means by which users of online content can identify themselves to the system which then verifies that they are entitled to use restricted or licenced content. Once verified users are then given access to the permitted content. Licenced content may include e-journals or other online subscriptions of an organisation of which the user is a member. Authentication may also provide access to a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).

How authentication works

Users identify themselves to the online system either through their computer's IP address, which has been pre registered with the content provider or through a user name and password set up locally or controlled centrally by a third party. In the English public library system authentication has been set up for a number of online reference works through library membership card number. This arrangement was part of a national negotiation undertaken by the Museums Libraries and Archives Council and permits remote access as well as in situ. In other sectors Athens, funded by JISC, has permitted authentication and access management. After July 2008 Athens is available as a direct subscription and a new service, Shibboleth, will replace it as a JISC funded service.

Athens and Shibboleth

Athens is an internationally used authentication system that was founded in 1996 at the University of Bath. It is managed by the UK Access Management Federation for Education and Research on behalf of JISC and UKERNA. Its service now operates within over 300 institutions, including universities, FE colleges, schools and health services. Athens allows subscribing institutions to set up individual permissions for access to online content linked to their authentication details and thus provides a means for Personalisation. From a user's point of view it allows single sign on for access to a range of online content.

As access management systems have developed, new ways of managing authentication and protecting personal data have evolved. Generally speaking the home institution is responsible for the maintenance and security of data relating to its users and shares these data with the content provider in a trusted environment - one such environment is Shibboleth.

Application of authentication for learning - the Virtual Learning Environment

A Virtual Learning Environment is a service where teacher or tutor has central control of online learning materials and can assign reading material and learning resources to one or more learners in a class, such that when a learner logs on and is authenticated s/he is presented with an individual menu of activities and resources that the teacher has assigned. In addition the online system provides the means to record progress in learning, recording marks and storing lesson plans, schemes of work and lecture notes as well as learner's submissions.

Further information

UK Access Management Federation
JISC Access Management
Internet2

[[role::newcomer]] [[role::strategy manager]] [[role::policy maker]] [[role::content manager]] 
[[role::acquisitions manager]] [[role::technical support]] [[goal::evaluating]] [[goal::user statistics]] 
[[goal::audience]] [[level::basic]] [[level::medium]] [[level::deep]]

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