turbo charging moodle

Turbo Charging MoodleMaking Moodle do more for you!

Aim of this workshopWe Will๏ Introduce you to the concepts of Moodle contrib code

๏ Provide users with links of where to find good code

๏ Show users how to install code into their own Moodle’s

We Won’t๏ This is NOT a technical workshop

๏ No prior experience expected

๏ Coding required

What is MoodleMoodle is FOSS

Moodle is ModularMoodle has a large community

Moodle is built by educators, for educators

Software which is liberally licensed to grant the right of users to study, change and improve its design through the availability of its source code.

Free as in FREEDOM

Free and Open Source Software

(often also free as a free beer/gratis)

Moodle is FOSS

Moodle is ModularMoodle is built on a modular design.

This allows users to add new functionality just by dropping extra folders into their moodle site.

No coding skills are typically* required to add news blocks.

Moodle has a large Community

6002,501

9,318

21,151

38,218

47,653

Feb 2004 Feb 2005 Feb 2006 Feb 2007 Feb 2008 Aug 2008

over 47,600learning communities

by over

21 millionusers

Moodle has a large Community

Global Collaboration with

Skilled Developers

Moodle is built by educators!

For Educators!

Supporting

different

learningand

teachingstyles

Getting additional features

What is contrib code?Where can I find contrib code?

How do I plug-in contrib codeIs it safe to use?

What is contrib code?Contrib code is:

...community contributed code

...typically written by users who have a

specific need they need met

...based on API’s that allow for relative ease

in adding new functionality

...available as dozens of projects available

Where can I find contrib code?

Modules and Plugins Database

Moodle Contrib CVS (hosted by Sourceforge)

Moodle Forums

Directly from Moodle users

Where can I find contrib code?

Create your own:

Should you have the skills, skilled staff of funds to out-source development you can create your own.

Moodle is built on Open Source technologies enabling developers to create new code

Documentation is available online to assist as well as a helpful online developer community on the moodle forums.

Is it safe to use?

The answer to this is ‘Not Always’Moodle is made by users with ranging degrees of experience

Always do your research

Is anyone else using it?

Are their comments in the M&P Database

Check the Moodle forums.

Never install straight into production!!! Always test first

How do I plug-in contrib code?

Step OneUpload the files to the relevant location

The locations are normally outlined in the readme that comes with the files.

Step TwoInstall the language pack (use en_utf8_local)

This allows for easier management.

Step ThreeGo to the admin Notifications screen for automatic install

THAT’S IT!

Best Practice TipsAlways test on a separate system than your production box. Tools like XAMPP and MAMP can allow you to install Moodle on your desktop to play with code before putting it on a live server

What can we extendResources

ActivitiesThemesBlocks

Quiz Question TypesExternal Systems FiltersReports

Resources and Activities

Themes

๏ Meet brand requirements

๏ Match an existing site

๏ Present a more engaging design for your particular audience

๏ Establish a unique look and feel for your site. be a Stand out!

Why Use Themes

Quiz Question Types

Connect with external Systems

Also available add-ons include

Filters

Reports Blocks

Additional modular functions include:

Playtime

DEMO

Additional InfoUseful Links

The Moodle Playpen

Useful Links

Official Moodle Modules and plugins database

http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?id=6009

Moodle Contrib on CVS via Sourceforge

http://moodle.cvs.sourceforge.net/moodle/contrib/

Moodle Forums

http://moodle.org/course/view.php?id=5

MoodleDocs - The official wiki

http://docs.moodle.org

The Moodle Playpen

http://playpen.moodle.com.au

http://moodleman.net

The Moodleman Blog provides links to the Moodle Playpen.

The Playpen is a site where you can play with non-standard modules and plugins without having to instal them onto your own site.

The Playpen now exists in two flavors:

A standard 1.9.4+ versionAn Alpha Moodle 2.0 version

This is a demo site and occasionally things may not work as expected.

ThankyouPresenter: Julian Ridden

Email: julian@moodleman.net

Twitter: moodleman

www: http://moodleman.net

http://www.moodleman.net