Case Study:Moodle in a Corporate Environment

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PADLA Conference

November 2009

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AgendaAgenda

Topics:

Brief description of Moodle

Moodle’s strengths

Moodle’s weaknesses

Our workarounds to negate Moodle weaknesses

Moodle resources: hosting, training, help

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Moodle DefinedMoodle Defined

Moodle is a course management system (CMS) -

a free, Open Source software package

designed using sound pedagogical principles,

to help educators create effective online

learning communities.

www.moodle.org

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MoodleMoodle

Open source –

Free

Fairly easy to set up

Source code available

Easily modified by a PHP programmer

Very active user community

Built for interactivity

Fairly easy for users / teachers

Extensive set of external modules

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Moodle downloadMoodle download

Setup –

Download moodle from www.moodle.org along with a web server

package (AMP or LAMP )

Unzip and run install

Add courses and users

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Course CreationCourse Creation

Creating courses –

Uploading files (doc, ppt, xls, mp3, swf, etc)

SCORM compliant

Creating interactions (forums, quizzes, chats, surveys, wikis,

glossary, group exercises)

Dividing learners into groups

Feedback (from instructors and participants)

Monitoring interactivity

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ChallengesChallenges

Course / user management

No global group capabilities currently

1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.x(?)

Reporting

Extensive logging

Limited set of reports

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Hierarchical GroupsHierarchical Groups

New

course

Meta course workaround

Meta

Child courseFL group

Child course

CA group

Child course

NY group

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Hierarchical GroupsHierarchical Groups

New

course

Meta course workaround

Meta

Child courseNC group

Child course

MA group

Meta courseNY, CA, FL

X

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ReportsReports

Current reporting limitations:

Unable to group users

Unable to conduct data range searches

Unable to consolidate reports on multiple quizzes

Solution:

Exporting Moodle databases and creating custom reports

workaround

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Moodle TablesMoodle Tables

Over 200 Tables Moodle Applications Moodle Data Directory Moodle Database

The structure of your Moodle Interface will determine what tables you need.

mdl_contextmdl_course

mdl_logmdl_quiz

mdl_quiz_grademdl_resource

mdl_rolemdl_role_assignments

mdl_user

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AssignmentBlogBookCalendarChat

LabelLessonLoginMessageQuestionnaire

UserWikiWorkshop

ChoiceCourseDiscussionForumGlossary

QuizResourceScormSurveyUpload

Mdl_log FieldsMdl_log Fieldsmdl_user mdl_cours

e

LoginAttemptView

mdl_resourceEPOC

H

mdl_quiz

mdl_forum

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What is the mdl_log telling you?What is the mdl_log telling you?

Mdl_log

10/16/07 @ 9:02 PM

User id 261, Karen Maas

Raritan Access Products Overview - English

Mdl_quiz

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Table RelationshipsTable RelationshipsMdl_user

Mdl_log

Mdl_resource

Mdl_quiz_grade

Mdl_quiz

Mdl_course

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Custom ReportingCustom Reporting

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Employee ReportsEmployee Reports

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Custom DevelopmentCustom Development

PHP Specialists

Warning about updates

Joomla, Drupal

Elance.com; Guru.com; GetaFreelancer.com

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HostingHosting

Hosting options:

Self Completely internal

Managed internal

Managed Authorized Moodle partners (www.Moodle.com)

Managed website providers

Final Questions?