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Written by Ken Task
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Thursday, 05 January 2012 18:04 |
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Y'all might remember a thing mentioned called LTI (Learning Tool Integration). http://moodle.tcea.org/index.php/news-topmenu-40/130-lti-learning-tool-integration
Original Source: http://www.imsglobal.org/toolsinteroperability2.cfm
Some BIG players: Blackboard, Educational Testing Service, EDUCAUSE, Flordia Virtual School, Follett, Microsoft, Moodle, MoodleRooms, McGraw Hill Education, and Pearson Education.
Affiliates listed ONE Texas ISD: Round Rock Independent School District.
Hmmmm … missing in action: Epsilen (but they are a closed system … cept for New York Times content).
Well, in M2.2+ there is now an LTI tool (consumer) and just today an add-on for M2.2 called LTI Provider. http://docs.moodle.org/22/en/LTI_Provider
Have it installed in two instances of M2.2 for the Moodle Academy 2012 and in a Sandbox.
It takes some tinker time, but it does work.
Attending the Moodle Academy at the TCEA Conference?
Check it out: http://moodle.tcea.org/moodleacademy2012/ and a Sandbox http://moodle.tcea.org/sandbox2/
Shameless Moodle Academy 2012 ad: Moodle 2 the Good, the bad, and the Ugly! (GBU!) |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 05 January 2012 18:10 |
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Written by Ken Task
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Wednesday, 04 January 2012 20:44 |
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GeoReader - Talking Point Historical landmarks, local trivia, hiking routes, stories, scavenger hunts and more ...imagine the possibilities! Have your talking points read to others as they pass by.
http://www.mygeoreader.com/
Search for TCEA using GeoReader
Example curricular application: since I taught Social Studies ... bet every town in Texas has some historial landmarks either in the city/town limits or near by. Now wouldn't be interesting to use TCEA Social Studies Collaborative and ask those that desired to do so, share their local history and interesting points via GeoReader and Moodle. http://moodle.tcea.org/sscolab/
Web site says iphone app coming soon.
See the videos at the web site. |
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Written by Ken Task
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Sunday, 11 December 2011 18:04 |
In the true tradition of Web 2.0 (the embedded web), a resource for math tools for your web sites (or Moodle).
Copy HTML code of the tool (below) and paste it into your Moodle: Derivative calculator, Integral calculator, Definite integrator, Limit calculator, Fractions calculator Equation solver, Expression simplifier Factoring calculator, Inverse function, Expression calculator, Matrix calculator, Matrix arithmetic, Prime numbers, Number factorizer, Fibonacci numbers, Bernoulli numbers, Euler numbers, Factorial calculator, Combinatorial calculator, Statistics calculator and a Graphing Calculator
When clicking the buttons contained in the tools, one is take to their web site in a new window and there is a 'return link' to take users back to original site. If one were to use as an Assignment in Moodle, there is a button to click for the direct link to the page constructed by students. Has a 'help' link for in-correctly entered values.
See a Derivative Calculator in action in a Moodle 2: http://moodle.tcea.org/kensmoodle2/mod/page/view.php?id=328 (Sandbox course requires no login/account be created)
Since all the tools are embedded, this will also work in version 1.9.x of Moodle as well. |
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Written by Ken Task
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Sunday, 11 December 2011 15:48 |
Got a Sandbox course in an upgraded 2.2 Moodle using OwnCloud repo: http://moodle.tcea.org/kensmoodle2/course/view.php?id=14
http://owncloud.org
OwnCloud setup as a WebDAV in Moodle even though it's a standalone service on another server. Could mean mega admin if NOT using some common authentication method - LDAP. Think there is a plugin now for OwnCloud that will do MS Active Directory LDAP … if using a MacOSX server (InfoDirectory) or eDirectory of Novell, then more 'investigation' required. Same is true of mount points, me thinks.
In Moodle setup of a WebDAV repo: Name: Whatever you want to call it WebDAV type: http WebDAV server: just the FQDN of the host. Example: sos.tcea.org WebDAV path: /path on other server relative to web root (/owncloud/ files/webdav.php Autentication: WebDAV basic no port If one doesn't use server user and password, no prompt for login? (this could possibly be fixed).
So the repo one is setting up has already been created in OwnCloud. And in the Moodle config of it, if one already gives a login and password to access, what can others do in the OwnCloud collection to which you've pointed?
Have a link to a video in OwnCloud (WebDAV) as a URL resource … the video has to be shared in OwnCloud and the share link has to be used. Moodle has no interface to the administration of a WebDAV space - just like Google Docs.
So once I have it linked (popup in new window) then users can see the URL: http://sos.tcea.org/owncloud/apps/files_sharing/get.php?token=94d400b...
One will get some practice at duplicating a resource tinkering with which method is 'better'! ;)
Other methods chosen to view may have some issues or un-desired 'experience' or ability for end user … embedded, auto?
It's somewhat like GoogleDocs Repo … think Teachers would desire to use the one that would show the UPDATED doc/resource should there be updates made. Different student who is turning in an assignment, isn't it? Don't want the student to be able to turn a doc in and then go back to Google or OwnCloud repo to change/update the doc, do we? Hmmmm, some intelligent and enterprising youngsters could setup a 'business' (docs4class.org), could they not?
That's the kinda of exploration one needs to put Moodle 2 through ... afraid one has to think Yin/Yang from the viewpoint of Teachers and Students (while, at the same time, Moodle Server Admin - who has less control than in 1.9.x to fix issues - fewer back-door methods available).
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Written by Ken Task
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Thursday, 20 October 2011 08:02 |
As one who works with ISD's and online learning via Moodle, observed teachers basically transferring their old file sharing methods to online file sharing by uploading their files - PowerPoints, Word, Excel. If one considers the end point (student owned technology) and the 'client' accessing/using the content (students) simply uploading Word docs, PowerPoints, and other file types may not address technology to which students have access when away from the ISD computers/lab/network.
So here's an online tool - FREE - to help break the 'upload syndrome': SlideGo
The following 'lifted' from their interactive slide show on their front page:
HTML with Bells & Whistles • Make HTML snippets with animations and multimedia then embed them in web pages. • The output is optimized for search engines and fully accessible. • Reuse ready templates to make photo books, product catalogs...
Interactive Textbooks • Build textbook with localized and interactive content to teach students better. • Work collaboratively with other authors on the same project. • Download output as a lesson object to use in learning management system like Moodle.
Quizzes & Games • SlideGo combines Powerpoint-like interactions with quizzes, surveys, crosswords, games... • Ideal for schools for building quick and fun assessments to reinforce learning points. • Invite students or Facebook friends to attempt quizzes, then review or publish scores to your community.
Storybooks for iPad • SlideGo animations utilize latest web technologies like HTML5 and CSS3. They look lively on mobile devices such as iPad or Galaxy Tab. • They can also be compiled immediately into mobile apps using Phonegap. • One-click publishing to market places will also be available.
Online Presentation • SlideGo editor works like any presentation software – let’s use it to make slideshows! • You will be able to present remotely with synchronized slides yet not losing any animation effects. • And just like Powerpoint – there are endless other uses of SlideGo.
http://www.slidego.com/home/
Note: requires Facebook account to save your work.
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Written by Ken Task
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Tuesday, 18 October 2011 13:20 |
Moodle 2 has under Development a 'Functional DB test' link. In order to get fullest use, must install xdebug for php. Here's how: Download: http://xdebug.org/download.php (I downloaded the 2.1.2 source [a tar.gz for a CentOS server] and compiled but there are binaries for Windows.)
http://moodle.tcea.org/docs/xdebugreadme.txt
NOTE: extensions for php on CentOS box are in: /usr/lib/php/modules/
To find where other such .so files might reside on your system: find / -name mysql.so
To see if xdebug successfully installed as an extension to php, run the Server -> PHP Info and look for xdebug section.
Also, need to add a line to your php.ini to load the xdebug extension as a zend extension in the Dynamic Extensions section of php.ini
zend_extension='/usr/lib/php/modules/xdebug.so'
Test to see if loaded properly: php -m
at the bottom of the output of showing modules loaded one will see:
[Zend Modules] Xdebug
Then access the version 2 Moodle as an admin level user and try out the DB test.
'spirit of sharing', Ken
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 18 October 2011 14:22 |
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Written by Ken Task
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Saturday, 16 July 2011 09:46 |
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Interesting 'finds' in a CVS updated Moodle 1.9.12+. Un-documented?
In [YOURMOODLE]/admin/[name_of_file_below].php - which should mean only admin level users can execute AND must be logged on to execute.
innodb.php
Appears to be a script "Convert all MySQL tables from MYISAM to InnoDB".
If moving to 2.1 this step is either before (preparing to move) OR after moving to 2.1. With this, one could accomplish that BEFORE the move. No 5 or 6 step guru-ish knowledge of phpMyAdmin required (just 'guts' to try it! BACKUP BEFORE ATTEMPTING!). Truth in advertising: have NOT tried it yet!
health.php
appears to show problems with Moodle - and makes recommended solutions. Here's one:
The user account your are connecting to the database server with is set up without a password.
and another (which I've seen recently on Moodle.org):
Your PHP configuration includes an enabled setting, session.auto_start, that must be disabled in order for Moodle to work correctly. Notable symptoms arising from this misconfiguration include fatal errors and/or blank pages when trying to log in.
Dis-calmer (nope, spelled it right!) ... like programmers who make no claims and who take no responsibility for user actions/abilities, the author of this article also makes similar 'dis-calmer' - take no responsibility for using them, don't 'support' them. If you didn't make a backup before trying, why NOT? ;) |
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Written by Ken Task
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Friday, 15 July 2011 14:49 |
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CASE: moved an entire 1.9.x Moodle site from one host to another and the new host has a different hostname.
For this example: oldhost.someisd.net to NEWhostname.someisd.net. Very likely senario IF virtualizing what used to be a standalone Moodle server and, at the same time, changing the hostname (one desires to keep the old site up for a while).
What gets broke ... images (in labels and else where) are no longer showing - they display the 'broken image' box. The files are there in the course files area, but images links are broken. Ok, easy fix is to edit the resource, view the source, and manually change the URL to the broken image. That's fine if there's only one or two. But the entire site is another thing!
This could have been avoided IF one were to edit the SQL dump from the OLD instance in a text editor capable of search and replace BEFORE importing the sql file into the new sites database. Sometimes, however, that's heavy processing … even for a server. SQL files in 1.9.x can reach several (even hundreds) Megabytes in size. Also, editing an SQL dump is also a little risky if one errors with the global search and replace. The key, of course, anytime one does global search and replace to be VERY EXACTING and run a test first to see what one is finding to replace.
So is there a 'less guru-ish' way? Well, yes, but it too has some 'dangers'.
There is a hidden, not well known, and 'experimental' script available only to Moodle Administrators for a global Search and Replace for the entire DB that support the instance.
So, images got broke because they now have a URL to them in the DB pointed to: http://oldhostname.someisd.net AND we changed the sites/DNS to http://NEWhostname.someisd.net
To fix it in one swoop … in each Moodle instance, in the System Admins hidden category and course, make a link to:
http://NEWhostname.someisd.net/[moodle_instance]/admin/replace.php
where [moodle_instance] IS the Moodle you're in and to which your account has admin access rights. Example, IF, one had a Moodle instance in STEM, then your link there would be: http://NEWhostname.someisd.net/STEM/admin/replace.php
Have that link popup in a new Window, allowing resize/scrolled. Then give 'er a run - but do so ONLY AFTER MAKING A BACKUP OF WHAT YA GOT!
Advise making sure one finds exactly what you need to change when replacing. Best to search for longer strings in this case:
oldhostname.someisd.net and replace with NEWhostname.someisd.net
Those 'dots' are important, spaces are important ... be VERY EXACTING. No such thing as 'good enough' in this case.
BTW, should you try that replace script remotely, you should be prompted to login first and to actually run it, one must login as an Admin level user.
Here's a little of what it looks like when executing. Note the following also shows that this utility does find add-ons (lightboxgallery IS an add-on)
(mysql): UPDATE mdl_lightboxgallery SET FOLDER = REPLACE(FOLDER, 'oldhostname.someisd.net', 'NEWhostname.someisd.net') Success (mysql): UPDATE mdl_lightboxgallery SET NAME = REPLACE(NAME, 'oldhostname.someisd.net', 'NEWhostname.someisd.net') Success (mysql): UPDATE mdl_lightboxgallery SET DESCRIPTION = REPLACE(DESCRIPTION, 'oldhostname.someisd.net', 'NEWhostname.someisd.net') Success (mysql): UPDATE mdl_lightboxgallery_captions SET IMAGE = REPLACE(IMAGE, 'oldhostname.someisd.net', 'NEWhostname.someisd.net') Success (mysql): UPDATE mdl_lightboxgallery_captions SET CAPTION = REPLACE(CAPTION, 'oldhostname.someisd.net', 'NEWhostname.someisd.net') Success
Images in LightBox Gallery would use the errant FULL URL to images contained there in.
Truth in advertising:
Yes, I've tried it on production systems and it does as advertised - as long as it's something simple. The utility might be only in CVS updates to 1.9.x and not the full downloaded package (haven't checked that out). See if you have a replace.php file in /MOODLE_INSTANCE/admin/. The utility is NOT a hack of core code.
YOUR MILEAGE MIGHT VARY! BACKUP BEFORE YOU PLAY!
And last, but not least, the 'discalmer' … (just like the programmer of the uitility) author of this tip should NOT be held responsible and won't accept responsibility for actions of others! ;) |
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Last Updated on Friday, 15 July 2011 23:22 |
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Written by Ken Task
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Monday, 04 July 2011 10:04 |
Some 'tinker time' observations/tips ...
Once you add a topic and invite 'friends' to set the focus of the twitter-like bar/column on the right, click on the picture of the person who setup the group. Or, better yet, click the Topic filter and select only your topic - clears out all other 'conversations' from the circle.
When adding a post one has a little editor for formatting and a button for an attachment. Attachment does work for images ... that I can confirm ... but dunno about size limitation or file format/type of file allowed/dis-allowed. The message editor has a check box for 'private message'.
Refresh rates are acceptable and user might have control over those (Time Filter controls).
When the invited gets the invite message and accepts, they are automagically taken to TalkWheel and prompted to enter a password. That change password box is in the right column - not obvious and could be easy to miss. Their account is already created using the EMail address of the invite and they can immediately join the group/room.
In their FAQ they say their app can be embedded, but haven't seen any page that shows how or allows one to copy the embed clip needed. They also say they have hosting solutions - cloud - or local.
No iPhone/Android app yet, but they say they are working on it. Wonder how it behaves on tablet devices ... like iPad's and Android's. Anyone care to share?
Could be a refreshing alternative to 'boring looking' Moodle forums/discussions!
TalkWheel http://www.talkwheel.com
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWsZdNCSZUk
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Last Updated on Monday, 04 July 2011 10:12 |
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Written by Ken Task
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Saturday, 25 June 2011 09:16 |
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Moodle 2.1 Expected release date: 1st July 2011 http://docs.moodle.org/dev/Moodle_2.1_release_notes
Moodle has been developing their own iOS/Android app. In 2.1 improved support for Mobile themes and browser detection (does require Moodle server admin to change some settings or set options). http://docs.moodle.org/dev/Mobile_app
"Licensing The iPhone/Pad apps will be free from the iTunes app store (with FULL functionality). However the source code will be owned by Moodle Pty Ltd and will not be initially distributed under the GPL. One possibility is that we will help produce custom-branded versions of the app for specific Moodle institutions that want it.
The Android apps will definitely be GPL and free for download and modification by other developers. This is in keeping with the philosophy of the Android platform and will allow the community to innovate on that platform."
Moodle app 1.0 Requires Moodle 2.1 (released 1st July 2011).
There is something to consider in looking at the brainstorming that's been collected about the moodle mobile app. as quite a few items listed mentions the ability to upload either a photo or a video - this could lead to viewing issues by Teacher (depending upon how teacher accesses the course - with similar hand held or laptop).
Might be time to setup a YouTube Channel of your own and provide an extra field in user profile for the channel screen name. It is also time to revisit/consider what document types teachers are using … Word Docs and PowerPoints which might present issues to Mobile users (it always has, but now might come to the forefront of planning and training for teachers). Much depends upon the Mobile device abilities … can mobile device view a Word Doc/PPT? How about a PDF (exported from Word/PPT)?
Take a gander at mBook (developed by Moodle HK): http://www.moodle.hk/file.php/1/2011/mBook126.mov
iPhone only … no Android app. According to those sites that track data on devices it appears Apple is leading in tablets, but Android is leading in smart phones. It is time to survey students concerning their personal tech (their smart phones).
mBook claims to support most contributed modules - but am sure that is in reference to version 1.9.x of Moodle
Due to massive change in code/behavior, etc. it's IMHO that ISD's might be better off starting over as opposed to attempting upgrade of a 1.9.x (highest) to a 2.1 in place. One of the additions to 2.1 is the ability to import 1.9.x (highest) course backups into 2.1. If that IS included in 2.1 and works, then one could start running a 2.1 site.
TIP: Moodle Networking works between versions. Significance: IF some teachers have used and care to continue to use add-ons for 1.9 that have not made the trip to 2.x, those teachers courses/content could be found via a MNet link from 2 to the 1.9.x course.
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Last Updated on Saturday, 25 June 2011 09:17 |
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Written by Ken Task
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Saturday, 18 June 2011 18:38 |
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In the open source world a 'fork' is where a project splits into branches. Many times a fork in a popular project is in the 'news' ... sometimes it's not, but rather a slow gradual path taken. Think Moodle's is the latter.
Not a sales ad for RL … but could be significant for Moodle using ISD's …
Seen in a Moodle.org forum called the Lounge.
"Wanted to announce that Moodle Partner, Remote-Learner, is going to release its ELIS for Moodle platform to the Moodle Community as of June 24, 2011. For those wanting more information, you can find the press release at http://bit.ly/l36Kbo "
The BitLy link points to: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/6/prweb8573935.htm
and the PR release …
"Fishersville, VA (PRWEB) June 15, 2011
Remote-Learner.net, Inc, the leading North American and UK Moodle Partner, today announced that the general release of their popular Enterprise Learning Intelligence System (ELIS) for Moodle add-on will be available to the Open Source Moodle community on June 24th, 2011. ELIS for Moodle will be made available from Remote-Learner's repositories as plug-in’s and patches that can be applied to existing Moodle sites. More information on how and where to access this version will be provided closer to the release date.
ELIS for Moodle builds upon Moodle’s powerful learning tools and extends them to meet the needs of enterprise learning administrators. The ELIS platform allows organizations to analyze, manage, and track learning enterprise wide. With these features, ELIS for Moodle creates a robust, learning platform for organizations to maintain and deliver all of their organizations' learning needs.
“The ELIS for Moodle platform has always been an open source product and has been developed under open source GPL licensing. Remote-Learner is now taking the next step to make it available to the Moodle community,” said Jason Cole, Remote-Learner CEO. “Remote-Learner has always been dedicated to Open Source products, and will continue to provide learning services through Moodle and ELIS to our customers and the community.”
The ELIS for Moodle community release will be unsupported but will provide documentation support to developers and organizations. The community release will be updated regularly, along with the Remote-Learner supported subscription version. For organizations who desire commercial support, Remote-Learner continues to provide a full range of support services for the ELIS for Moodle platform. Support services include access to full tech support, custom development, certified and managed releases, training and professional consulting."
And info about ELIS: http://www.remote-learner.net/elis_story
What does this mean/show about Moodle? For one, Moodle is forking somewhat. Have been following (and tinkering) Moodle.org forums with focus on 2.0 and my general impression is not good (and there are many in M2 forums who have the same impression).
Many problems with 'stock Moodle 2' and repositories (one of the touted new and improved features of Moodle 2). Granted M2 is a complete re-write of code and one should expect issues with .0 versions of anything regardless if it's commercial or open source. The issues appear to be deeper than bug fixes, however.
Anyone out there in TCEA land moved to 2.0? Anyone out there in TCEA land have thoughts/comments?
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Written by Ken Task
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Monday, 02 May 2011 10:04 |
TCEA Moodle Exchange now version 2 of Moodle.
ex·change 1. to give up (something) for something else; part with for some equivalent; change for another. 2. to give and receive reciprocally; interchange. 3. to part with in return for some equivalent; transfer for a recompense; barter.
http://moodle.tcea.org/moodlexchange/
Those desiring to collaborate on the development of courses to be share via the TCEA Moodle 2 HUB (see below) and/or Moodle.org's Mooch, are encouraged to acquire an account.
Collaboration is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together in an intersection of common goals — for example, an intellectual endeavor that is creative in nature — by sharing knowledge, learning and building consensus. Most collaboration requires leadership, although the form of leadership can be social within a decentralized and egalitarian group. In particular, teams that work collaboratively can obtain greater resources, recognition and reward when facing competition for finite resources. Collaboration is also present in opposing goals exhibiting the notion of adversarial collaboration, though this is not a common case for using the word.
Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaboration
There is also a TCEA Moodle 2 HUB that works in conjunction with the new TCEA Moodle 2 Exchange. ** ONE does NOT need to acquire an account to find/download version 2 courses shared by creators. **
http://moodle.tcea.org/moodle2/moodle/
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Last Updated on Monday, 02 May 2011 10:13 |
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Written by Ken Task
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Thursday, 03 December 2009 08:04 |
Moodle already has something called "MNET" - Moodle Networking. http://docs.moodle.org/en/Moodle_Network And, it does work: http://moodle.tcea.org has an MHUB to which many Area Moodles CAN (and have) been mnetted. Truth in advertising: MHUB content could use more focus on Instructional type courses. And, it's just waiting for Teachers or Instructional Technology types to contribute. Given the recent rise in popularity of Moodle, am still wondering what's holding folks up?
With an add-on, MHUB could offer access to learning objects ... translate (in Moodle-ese) that to mean an activity within a section of a course.
Moodle hasn't stopped development in this area either. Project is looking towards inclusion in Moodle 2.0 (still in development): http://docs.moodle.org/en/Community_hub
Texas and the USA needs to learn from UK: http://www.open.ac.uk/openlearn/get-started/get-started-educator/get-started-educator.php http://labspace.open.ac.uk/course/index.php
So here's an invitation to get started: http://moodle.tcea.org/mhub/
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Written by Ken Task
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Wednesday, 04 August 2010 20:15 |
As a result of the online panel discussions concerning TCEA role in Moodle, a Moodle Exchange has been created and is now online. ex·change 1. to give up (something) for something else; part with for some equivalent; change for another. 2. to give and receive reciprocally; interchange. 3. to part with in return for some equivalent; transfer for a recompense; barter.
http://moodle.tcea.org/moodleexchange/
Collaboration is a recursive process where two or more people or organizations work together in an intersection of common goals — for example, an intellectual endeavor that is creative in nature — by sharing knowledge, learning and building consensus. Most collaboration requires leadership, although the form of leadership can be social within a decentralized and egalitarian group. In particular, teams that work collaboratively can obtain greater resources, recognition and reward when facing competition for finite resources. Collaboration is also present in opposing goals exhibiting the notion of adversarial collaboration, though this is not a common case for using the word.
Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaboration
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Last Updated on Sunday, 08 August 2010 09:45 |
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Written by Web Master
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Saturday, 12 June 2004 05:54 |
The TCEA Moodle server started as the ETMP (East Texas Moodle Project of Area 7 and was a collaborative between ESC7, Area 7 (Mr. Lee Sleeper, Director [at the time], and Strategic Open Source SIG of TCEA member Ken Task who still serves as server administrator.
The TCEA Moodle server houses ten Area Moodles (3,5,7,8,9,10,13,15,16,and 17), as well as Bullard ISD's Moodle . Server has also hosted the TCEA Student Contest and Educator Awards (now archived).
For TCEA Con 2010 ... first ever in TCEA mini-Moodle Moot
It also houses Coloodle (a collaborative Moodle) and Ken's Moodle (for Moodle server administrators).
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 30 March 2011 20:40 |
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Written by Ken Task
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Saturday, 11 September 2010 12:55 |
The newly formed geoSIG has a Moodle. http://geosig.tcea.org/ Check it out!
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Last Updated on Thursday, 07 October 2010 18:18 |
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