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Moodle 3 E-Learning Course Development
Moodle 3 E-Learning Course Development

Moodle 3 E-Learning Course Development: Create highly engaging and interactive e-learning courses with Moodle 3 , Fourth Edition

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Profile Icon Susan Smith Nash Profile Icon William Rice
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Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5 (3 Ratings)
Paperback May 2018 432 pages 4th Edition
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Arrow left icon
Profile Icon Susan Smith Nash Profile Icon William Rice
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€41.99
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5 (3 Ratings)
Paperback May 2018 432 pages 4th Edition
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€22.99 €32.99
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Moodle 3 E-Learning Course Development

Installing Moodle

Even if you don't install Moodle yourself, you should skim this chapter for information that will be helpful to you as a course manager and creator. This is because the choices made during Moodle's installation can affect how the system works for people who create, teach, and take courses on that system.

Installing Moodle requires you to secure space on a web server, create subdomains, unpack Moodle, create the data director, create the Moodle database, and select front page settings. 

Each of these is covered in the following sections. In addition, at the end of this chapter, we will discuss MoodleCloud, which is a hosting service from the makers of Moodle, which has the advantage of being cloud-based and more of a virtual learning environment than simply a learning management system. While using a hosted solution is not for everyone, it is an...

Installation step 1 – Requirements

Moodle is run from a web server if you prefer to use Moodle on-premise rather than cloud-based. You upload or place Moodle in your directory on the server. Usually, the server is someone's computer. If you're a teacher, or work in the corporate world, your institution might have its own web server. If you're an individual or have a small business, you will probably buy web-hosting services from another company. In either case, we are assuming that you have an account on a web server that offers Apache, PHP, and MySQL.

If you must install your own Apache web server and MySQL software, the easiest way to do so is to use another open source tool—XAMPP from http://www.apachefriends.org. Apache Friends is a non-profit project to promote the Apache web server. XAMPP is an easy, all-in-one installer that installs Apache...

Installation step 2 – Subdomain or subdirectory?

A subdomain is a web address that exists under your web address and acts like an independent site. For example, my website is www.williamrice.com. This is a standard website, not a Moodle site. I could have a subdomain, http://www.moodle.williamrice.com, to hold a Moodle site. This subdomain would be like an independent site. However, it exists on the same server, under the same account, and they both count toward the disk space and the bandwidth that I use.

In this example, Moodle is installed in the http://www.moodle.williamrice.com subdomain.

Using a subdomain offers you several advantages. Having a site to test updates and add-ons may be helpful if uninterrupted service is important to you. Later, you'll see how easy it is to copy a Moodle installation to a different location, change a few settings, and have it work...

Installation step 3 – Getting and unpacking Moodle

Get Moodle from the official website, http://www.moodle.org/. Go to the Moodle downloads page and select the version and format that you need.

Choosing a Moodle version

For a new installation, the latest stable branch is usually your best choice. The last build information tells you when it was last updated with a bug fix or a patch. This is usually irrelevant to you; the version number determines which features you get, not the build time.

For a production server, do not use the standalone packages mentioned earlier. They are insecure, because they are meant for use by a Moodle developer for experimentation and development. To make the development of a site easier...

Installation step 4 – Creating an empty database

Create a new, empty database for your installation. Refer to moodle.org for updated information, and as you do so, you will need to find and make a note of your database server hostname, username, and password for use during the final installation stage:

  • dbhost: This is the database server hostname. It is usually localhost if the database and web server are the same machine, or it can be the name of the database server.
  • dbname: This is the database name. It is usually moodle.
  • dbuser: This is the username for the database. Use what you assigned, which is usually moodleuser. Be sure not to use the root/superuser account. Create an account with the minimum permissions needed.
  • dbpass: This is the password for the moodleuser.

If your site is hosted, you should find a web-based administration page for databases...

Installation step 5 – Creating the (moodledata) data directory

While the Moodle data directory stores files uploaded by students and some larger files, the Moodle database stores most of the information in your Moodle site. By default, the installer uses the moodle database name and the moodleuser username. Using these default settings gives any hacker a head start on breaking into your site. When creating your database, change these to something less common. At least make the hackers guess the name of your database and the database username.

You should also choose a strong password for the Moodle database user. The following are some recommendations for strong passwords:

  • Include at least one number, one symbol, one uppercase letter, and one lowercase letter
  • Make the password at least 12 characters long
  • Avoid repetition, dictionary words, letter or number...

Installation step 6 – Installing Moodle

Configuration settings and variables tell Moodle where the database is located, what the database is called, the database user and password, the web address of the Moodle system, and other necessary information. All of these configuration settings must be correct for Moodle to run. They are stored in a file called config.php in Moodle's home directory.

The next step is to run the installer to create the database tables and configure your new site.

Moodle recommends using the command-line installer. If this does not work and you need another way (for example, on a Windows server), you can use the web-based installer.

To run the command-line installer, start by running the command line. It should be as your system's web user. Ensure that you know what it is—refer to your system's documentation (for example...

Installation step 7 – Final configuration

Take a look at the settings within Moodle and review the options within the Moodle Site administration screens (accessible from the Site administration tab in the Administration block).

You will be able to include plugins and set up email and authentication:

  • Administration | Site administration | Plugins | Message outputs | Email: Set your SMTP server and authentication if required (so that your Moodle site can send emails). The support contact for your site is also set on this page.
  • Administration | Site administration | Server | System paths: Set the paths to du, dot, and aspell binaries.
  • Administration | Site administration | Server | HTTP: If you are behind a firewall, you may need to set your proxy credentials in the Web proxy section.
  • Administration | Site administration | Location | Update timezones: Run this to ensure that...

Installation step 1 – Requirements


Moodle is run from a web server if you prefer to use Moodle on-premise rather than cloud-based. You upload or place Moodle in your directory on the server. Usually, the server is someone's computer. If you're a teacher, or work in the corporate world, your institution might have its own web server. If you're an individual or have a small business, you will probably buy web-hosting services from another company. In either case, we are assuming that you have an account on a web server that offers Apache, PHP, and MySQL.

If you must install your own Apache web server and MySQL software, the easiest way to do so is to use another open source tool—XAMPP from http://www.apachefriends.org. Apache Friends is a non-profit project to promote the Apache web server. XAMPP is an easy, all-in-one installer that installs Apache, MySQL, PHP, and Perl. It is available for Linux, Windows, Mac, and Solaris. If you would like to create a test environment for Moodle, installing...

Installation step 2 – Subdomain or subdirectory?


A subdomain is a web address that exists under your web address and acts like an independent site. For example, my website is www.williamrice.com. This is a standard website, not a Moodle site. I could have a subdomain, http://www.moodle.williamrice.com, to hold a Moodle site. This subdomain would be like an independent site. However, it exists on the same server, under the same account, and they both count toward the disk space and the bandwidth that I use.

In this example, Moodle is installed in the http://www.moodle.williamrice.com subdomain.

Using a subdomain offers you several advantages. Having a site to test updates and add-ons may be helpful if uninterrupted service is important to you. Later, you'll see how easy it is to copy a Moodle installation to a different location, change a few settings, and have it work. If you want to do this, ensure that the hosting service you choose allows subdomains.

If you want to keep things simpler, you...

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Key benefits

  • • Get the best out of the latest Moodle 3 framework to ensure successful learning
  • • Create 3rd party plugins and widgets and secure your course efficiently
  • • Create your first Moodle VR app using the Moodle VR toolset

Description

Moodle is a learning platform or Course Management System (CMS) that is easy to install and use, but the real challenge is in developing a learning process that leverages its power and maps the learning objectives to content and assessments for an integrated and effective course. Moodle 3 E-Learning Course Development guides you through meeting that challenge in a practical way. This latest edition will show you how to add static learning material, assessments, and social features such as forum-based instructional strategy, a chat module, and forums to your courses so that students reach their learning potential. Whether you want to support traditional class teaching or lecturing, or provide complete online and distance e-learning courses, this book will prove to be a powerful resource throughout your use of Moodle. You’ll learn how to create and integrate third-party plugins and widgets in your Moodle app, implement site permissions and user accounts, and ensure the security of content and test papers. Further on, you’ll implement PHP scripts that will help you create customized UIs for your app. You’ll also understand how to create your first Moodle VR e-learning app using the latest VR learning experience that Moodle 3 has to offer. By the end of this book, you will have explored the decisions, design considerations, and thought processes that go into developing a successful course.

Who is this book for?

This book is for anyone who wants to get the best out of Moodle. As a beginner, this is a thorough guide for you to understand how the software works, with great ideas for getting off to a good start with your first course. Some experience of working with e-learning systems will be beneficial. Experienced Moodle users will find powerful insights into developing successful and educational courses.

What you will learn

  • • Know what Moodle does and how it supports your teaching strategies
  • • Install Moodle on your computer and navigate your way around it
  • • Understand all of Moodle s learning features
  • • Monitor how learners interact with your site using site statistics
  • • Add multimedia content to your site
  • • Allow students to enroll themselves or invite other students to join a course
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Publication date : May 30, 2018
Length: 432 pages
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Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781788472197
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Table of Contents

15 Chapters
A Guided Tour of Moodle Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Installing Moodle Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Configuring Your Site Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Creating Categories and Courses Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Resources, Activities, and Conditional Access Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Adding Resources Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Adding Assignments, Lessons, Feedback, and Choices Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Evaluating Students with Quizzes Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Getting Social with Chats and Forums Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Collaborating with Wikis and Glossaries Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Running a Workshop Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Groups and Cohorts Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Extending Your Course by Adding Blocks Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Features for Teachers Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Other Books You May Enjoy Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

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Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
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4 star 0%
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1 star 0%
Johan Sep 23, 2019
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Very helpful. not too much jargon.
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Cliente de Amazon Nov 21, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Descriptivo y util
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Lector de historias Aug 13, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Después de dar muchas vueltas por internet intentando encontrar un manual de Moodle, apareció este libro que es, sencillamente, una maravilla. Cosas que no me gustan del libro: que esté en inglés, :-) pero es un inglés muy sencillo y fácil de entender.
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