Enabling web conferencing in Ubuntu Linux

Ubuntu Linux and other distributions like Edubuntu, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, and Xubuntu have come in leaps and bounds in recent years and are becoming more fully featured and easier to use. I think they are now getting to the stage where they are potential replacements for Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s OS X for elearning. Well, almost…… Continue reading Enabling web conferencing in Ubuntu Linux

Free and low-cost Moodle hosting options

Every year, web hosting and installing web apps becomes less technically demanding, quicker, and simpler and it’s getting to the point nowadays where it’s a consumer level endeavour. Here’s a few of the easiest low-cost options for hosting Moodle that I’ve seen so far. [Please note: This article is now out of date & Moodle… Continue reading Free and low-cost Moodle hosting options

Free and open source concept map app for Moodle

I’m pleased to announce that the  Concept Map app is now available on my Github.com repository as a free and open source project. It works with the SWF Activity Module for Moodle 1.9 and 2.5+ and a compiled version of the app is included pre-installed with the latest version of the SWF Activity Module for… Continue reading Free and open source concept map app for Moodle

I’m moving my open source projects from Google to GitHub

This is a quick announcement concerning my open source project hosting. On the 20th May 2013, Google Code posted the following announcement; “Starting today, existing projects that do not have any downloads and all new projects will not have the ability to create downloads. Existing projects with downloads will see no visible changes until January… Continue reading I’m moving my open source projects from Google to GitHub

Safe social networking alternatives

In a previous post that I co-authored with Jeff Dionne, A thorny issue: Protecting teachers’ and learners’ right to privacy, we highlighted some of the ethical and legal risks of using popular commercial social networking and micro blogging sites such as Facebook, Google+ and Twitter for educational purposes. Although modern LMS’ built on Social Constructivist… Continue reading Safe social networking alternatives

What’s SMIL and why should we use it?

OK, here comes a geeky article about elearning and data management best practices. Although the issues are very technical in nature, they require the support of well-informed management so that the most appropriate decisions can be made. Understanding these issues from the outset can save you or your organisation a lot of time, effort and… Continue reading What’s SMIL and why should we use it?

SWF Activity Module now supports conditional sequencing

The latest build of the SWF Activity Module for Moodle includes support for conditional sequencing between SWF course module instances. This means that teachers and course content developers can require learners to successfully complete one SWF Activity Module instance before moving on to the next. What is conditional module sequencing? Normally, on any given Moodle… Continue reading SWF Activity Module now supports conditional sequencing

What is Moodle?

Moodle is my learning management system (LMS) of choice. I’ve contributed two widely used plugin modules to it (the SWF Activity Module and the Media Player module) and use it with groups of volunteer students for my research in course content development and online learning approaches and strategies. What is Moodle? “Moodle (abbreviation for Modular… Continue reading What is Moodle?

SWF Activity Module now supports SWF Address

This article’s aimed at developers and adminstrators and addresses a web usability issue that has an ingenious solution. If you’re not at all “geeky” this article will most probably go right over your head. A common problem with Flash and web browsers is that they don’t use the same navigation model. Users regularly click on… Continue reading SWF Activity Module now supports SWF Address

SWF Activity Module updated for PHP 5.3+

In the world of software development, you always have to be looking ahead. The web server language that Moodle and the SWF Activity Module are written in, PHP, is constantly evolving and being updated. PHP 4 is no longer supported, we’ve been on PHP 5 now for over a year and PHP 6 is just… Continue reading SWF Activity Module updated for PHP 5.3+