Learning management systems such as Moodle have many advantages over classroom and email based writing programmes. One such area is in corrective feedback and in this article I’m going to explore some of the possibilities for providing written corrective feedback for EFL and ESL learners. What are the advantages? Firstly, learners can do their writing… Continue reading Using Moodle for written corrective feedback
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Are Flash and HTML5 locked in a mortal struggle for control of the internet?
It’s a loaded question, isn’t it? The kind of attention grabbing headline we’ve come to expect from the mainstream media who receive a substantial portion of the $691,000,000 (2010) of Apple Inc.’s annual marketing budget. So what of this epic struggle between Adobe’s flagship software platform and the open source, open standard HTML5? Some sobering… Continue reading Are Flash and HTML5 locked in a mortal struggle for control of the internet?
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?
New Avatar (profile picture) Camera app
Introducing a new Flash app for the SWF Activity Module for Moodle that is possibly the quickest easiest way for learners and teachers to change or update their avatars (profile pictures). Using your computer or mobile device’s webcam, the app saves your photo directly to Moodle without saving images to your desktop or uploading. When… Continue reading New Avatar (profile picture) Camera app
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
Thoughts on Flash…
OK, here’s a geeky rant. I’ve heard and read the same unfounded rumours, hearsay and conjecture about Flash so many times it’s starting to sound like urban myths. Let’s put this on the record for once and for all. So, here goes… (deep breath)… Flash is as secure as any other web technology In his… Continue reading Thoughts on Flash…
Students can save snapshot images on Moodle
I’m pleased to announce a new open source application and web service that I’ve developed in collaboration with Greenwood College School in Toronto, Canada. Learners can now take snapshots of specially adapted Flash applications which are then saved by Moodle in the course files directory. It’s a simple yet powerful idea brimming with potential uses… Continue reading Students can save snapshot images on 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+
New C-Test learning application
I’m pleased to announce yet another Flash Interactive Multimedia Learning Application to add to the suite of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) software for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). What is a C-Test? A c-test is a type of language test in which learners read a brief paragraph in the target language. The first… Continue reading New C-Test learning application