Getting the Most from Moodle
RSC Launches Network-in-a Box Service
Many learning providers in the region use Moodle as their virtual learning environment (VLE), yet how do you measure the impact on the learner’s experience? A good place to start would be to evaluate how much Moodle is actually being used. Fortunately, Moodle maintains logs of all its activity, and if statistics are enabled, reports on activity can be produced. While useful, the Moodle statistics utility is somewhat limited, and not very user-friendly. To assist learning providers in measuring the impact of Moodle, RSC West Midlands has launched a project to develop a working prototype of an application that analyses Moodle statistics and presents the results in the form of pie and bar charts. This is to enable ILT practitioners to present Moodle statistics in a form more easily accessible to SMT, and ultimately give senior managers the facility to extract Moodle statistics without needing to consult ILT. At the end of the project, participants will receive a Moodle statistics reporting application customised to their environment. See the screenshots below from our prototype application.
The RSC has recently launched a new service for learning providers who conduct training in locations that do not have an existing network infrastructure. ‘Network-in-a-Box’ will allow providers to set up their own portable network from equipment loaned by the RSC. The service may be of particular interest to Adult and Community Learning and Work-based Learning providers where teaching can often take place in venues such as church and village halls where there is no infrastructure, and schools where access to the network is restricted. As part of the service, participating providers will receive a demonstration from our Technical Adviser to show how to configure a shared wireless or mobile broadband connection, and connecting a Powerline Ethernet network. Participants will also receive, as part of the loan agreement, network equipment consisting of: • An 8-port (wired) network switch • A pair of 85 Mbps Powerline Ethernet switches • Five Category 5 Ethernet patch cables
For more information about the project, contact Colleen, our Technical Adviser using the contact details opposite.
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The equipment is available on a 4-week loan period. Colleen Romero, the RSC’s e-Learning Adviser for Technical Infrastructure says, “The idea behind introducing this service was to show how easy it can be to set up a network from scratch. I also wanted to help remove some of the barriers faced by learning providers who teach in locations which are not geared up for e-learning, or where they don’t have permission to log onto the network.” She adds, “Participants may be asked to provide feedback via a survey at the end of the loan period. This will help us to signpost and share experiences amongst learning providers and allow us to find out the impact of the service.” If you would like to borrow the equipment and recieve a demonstration on how to set up the network, please contact Colleen by e-mail at colleen. romero@rsc-wm.ac.uk or on tel: 01902 518978