January 2008
DEViewer and Moodle
Submitted by pnye on Mon, 01/07/2008 - 10:25A recent meeting with some MAFLT teammembers explored the differences between the DEViewer and Moodle to try and gain an idea of where each is best used.
Moodle - it provides a classroom-in-a-box, meaning that along with course material student/teacher interactions may be hosted. Also it has a growing body of users and organizations that can build a body of knowledge for a host.
One drawback is a complicated interface for the student and a somewhat difficult structure for a host/content creator to set up. Another drawback is a large footprint with multiple applications needed to provide functionality. Though installers can get one going quickly dificulties can surface when upgrades to those applications occurs or administration of the various apps is needed. It requires a fairly high livel of IT knowledge to administer over the long term. Finally it most often requires an Internet presence, something difficult to afford in many parts of the world. The MAFLT Portable Moodle effort is an attempt to get around this hurdle.
Overall Moodle is best used in an institutional setting where an Internet presence could be afforded along with the availability of an IT professional. Also desired is a level of computer knowledge of the student to match the complexity of the interface.
DEViewer - the DEViewer strengths are in its simplicity of its interface, of its size and its deployment. It lends itself to CD based delivery, negating a need for an Internet connection though it also may be hosted on a server to Internet based users. Automated installers make use and upgrading easily accomplished by non-IT personel.
One downside is that the classroom is not handled to much of a degree. Though it supplies an email service to send a student’s quiz answers to a mentor any other classroom interaction must be supplied outside of the viewer. Another drawback has been the requirement to create content in XML without much selection in editors. This will be addressed by the deployment of the DEScribe editor just now coming online.
Overall the DEViewer is best used in situations requiring a simple to deploy and use scenario. This scenario can arise either by an new computer user base or a need for a low tech delivery method.
Communicating the Gospel or Communicating Literate Worldview?
Submitted by rmanley on Wed, 01/30/2008 - 10:00Why is it that 90% of the Christians sent to Bible school DO NOT RETURN to live among their people after completing training? Some may be tempted from their call by the lure of an easier lifestyle in the city. But can this account for every one?…most of whom were sent because they demonstrated both talent and passion for preaching the Gospel? Is it possible that part of the problem is actually caused by the educational system?
One Morning in Idaho
Submitted by nivins on Thu, 01/31/2008 - 10:00In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation. Psalm 5:3
One recent morning I decided to keep track of the communication that I was having with our partners around the world, people on the front lines of missions who are asking for our help. By 9:30 that morning I had interacted with the following:
- Eliane in Beirut to follow up on our training there to help them develop learner guides (Living Word Ministry)
- Mauricio in Costa Rica to discuss new staff training for a new member of our Learning Technologies team headed to Costa Rica (MAF Learning Technologies)
- Dennis in Uganda to answer questions about the Moodle site that he is setting up there for leadership training (Development Associates International)
- Mark in Kenya to review his pre-plan for developing Africa Nazarene University’s distance education program
What an honor it is to work with these saints who are giving their lives to equip leaders around the globe. Keep praying for us!
Portable Moodle
Submitted by jattwood on Fri, 01/18/2008 - 13:10Portable Moodle like the name suggests is based on the world’s most popular course management system (CMS) which is just plain Moodle. Moodle was designed on the world’s most popular web development platform LAMP or Linux, Apache, Mysql and PHP. Portable Moodle is based on WAMP (Windows, Apache, Mysql, PHP and will run on any version of windows. Win95 up to Vista. Portable Moodle was created completely with Free and Open Source software. Which means it can easily be modified and changed according to the need of the context.
Any person with basic windows skills can develop and deliver courses using Portable Moodle.
It can be run on any kind of media ‘Read Only’ or ‘Writable’ media, the only requirement is that the media be recognized by the Windows Operating System. Moodle is now in 70 languages in 196 countries. Portable Moodle supports up to 250 plug-in modules written specifically to extend the capabilities of Moodle. Moodle now has an estimated community of over 1,000,000 users. The moodle.org site alone has 330,000 registered users. The pedagogical model used to develop Moodle is based on Social Constructivism.
