Using Moodle in small to medium sized business

A practical guide for small to medium size business' on using Moodle to deliver effective and successful online learning.

2012, HRDNZ

Moodle in small and medium business v1.1

Forward - who is this book for?

To be totally honest I had discounted the idea o !"itin# a boo$ about Moodle about % yea"s a#o. The "eason !as sim&le. 'e had been s&endin# time !"itin# cou"se manuals and t"ainin# mate"ials o" use in !o"$sho&s and onsite t"ainin#. ( te" a cou&le o ma)o" u&dates o" Moodle 1.* and Moodle 1.+ I "ealised that it !as a" easie" to &ut all ou" cou"ses in an online o"mat , u&datin# !as aste" and mo"e e icient. 'e the"e o"e c"eated and launched ou" Moodle-ites cou"ses .!!!.moodlebites.com/ in late 2000. Ho!eve", du"in# the ollo!in# yea"s, and even today, I continue to see ne! Moodle use"s &ostin# on the Moodle.o"# !ebsite !ho a"e not 1teache"s1. They !e"e not necessa"ily !o"$in# in schools o" unive"sities, !hat many thin$ o as the t"aditional use"s o Moodle. It became clea" to me that many &eo&le on Moodle.o"# as$in# 2uestions !e"e !o"$in# in business, comme"ce, and &"ivate o"#anisations that a"e not #ove"nment unded. I also sat in nume"ous meetin#s !ith ou" e3istin# and ne! Moodle clients !ho e3&"essed ho! di icult they ound usin# Moodle.o"# o" hel&. 'hilst the 4o"ums on Moodle.o"# &"ovide a !ealth o in o"mation, and the"e a"e many &eo&le in the community ha&&y to hel&, it can can be di icult o" a ne! use" because the discussions "e#a"din# the di e"ent ve"sions o Moodle a"e inte"!eaved. In addition, many 4o"ums, i not all, contain discussions that "elate to ne!e" use"s, e3istin# use"s, and advanced use"s. Many even have in&ut "om develo&e"s, &"o#"amme"s, and so t!a"e a"chitects. It is t"uly !onde" ul that such discussions ta$e &lace, but it is also a ve"y di icult envi"onment o" a ne!e" Moodle use" to ma$e sense o . In "ecent yea"s the Moodle Docs &"o)ect has #one "om st"en#th to st"en#th. In te"ms o an o&en sou"ce community d"iven &iece o so t!a"e the documentation is e3t"emely #ood. Ho!eve", it is a" "om &e" ect. 4o" ne! use"s it1s still not easy to lea"n Moodle "om this because as a ne! use"s 5You don't know what you don't know6. It !as also du"in# this time that my #ood "iends 7avin Hen"ic$ .at that time !o"$in# !ith 8novation Moodle 9a"tne" in I"eland/ and :ason ;ole .!o"$in# !ith Remote<=ea"ne" Moodle 9a"tne" in the >?(/ announced thei" 1Moodle o" ;o"&o"ate T"ainin#1 boo$. I ha&&ily cont"ibuted ideas, and develo&ed a case< study o" inclusion, eatu"in# one o ou" la"#est multinational clients. ( te" some discussion I "ealised that even !ith this much needed &ublication the"e !as still a la"#e hole in the &"ovision o" Moodle use"s. ?o a boo$ o" usin# Moodle in ?M81s .small to medium ente"&"ises/ still seemed hi#hly "elevant. ;oincidentally, bein# based in Ne! Zealand I "ealised that &"obably +0@ o ou" clients !e"e in this e3act s&ace , small to medium siAed com&anies. This !as "eally no su"&"ise #iven that Ne! Zealand has one o the hi#hest &e"centa#es o small business1s !ithin the ove"all economy o any count"y. This is &a"tly due to the some!hat #eo#"a&hic isolation o Ne! Zealand, but also
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&a"tly d"iven by a Bi!i 1numbe" + !i"e1 mentality. The numbe" + !i"e ta# "elates to the ence !i"e used by shee& a"me"s o" many yea"s. The idea that No + !i"e can be used o" c"eatively solvin# many &"oblems is &a"t o the national identity no!. That1s a lon#<!inded !ay o sayin# 5I !"ote this boo$ because I thou#ht the"e !as a need6. I1ve t"ied to !"ite as I s&ea$, because this eels the most natu"al thin# o" me to do. I1ve tal$ed to many, many Moodle use"s "om Ne! Zealand and (ust"alia, to ?an 4"ancisco and -a"celona, "om Rome to the Cman, and discussed Moodle ace<to< ace !ith many mana#ement teams, t"aine"s, and teache"s. ?o in e ect I am attem&tin# to ca&tu"e much o this discussion so it can hel& a !ide" audience. HRDNZ became a Moodle 9a"tne" in 2000 and !e !e"e usin# Moodle o" a e! yea"s &"io" to be a&&ointed, so !e have seen a lot o di e"ent Moodle sites, se"vin# di e"ent needs, each !ith thei" o!n uni2ue challen#es. The othe", "athe" unusual thin# I !ill be doin#, is &ublishin# cha&te"s o this boo$ as .&d documents as I #o. This !ill be done in the -usiness >ses a"ea o Moodle.o"#, and in the Moodle in -usiness #"ou& on =in$edin, and also in the Moodle 9a"tne" #"ou& on 4aceboo$. I ho&e this enables ideas to eed in to the boo$, and ultimately &"ovide an even mo"e use ul "esou"ce o" eve"yone. In some !ays this is a &a"allel o the develo&ment o o&en sou"ce so t!a"e mant"a itsel , 5"elease ea"ly, "elease o ten6. >ltimately it !ould nice to have the boo$ &ublished , and maybe a &ublishe" !ill &ic$<u& on it and I1ll #et some modest commission. ?o, !ho is this boo$ o"D 'ell, you the "eade" !ill &"obably be a ne!e" Moodle use", o" an intendin# use". Eou !ill &"obably be IT lite"ate, but not necessa"ily an IT &"o essional. Eou mi#ht be a t"aine", and HR &"actitione", o" an e<lea"nin# mana#e" .&e"ha&s usin# a di e"ent e<lea"nin# system at the moment/. I you have been success ully usin# Moodle o" mo"e than a yea" it may be that you al"eady unde"stand sections o the content cove"ed he"e. Ho!eve", you may ind it hel& ul to "e lect u&on decisions you have made and &e"ha&s ada&t you" st"ate#y. C cou"se you could be usin# Moodle as a teache" "i#ht no!, but be loo$in# to the utu"e and thin$in# about b"anchin# out !ith you" o!n online businessD (nd !hy notF

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Definitions
'e !ill use the ollo!in# te"ms and &h"ases inte"chan#eably th"ou#hout the te3tG =ea"nin# Mana#ement ?ystem .=M?/, ;ou"se Mana#ement ?ystem .;M?/, Hi"tual =ea"nin# 8nvi"onment .H=8/ !ill all be used to "e e" to Moodle as an envi"onment o" lea"nin#. ?tudent, =ea"ne", >se", T"ainee, ;lient, may be used to "e e" to the &eo&le !ho use you" Moodle site to lea"n. In Moodle the de ault desc"i&tion is a ?tudent .althou#h this can be chan#ed/ so !e !ill #ene"ally use ?tudent althou#h the te"m a&&lies to all. Teache", 4acilitato", ;oach, Tuto", T"aine", and othe"s.F/ !ill be used to identi y the &eo&le !ho assist lea"ne"s th"ou#h a cou"se. In Moodle the de ault desc"i&tion is a Teache" .althou#h this can be chan#ed/ so !e !ill #ene"ally use Teache", !ith the same b"oad in e"ence as ?tudent above. Moodle uses the te"m ;ou"se to mean a sin#le sel <contained 1study unit1 that a ?tudent can be en"olled into. ( ;ou"se has 9a"tici&ants < membe"s !ho a"e usually Teache"s and ?tudents. 8ach ;ou"se can be assi#ned an en"olment $ey o" e3am&le. 'e !ill use the te"m ;ou"se &"edominantly, althou#h this may e2uate to a module, o" a unit, o" a &"o#"amme in you" o!n conte3t. ( =esson in Moodle has a s&eci ic meanin# , it is an activity ty&e that allo!s Teache"s to c"eate a se2uence o content, and may include 2uestions and b"anchin# based on a ?tudent1s "es&onses. (lthou#h you may use the te"m lesson to mean 1a de ined section o the cu""iculum1 o" 1a set amount o time1 it1s im&o"tant to "eco#nise that the !o"d =esson means somethin# ve"y s&eci ic in Moodle. (n (dminist"ato" in Moodle is someone !ho can chan#e settin#s that a ect the !hole Moodle site. ( Moodle (dminist"ato" is usually someone !ho has a st"on# technical unde"standin#, because the chan#es a Moodle (dminist"ato" ma$es can a ect the o&e"ation o the !hole Moodle site, and all use"s. Eou" o"#anisation may have an administ"ato" that loo$s a te" en"olments and so o"th. This &e"son may, o" may not, also be you" Moodle (dminist"ato", de&endin# on thei" technical s$ills.

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Moodle in small and medium business v1.1

Introduction

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What is not covered in this book?

This boo$ does not cove" the hi#hly technical as&ects o Moodle because the"e a"e al"eady "esou"ces available in this a"ea, and the hi#hly technical as&ects o Moodle a"e #ene"ally o less inte"est to those sta"tin# out !ith Moodle. -oo$s such as Moodle Administration by (le3 -uchne" and the Moodle Administrator Reference Manual by Ray =a!"ence a"e available i you !ish to "ead mo"e in this a"ea, and I encou"a#e you to do so once you have maste"ed the basics i Moodle site administ"ation is somethin# you a"e inte"ested in. Large organisations versus small organisations This boo$ does not attem&t to add"ess the use o Moodle in la"#e com&anies, o" multi<national o"#anisations, !hich !ill have thei" o!n IT de&a"tments. It is aimed at the smalle" Moodle use", !ho is o ten a 1)ac$ o all t"ades1 , the teache", the ma"$etin# de&a"tment, the mana#e", and o ten the Moodle site administ"ato"F =et1s thin$ o" a minute about the di e"ences. In la"#e o"#anisations the IT de&a"tment o" Human Resou"ces o" the T"ainin# division !ill o ten ta$e ca"e o Moodle, and the teache"s o" t"aine"s may not be conce"ned !ith en"olment o" e3am&le, concent"atin# instead solely on "unnin# cou"ses. Ho!eve", in the smalle" envi"onment it is mo"e li$ely that one &e"son is "es&onsible o" eve"ythin# "elatin# to Moodle. This is 2uite &ossibly you #iven that you a"e "eadin# this boo$F (nd this means you need a !ide a&&"eciation o ho! a Moodle site !o"$s, and !hat is "e2ui"ed on a day<to<day basis, as !ell as the mechanics o actually c"eatin# and delive"in# cou"ses. 4o" e3am&le, in a ty&ical la"#e o"#anisation lo##in# into the net!o"$ mi#ht be cont"olled via =D(9 .the Mic"oso t =i#ht!ei#ht Di"ecto"y (&&lication 9"otocol/. This is a "elatively e ective !ay o mana#in# the net!o"$ secu"ity and access o" la"#e numbe"s o inte"nal use"s. 'hen a use" lo#s in to thei" iles a"ea, o" email o" e3am&le, thei" authentication details a"e chec$ed a#ainst "eco"ds held in =D(9. ?malle" o"#anisations, &e"ha&s o&e"atin# !ithout a dedicated IT s&ecialist, !ill be hi#hly unli$ely to use an =D(9 system. It1s ove"$ill o" a small o"#anisation. ?o, althou#h Moodle can in act use =D(9 to authenticate use"s, the conte3t o small business means this is usually not &ossible o" necessa"y, so it alls beyond the sco&e o this boo$. ?o, this boo$ !ill tend to ocus on the &a"ts o Moodle !hich a"e most "elevant to the smalle" business, meanin# !e !ill s$i& ove" some thin#s, sometimes &"ovidin# b"ie ove"vie! in o"mation and lin$s, and !e !ill occasionally i#no"e othe" as&ects !hich have "elatively little "elevance to the "eade".

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What is a Learning Management System?

-e o"e !e even discuss Moodle, it1s &"obably !o"th de inin# !hat a =ea"nin# Mana#ement ?ystem is, because Moodle is o ten "e e""ed to as such. In act the acce&ted !isdom "e#a"din# the de inition o an =M? va"ies. In ve"y sim&le te"ms, a online =ea"nin# Mana#ement ?ystem, !hich is o ten abb"eviated to =M?, is a so t!a"e a&&lication o" the administ"ation, t"ac$in#, and "e&o"tin# o t"ainin# content. The"e is a &"ominent statement on the "ont &a#e o !!!.Moodle.o"# that indicates Moodle is in act a ;ou"se Mana#ement ?ystem .;M?/, also $no!n as a =ea"nin# Mana#ement ?ystem .=M?/ o" a Hi"tual =ea"nin# 8nvi"onment .H=8/. The con usion bet!een these va"ious te"ms comes "om the act that o ten the 1bac$ end1 administ"ation systems a"e $no!n as ?tudent Mana#ement ?ystems, o" =ea"nin# Mana#ement ?ystems. These may be a&&lications !hich lea"ne"s neve" inte"act !ith , bein# used &"ima"ily o" "eco"d $ee&in#, "esults "eco"din#, en"olment, inancial in o"mation and so on. (n =M? may not be involved in the delive"y o t"ainin# mate"ial at all. C cou"se, many =M?1s se"ve both bac$<end and "ont<end unctions , !ith the delive"y o t"ainin# bein# t"ac$ed and monito"ed, and "esults collected. Moodle is the"e o"e &e"ha&s mo"e co""ectly te"med a ;M? , o" a !eb<based ;ou"se Mana#ement ?ystem. The &"ima"y unction o Moodle is to &"ovide an envi"onment o" lea"nin#. C cou"se Moodle acilitates many o the bac$<end=M? unctions too , t"ac$in# &"o#"ess, "eco"din# "esults, etc. It is also im&o"tant to distin#uish the unction o the =M? o" ;M? "om !hat can be b"oadly te"med 1content develo&ment tools1. The"e is a !hole indust"y that has #"o!n u& o" c"eatin# lea"nin# content o" lea"nin# ob)ects. (s !ith many =M?1s Moodle is able to inco"&o"ate lea"nin# ob)ects c"eated !ith e3te"nal s&ecialist so t!a"e. ( common e3am&le mi#ht a so t!a"e a&&lication that allo!s teache"s to "eco"d thei" sc"een and na""ate o" annotate this, and &ublish as a movie. These ob)ects such as sc"een movies can be embedded in cou"ses and used alon#side the in<built lea"nin# tools &"ovided by Moodle. This is 2uite di e"ent to the ma)o"ity o &"o&"ieta"y e<lea"nin# systems !hich tend to be closed, and not allo! the inclusion o e3te"nal content. It is also !o"th d"a!in# attention to the act that because Moodle is an o&en sou"ce a&&lication, the data !ithin it can be easily im&o"ted and e3&o"ted, and accessed by othe" a&&lications such as a inance system o" student administ"ation system. This avoids one o the most costly mista$es made !hen selectin# an =M? < #ettin# loc$ed<in to the su&&o"t ees and limited su&&o"t ca&ability o a &"o&"ieta"y a&&lication &"ovide".

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Why should an SME use Moodle?

Cne o the main &"oblems o" a small to medium ente"&"ise at i"st is to "eally unde"stand ho! and !hy to use Moodle. In a comme"cial settin# these decisions should be ti#htly ocused on the business "e2ui"ement o o"#anisation. The"e is nothin# in that decision that e3cludes ta$in# the educational best<&"actice "om education, and a&&lyin# these in an a&&"o&"iate !ay to the business scena"io. ?o, a business may use Moodle o"G Moodle o" t"ainin# Moodle o" int"oducin# ne! em&loyees, Moodle als collabo"ative !o"$in# envi"onment Moodle as inte"nal community &latt o"m Moodle o" client t"ainin#s, Moodle o" client su&&o"t.

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Is Moodle right for you?

The &u"&ose o this boo$ is not to 1sell Moodle to you1. It is s2ua"ely aimed at hel&in# you #et u&<and<"unnin# once you" decision is made. Ho!eve", ho! do you choose you" =M?, and is Moodle the best choice o" youD Eou" decision should be based on a numbe" o Cost I you have invested you" time in "eadin# this boo$ you !ill &"obably $no! by no! that Moodle is a com&letely "ee &iece o so t!a"e. This means anyone is able to do!nload, install, and "un Moodle !ithout &ayin# o" the so t!a"e, o" any ty&e o license ee. (s you a"e a business &e"son, you !ill &"obably have hea"d the &h"ase 5The"e1s no such thin# as a "ee lunch6, !hich #ene"ally means 5Eou don1t #et somethin# o" nothin#F6 Ho!eve" the so t!a"e C&en ?ou"ce movement is an a"ea that has sta"ted to chan#e this. (lthou#h Moodle is "ee, it does have a license. It is "eleased unde" a 79= license .mo"e about this late"/. -ut as an end<use" you, o" you" o"#anisation a"e able to use the Moodle so t!a"e "eely. The"e a"e costs involved thou#h. I you a"e hostin# a Moodle site you"sel the"e is the cost o the com&ute" ha"d!a"e. I you have a s&ecialist hostin# you" Moodle site you !ill &"obably have monthly hostin# ees. The"e a"e also costs that a"e some!hat hidden such as the time it ta$es to mana#e you" site, and an a&&"o&"iate &"o essional develo&ment &lan and t"ainin# o" sta . ?o the t"ue cost o o&e"atin# a Moodle site may be a e! hund"ed dolla"s a yea", to many thousands i you a"e a la"#e o"#anisation. 'e !ill discuss hostin# o&tions and costs in mo"e detail late", but essentially it !ill &"obably cost you a cou&le o thousand dolla"s a yea" to "un a Moodle site, !hich is conside"able less than most othe" =M?1s. ;ost Reliability ?caleability ?ecu"ity 4le3ibility ?u&&o"t acto"s such asK

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Scalability ?caleability is about !hethe" you" Moodle site !ill #"o! !ith you" needs. Eou !ill &"obably sta"t small, !ith one o" t!o cou"ses and a "elatively small numbe" o lea"ne"s. In act, this is o ten a ve"y !ise decision "athe" than t"yin# o" a 1bi# ban#1 a&&"oach !hich could have a ma)o" im&act on you" time. =i$e many othe" as&ects o business, it1s o ten best to sta"t small, #et thin#s "i#ht, and then build u& ca&ability, and en"olments andMo" sales. The ability o Moodle to su&&o"t la"#e numbe"s o cou"ses and use"s has been lon# &"oven no!, and some o the la"#est Moodle sites have many hund"eds o thousands o use"s, one o the bi##est bein# The C&en >nive"sity in the >nited Bin#dom, !hich has mo"e than 0J0,000 use"s and J,000 cou"ses. Moodle.o"# is the Moodle community !ebsite and o cou"se uses Moodle , and in late 2010 &assed the one million "e#iste"ed use"s ma"$. ?o even thou#h you may be sta"tin# small, and ho&in# to #"o!, Moodle !ill ha&&ily #"o! !ith you" needs. The o&en sou"ce natu"e o Moodle means that develo&e"s and &"o#"amme"s can even c"eate ne! unctionality and add this to you" Moodle siteF The"e a"e #ettin# on o" almost a thousand 2"d &a"ty &lu#ins, !hich allo! you to e3tend !hat Moodle does. ?ome a"e inte#"ation !ith othe" a&&lications, some add ne! unctionality to Moodle, some add ne! ty&es o 2uiA 2uestions, and so on. This conce&t o e3tendin# Moodle th"ou#h non<standa"d modules is a undamental bene it o choosin# an o&en sou"ce a&&lication. 'e !ill e3&lo"e the !o"ld o non<standa"d Moodle 1mods1 in it1s o!n cha&te" late". Reliability ( lea"nin# mana#ement system is a little li$e you" ca", in that no matte" ho! much o" ho! little it costs you !ant it to be "eliableF Reliability is somethin# you need "om you" =M? , you !ant to #o to slee& at ni#ht con ident in the $no!led#e that you" e<lea"nin# cou"ses !ill be available t!enty ou" hou"s a day, seven days a !ee$. This is one o the "easons you" 1Moodle host1 o" installation o&tions should be ca"e ully chosen. Moodle is usually installed on a =inu3 se"ve". =inu3 is an C&e"atin# ?ystem .o" 1C?1/ )ust li$e you have on you" home com&ute" , somethin# li$e Mic"oso t 'indo!s, o" (&&le Mac C?N. The ease o use o =inu3 dist"ibutions such as >buntu .dist"ibutions a"e a little bit li$e di e"ent ve"sions/ has meant in "ecent yea"s the mo"e technically minded com&ute" use" can install a linu3 des$to& o&e"atin# system envi"onment on thei" home com&ute" o" la&to&. =inu3 is
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t"aditionally the best C&e"atin# ?ystem o" use on se"ve"s because it is ve"y ast, e3t"emely secu"e, and hi#hly e icient at se"vin# iles to use"s. Moodle can be installed on othe" C&e"atin# ?ystems includin# Mic"oso t 'indo!s and (&&le Mac C?N, but is in #ene"al slo!e" andMo" less secu"e. This is la"#ely because Moodle is develo&ed .c"eated/ o" a linu3 envi"onment , because most o the inte"net se"ve"s in the !o"ld use linu3. =ate" on !e !ill discuss the o&tions you have o" installin# Moodle on you" o!n home com&ute". (lthou#h you !ould neve" use a home com&ute" as you" main Moode site, it can be use ul o" e3&e"imentin# .!ithout any "is$ o ha"min# you" main siteF/ and also it can be an indis&ensable sel <t"ainin# "esou"ce. In the &"o essional IT !o"ld =inu3 is !ell $no!n to be the best solution, and the vast ma)o"ity o se"ve"s you access on the inte"net eve"yday use =inu3. This $no!led#e !ill be use ul late" on !hen you decide ho! to 1host1 you" Moodle site. (lthou#h it is &ossible to do!nload and install Moodle on you" o!n com&ute", even you" la&to&, to ma$e you" Moodle site available o" you" lea"ne"s and the !ide" !o"ld, you !ould need to have the site 1hosted1 on a se"ve" !hich is connected &e"manently to the inte"net. This is !he"e Moodle 9a"tne"s and othe" hostin# &"ovide"s come into &lay. 'e !ill discuss hostin# o&tions late", but o" no! it1s enou#h to "ealise that you !ill !ant to have you" site 1hosted1, and this is &"obably #oin# to involve a hostin# &"ovide", o" I?9 .Inte"net ?e"vice 9"ovide"/. I you a"e intendin# to use you" Moodle site solely o" onsite t"ainin# o" you" inte"nal sta you may !ant to host the se"ve" you"sel inte"nally. Ho!eve", i you envisa#e sta accessin# you" cou"ses "om home, o" "emote sites, o" that you" cou"ses !ill be delive"ed to you" e3te"nal clients outside you" main o ice then an e3te"nal hostin# o&tion may be bette". Security The !o"ld o com&ute" and net!o"$ secu"ity is a s&ecialism all o it1s o!nF I you thin$ about you" o!n com&ute" you !ill almost ce"tainly have a numbe" o secu"ity &"ocess in &lace. These mi#ht includeK =o#ins !ith secu"e &ass!o"ds, a vi"us chec$e" &"o#"am, a &o&<u& bloc$e" o" "educin# un!anted adve"tisin#, a i"e!all o" bloc$in# un!anted access to you" com&ute" !hen you a"e connected to the inte"net, a s&am ilte" o" #ettin# "id o un!anted emails, and automated so t!a"e secu"ity u&dates. Cn se"ve"s !e have much the same conside"ations. -y &lacin# you" Moodle site !ith a Moodle 9a"tne" o" I?9 you a"e e ectively &assin# the ma)o"ity o se"ve" secu"ity to them , #"eatF This is one o the "easons you should select you" hostin# &"ovide" ca"e ully.

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Ho!eve", the"e a"e also some as&ects o Moodle secu"ity that you you"sel need to conside". =uc$ily all o these can be add"essed by ca"e ully selectin# the most a&&"o&"iate settin#s in you" ?ite (dminist"ation, and by a&&lyin# lo#ical best< &"actice in you" use o Moodle. Moodle has an ability to set &ass!o"ds that a"e secu"e. I you a"e "eadin# this, and "ealise that you" &ass!o"d is in act ai"ly insecu"e, then you should sto& no! and #o and i3 itF 8asy to #uess &ass!o"ds a"e one o the bi##est secu"ity "is$s you can have. -ut #iven that it is ve"y easy to avoid this secu"ity "is$ you should ce"tainly a&&ly best<&"actice "om no! on. Moodle has an o&tion to use a vi"us chec$e" to chec$ eve"y ile that is u&loaded to you" site. This a&&lies e2ually to iles that a"e u&loaded as cou"se "esou"ces by teache"s, and to iles that mi#ht be u&loaded by students as &a"t o an assi#nment o" e3am&le. -ut it is o" the Moodle (dminist"ato" .not you" site host/ to chec$ this.

The $ey &oint he"e is that a Moodle site that is !ell set<u& and maintained is a secu"e site. -y the same de inition, a Moodle site that is not set<u& co""ectly, and not actively maintained !ith secu"ity u&dates may be insecu"e. This is t"ue o any se"ve" a&&lication on the inte"net. Security u dates Moodle, li$e most othe" actively develo&ed so t!a"e, has u&dated ve"sions "eleased "om time to time. ?ometimes these "eleases a"e because small bu#s .undesi"ed behaviou" o the a&&lication/ have been i3ed. ?ometimes it1s because ne! eatu"es a"e bein# int"oduced. (nd sometimes it1s because the"e a"e secu"ity "is$s that have been identi ied, and develo&e"s have made u&dates to the &"o#"am code to i3 these. ?ecu"ity u&dates a"e somethin# you" Moodle host should ta$e ca"e o , because you need se"ve" access to u&date Moodle itsel . ?ecu"ity i3es should al!ays be a&&lied in a timely manne" !hen "eleased to ensu"e you" Moodle site continues to o&e"ate !ith minimum th"eat "om &eo&le !ho mi#ht !ish to com&"omise you" site in some !ay. 8ven i you a"e hosted e3te"nally this is de initely somethin# you need to unde"stand thou#h. It is ai"ly easy o" you to chec$ !hich ve"sion o Moodle you a"e usin#. ?o you can easily chec$ i you" hostin# &"ovide" is $ee&in# you" site u&<to<date. I not, it1s time to loo$ o" a di e"ent hostin# &"ovide", because secu"ity is somethin# that !e should neve" unde"estimate o" sho"tcut. It1s &ossibly !o"th mentionin# that Moodle has an inte"nal secu"ity team, and
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that Moodle 9a"tne"s #et secu"ity u&dates a"ound t!o !ee$s be o"e they become available to othe" Moodle administ"ato"s. This #ives admins a chance to u&#"ade thei" sites be o"e the secu"ity u&date details a"e announced to the #ene"al &ublic. !le"ibility Moodle cannot ul il eve"y sin#le uni2ue need o" eve"y uni2ue use" in the !o"ld, no sin#le a&&lication eve"y could. Ho!eve", Moodle has a level o so&histication and ease o customisation that means individual Moodle sites can loo$ di e"ent, and !o"$ 2uite di e"ently, de&endin# on the intended use. It is o" e3am&le 2uite easy to ma$e you" Moodle site a&&ea" as a la"#e catalo#ue o cou"ses , and this mi#ht be e3actly !hat you !ant. 82ually, you could ma$e you" Moodle site loo$ mo"e li$e you" business !ebsite, and many small o"#anisations use Moodle as thei" 1&ublic ace1. Eou could even ma$e you" Moodle site loo$ and !o"$ mo"e li$e a 'eb 2.0 community o"ientated site, !ith videos, R?? eeds, -lo#s, 'i$is and inte"active community d"iven content. ?ome o"#anisations use Moodle as thei" int"anet solution .in sim&le te"ms an int"anet is a cent"al "e&osito"y o" eve"yone in the o"#anisation/. >sin# Moodle in this !ay it is "elatively easy o" sta to access common iles "om !o"$ o" home o" e3am&le. 'e !ill discuss the !ay you" "ont &a#e loo$s u"the" on. Ho!eve", it1s #ood to "eco#nise that this is a ve"y im&o"tant as&ect o Moodle, and ho! the "ont &a#e loo$s !hen you" e3istin# lea"ne"s andMo" &otential clients a""ive can easily be cont"olled by you. Eou could have a lon# list o cou"ses, o" cate#o"ies o" e3am&le. C" you mi#ht use la"#e "iendly ima#es and lin$ to cou"ses. Eou can have a minimal and unclutte"ed "ont &a#e, o" a e3citin#, colou" ul, dynamic "ont &a#e. It de&ends on !hat you a"e t"yin# to achieve, and matchin# the desi#n o the "ont &a#e !ith the needs o you" lea"ne"s. It1s also !o"th mentionin# he"e that the !ay Moodle loo$s can be cont"olled th"ou#h the use o Themes. The"e a"e a numbe" o di e"ent Themes available in the standa"d installation, and othe"s can be do!nloaded, o" desi#ned to e3actly match you" othe" business !ebsites. 'e discuss Moodle Themes in detail in the cha&te" on b"andin#. Su ort

=i$e any as&ect o you" business the su&&o"t st"uctu"es you have in &lace o" you" Moodle site may be a c"itical success acto". Moodle is a ve"y so&histicated &iece o so t!a"e, !ith !ell ove" a million lines o com&ute" code. It may be that you !ish to en)oy the challen#e o settin# u& and hostin# a Moodle site, &"ovidin# you have the ha"d!a"e, time, and technical s$ills to do so. Many &eo&le do this. C", you may elect to have you" site hosted by an IT
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s&ecialist, so you do not have to !o""y so much about the technical side. This is a ve"y &o&ula" and a&&"o&"iate decision o" many ?M81s. Ho!eve", you should not unde"<estimate the bene it o !o"$in# !ith an o"#anisation that "eally can su&&o"t you" use o Moodle. :ust li$e you may use accountin# so t!a"e that is su&&o"ted by a s&ecialist in that so t!a"e a&&lication, o" you have you" com&any !ebsite hosted and desi#ned by a s&ecialist, it can "eally &ay dividends in !o"$in# !ith a $no!led#eable Moodle su&&o"t &"ovide" to hel& ensu"e you" Moodle su&&o"t is e ective. ?o !hat should you be loo$in# o" in te"ms o su&&o"tD The main c"ite"ia is indin# a host and su&&o"t &"ovide" that its !ith the !ay you !ant to !o"$. Do you e3&ect ast hel&des$ su&&o"tD ( "ee&hone contact numbe"D Cnsite meetin#sD Do you !ant to tal$ to technolo#ists o" educationalistsD Is the su&&o"t "ee, !ithin the cont"act &"ice, o" is it an e3t"aD I e3t"a, can you &u"chase a set amount o hou"s o" an a#"eed hou"ly ee in advanceD It1s a #ood idea to list out you" most im&o"tant "e2ui"ements, as you see them, and have a clea" documented ove"vie! o these , an onsite meetin# o" telecon e"ence to !o"$ th"ou#h these essentials !ith &ossible &"ovide"s mi#ht be a #ood idea. (s !e have mentioned al"eady 1!o"d o mouth1 "ecommendations can o ten be one o the best decision<ma$in# acto"s. Tal$in# to &eo&le !ho a"e e3istin# clients !ill o ten tell you much mo"e than "eadin# th"ou#h slic$ ma"$etin# mate"ial and su" in# th"ou#h im&"essive !ebsites. (s$ &otential hostsMsu&&o"t &"ovide"s i they can #ive you a client "e e"ence o" anothe" o"#anisation o a simila" siAe o" ty&e. I the &"ovide" is a 2uality &"ovide" they !ill be mo"e than ha&&y to do this, because they unde"stand ho! valuable this is !ithin you" decision<ma$in# &"ocess. #our o$n develo ment It is "eally im&o"tant to ta$e acce&t that it !ill ta$e you time to lea"n Moodle. Moodle is a la"#e so&histicated a&&lication, and "ealistically you cannot maste" it in )ust a e! days, o" even !ee$s. In act, many use"s only use a small numbe" o the unctionality at i"st. (s you" e3&e"ience builds you !ill investi#ate ne! a"eas and activities. -ut "emembe" the"e is a lot to lea"nF (nd Moodle is le3ible, so it can be used in many di e"ent !ays. To #et the best out o Moodle, you should se"iously conside" becomin# an active membe" o the use" community on !!!.moodle.o"# Membe"s o the community "an#e "om technical #u"us and &"o#"amme"s, to &"ima"y school teache"s, and eve"ythin# inbet!een. Many o these membe"s have been th"ou#h the same lea"nin# cu"ves that no! con "ont you, and many a"e ha&&y to hel& th"ou#h the nume"ous discussion o"ums.
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Moodle as a

iece of soft$are

I you #lance at the (bout Moodle lin$ htt&GMMdocs.moodle.o"#MenM(boutOMoodle "om the "ont &a#e o !!!.moodle.o"# you !ill "ead that Moodle is a so t!a"e &ac$a#e o" &"oducin# inte"net<based cou"ses and !eb sites. ?o, as I1m su"e you $no! by no!, it1s a so t!a"e a&&lication that is installed on a !eb se"ve" to allo! teache"s and lea"ne"s to c"eate and access lea"nin# mate"ials. The (bout Moodle &a#e then #oes on to mention that it is a global development project designed to support a social constructionist framework of education. The"e a"e t!o &oints he"e that a"e little mo"e di icult to unde"stand, but in act inc"edibly im&o"tant. 4i"stly, the &h"ase global development project. (ll this "eally means is that the so t!a"e is an on#oin# .#"o!in#/ &iece o so t!a"e, and that the"e a"e cont"ibuto"s "om all a"ound the !o"ld. ?o, althou#h the Moodle Head2ua"te"s is located in 9e"th, 'este"n (ust"alia, the"e a"e many develo&e"s .&"o#"amme"s/ that a"e able to cont"ibute to the &"o)ect to im&"ove it. That1s one o the "evolutions a"ound C&en ?ou"ce ?o t!a"e, o ten abb"eviated to C??, that anyone .!ith the s$ills/ can develo& code o" Moodle. -ut mo"e about this late". The second &a"t o this ve"y b"ie , but ve"y im&o"tant statement, is that Moodle is designed to support a social constructionist framework of education. This also ta$es a little bit o e3&lanation. >nli$e many =ea"nin# Mana#ement ?ystems .!hich a"e o ten the &"oduct o database #u"us and cleve" ma"$etin#/ Moodle is undamentally desi#ned a"ound a theo"y o e ective lea"nin# called social const"uctivism. ;onst"uctivism, in ve"y sim&le te"ms su##ests that &eo&le lea"n best !hen they a"e const"uctin# somethin# o" someone else. This ma$es sense, and i you thin$ about the old sayin# 5I you !ant to lea"n somethin# "eally !ell, then teach it to othe"sF6 !e all $no! this any!ay. 9"e&a"in# to teach someone else some $no!led#e "eally does hel& ensu"e you $no! you" stu bac$!a"dsF ?ocial const"uctivism e3tends the const"uctivism idea into social settin#s. ?o o" e3am&le, #"ou&s may const"uct $no!led#e o" one anothe", collabo"atively c"eatin# a collection o $no!led#e. To see this in action, )ust thin$ about !ays &eo&le use 4o"ums. ?omeone may as$ a 2uestion, anothe" may ans!e", and thi"d may as$ o" cla"i ication, a ou"th may o e" an alte"native solution, the i"st &oste" may no! have a di e"ent 2uestion, the second may "e<evaluate thei" cont"ibution and chan#e thei" o&inion, and so on. (nd all the &eo&le in the 4o"um that a"e not &ostin# can still "ead and "e lect on this discussion .althou#h it1s mo"e bene icial i they #et involved/. (nothe" e3am&le o social const"uctivism in action !ithin a cou"se could be #ivin# small #"ou&s an individual tas$, and havin# them sha"e thei" indin#s , &e"ha&s !ith a 9o!e"9oint o" 9"esente" sho! they have collabo"ated on, and
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some lin$s to a&&"o&"iate "esou"ces. Maybe they even c"eate a PuiA o" the othe"s to test thei" $no!led#eF The Moodle license Moodle is &"ovided "eely as C&en ?ou"ce so t!a"e .unde" the 7N> 9ublic =icense/. Eou can "ead mo"e about !hat C&en ?ou"ce ?o t!a"e means at htt&GMMo&ensou"ce.o"#MdocsMosd and you can "ead mo"e about the 79= license at, htt&GMM!!!.#nu.o"#Mco&yle tM#&l.html but you &"obably don1t need to unless you a"e a develo&e". -asically the 79= license means Moodle is co&y"i#hted, but that you have additional "eedoms to a standa"d co&y"i#ht. The 7N> 7ene"al 9ublic =icense is intended to #ua"antee you" "eedom to sha"e and chan#e all ve"sions o a &"o#"am < to ma$e su"e it "emains "ee so t!a"e o" all its use"s. 4o" e3am&le, you a"e allo!ed to co&y, use and modi y Moodle &"ovided that you a#"ee toG 9"ovide the sou"ce .unde"lyin# code/ to othe"s. This is so othe"s can alte" and u"the" im&"ove the code i they !ish to. Not modi y o" "emove the o"i#inal license and co&y"i#hts. This ensu"es othe" use"s unde"stand they inhe"it the same "i#hts that you did. (&&ly this same license to any de"ivative !o"$. This means an o"#anisation cannot &ac$a#e and sell Moodle to othe"s . o" a ee/ and &"etend they 1o!n1 the co&y"i#ht. (lthou#h they can &ac$a#e and sell Moodle i they !ish.

Eou can "ead the license o" ull details .it1s included !hen you install Moodle/ and contact the co&y"i#ht holde" di"ectly i you have any 2uestions. I you a"e unsu"e you can also as$ 2uestions in the a&&"o&"iate 4o"um on Moodle.o"#. The !o"d Moodle !as o"i#inally an ac"onym o" Modula" Cb)ect<C"iented Dynamic =ea"nin# 8nvi"onment, !hich is mostly use ul to &"o#"amme"s and education theo"ists. Moodle is also a ve"b that desc"ibes the &"ocess o laAily meande"in# th"ou#h somethin#, doin# thin#s as it occu"s to you to do them, that mi#ht lead to insi#ht and c"eativity. (s such it a&&lies both to the !ay Moodle !as develo&ed, and to the !ay a student o" teache" mi#ht a&&"oach studyin# o" teachin# an online cou"se. ?ome &eo&le !ho use Moodle identi y themselves as a Moodle", and Moodle con e"ences a"e o ten called Moodle Moots .a Moot in this sense is de"ived "om an old 8u"o&ean !o"d o" a meetin#/.

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Hosting your site

Moodle can be installed on any com&ute" that can "un 9H9 .a sim&le &"o#"ammin# lan#ua#e used to ma$e !eb &a#es mo"e inte"active/, and can su&&o"t an ?P= ty&e database . o" e3am&le My?P=/. It can be "un on 'indo!s and (&&le Mac o&e"atin# systems and many lavou"s o =inu3 .such as Red Hat, >buntu and ?use/. 'hen it comes to hostin# you" Moodle site so it is al!ays accessible to you" use"s you e ectively have ou" o&tions. Moodle 9a"tne"s hostin# Cthe" hostin# &"ovide"s Hostin# you" site you"sel 4"ee hostin#

=et1s conside" each o these di e"ent o&tions, because you should unde"stand the bene its and limitations o each.

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Moodle Partner hosting

Moodle 9a"tne"s a"e o"#anisations that have been identi ied by Moodle Head2ua"te"s as &"ovidin# the hi#hest standa"d o Moodle su&&o"t. Ho!eve", Moodle 9a"tne"s a"e not li$e McDonalds , !hich aims to &"ovide a consistent and la"#ely identical &"oduct !hicheve" b"anch you visit. Moodle 9a"tne"s a"e #ene"ally com&anies that !e"e success ul in thei" o!n "i#ht lon# be o"e becomin# a Moodle 9a"tne", most o ten in the a"eas o !eb hostin#, su&&o"tin# lea"nin# mana#ement systems, o" educational desi#n and consultancy. ?o, Moodle 9a"tne"s each have a di e"ent set o e3&e"ience and s$ills, and b"in# di e"ent s&ecialisms to the Moodle &"o)ect. ?ome Moodle 9a"tne"s ocus heavily on indust"y standa"d hi#h<availability multi<cluste" hostin#, essential o" la"#e and inte"national com&anies usin# Moodle. ?ome Moodle 9a"tne"s have a 1develo&ment1 o e"in#, !hich means they have &"o#"amme"s on sta that can develo& code o" s&eci ic "e2ui"ements , o" e3am&le inte#"atin# Moodle !ith an in<house accountin# system. ?ome Moodle 9a"tne"s !ill be mo"e o"ientated to!a"ds t"ainin# and content develo&ment, and consultancy a"ound ho! to best use Moodle !ithin you" o"#anisation.

8ven thou#h each Moodle 9a"tne" !ill have a di e"ent em&hasis, all !ill &"ovide 1hostin# &ac$a#es1 to "un you" Moodle site. >sually they !ill also &"ovide t"ainin# .onsite, online, o" both/ and Moodle ;ou"se ;"eato" ;e"ti icate .M;;;/ to #et you, and you" teache"s u&<to<s&eed !ith Moodle in an e icient and cost<e ective !ay. Hostin# you" site !ith a Moodle 9a"tne" has nume"ous advanta#esG Moodle 9a"tne"s a"e on the 1inside t"ac$1 o Moodle develo&ment and involved on a day to day basis !ith each othe" and Moodle HP. 9a"tne"s have an e3istin# client base and 1t"ied and tested1 solutions. Moodle 9a"tne"s have access to code and secu"ity u&dates be o"e they a"e "eleased to the #ene"al &ublic, o" even othe" administ"ato"s. Re2uests "om Moodle 9a"tne"s a"e &"io"itised !ith the Moodle develo&ment "oadma&, e.#. ne! eatu"e "e2uests o" bu# i3es.

It1s &"obably t"ue to say that Moodle 9a"tne"s a"e not necessa"ily able to &"ovide the chea&est o&tion o" hostin# .la"#ely because they have invested in ha"d!a"e in "ast"uctu"e and "ec"uitin# 2uality sta /. -ut the sli#htly hi#h costs need to be balanced a#ainst the conside"able advanta#es hostin# !ith a Moodle 9a"tne" !ill #ive you.

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Other hosting
The"e a"e no! many inde&endent IT com&anies that can host Moodle o" you. =i$e !ith any "ee ma"$et situation the"e is a hu#e va"iety in the 2uality and se"vice levels you can e3&ect, so you should do you" home!o"$ be o"e ent"ustin# you" Moodle site to an e3te"nal hostin# &"ovide". ?ome o the thin#s to conside" a"eG Cost The"e can be a !ide "an#e o &"icin# o&tions, and the"e is no doubt that some hostin# &"ovide"s !ill o e" si#ni icantly lo!e" hostin# ees than Moodle 9a"tne"s o" e3am&le. C cou"se, some !ill be mo"e e3&ensive. ?o, it can be use ul to 1sho& a"ound1 and com&a"e o e"in#s, bea"in# in mind that the hostin# ee is )ust one s&eci ic &a"t o you" decision. ?ome hostin# cont"acts !ill s&eci y the ma3imum numbe" o use"s you can have, o" the amount o dis$ s&ace, o" the amount o t"a ic allo!ed to and "om the se"ve". C cou"se, it1s di icult o" you to accu"ately estimate e3actly !hat you !ill need, so you should loo$ o" a cont"act that #ives you some "oom to #"o!, !ithout u&<sellin# you to a level o se"vice you don1t "eally "e2ui"e. The numbe" o use"s is a b"oadly indicative i#u"e that !ill hel& &"ovide"s unde"stand the scale o you" site. I the"e a"e 100<200 use"s then t"a ic is li$ely to be li#hte" than i the"e a"e 1,000<2,000 use"s. To be ai", this is only a #ene"al #uide to site activity because a smalle" site that is used constantly by a small numbe" o use"s can be much busie" than a site that has thousands o use"s "e#iste"ed, !hen in act only a small numbe" o these use Moodle on a "e#ula" basis. Disc s&ace is o ten used in calculations o" hostin#. 4o" small to medium ente"&"ises o ten J7b .#i#abytes/ is o ten su icient. This does not sound li$e much !hen you conside" that >?- memo"y stic$s a"e no! !idely available in +7b and 107b siAes. (nd even a basic la&to& com&ute" these days usually has a ha"d d"ive o +07b o" mo"e. Ho!eve", se"ve" dis$ s&ace is ve"y di e"ent. Ha"d d"ives on se"ve"s a"e constantly !o"$in# a!ay, and even a modest se"ve" dis$ !ill o&e"ate I to + times aste" than you" la&to& .so it can 1se"ve1 multi&le 1 iles1 to multi&le use"s 2uic$ly and e iciently. ?e"ve"s o ten use !hat is called a R(ID system, !hich has a numbe" o de initions, but usually stands o" Redundant (""ay o Inde&endent Dis$s. This 1ban$1 o dis$s means you" data is co&ied and sha"ed bet!een multi&le d"ives , and i one ails it can be "e&laced !ithout a ectin# you"

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site. (nothe" advanta#e is that the se"ve" can "ead iles "om &e"ha&s 2 o" I di e"ent d"ives, !hich means mo"e iles can be se"ved mo"e 2uic$ly at the same time. Eou can i#no"e the technicalities, but it is ce"tainly !o"th $no!in# i you Moodle host uses R(ID se"ve"s o" you" site. %no$ledge of Moodle (s !ith &"icin#, this is a c"itical &a"t o you" selection &"ocess and should be u&&e"most in you" mind du"in# you" "esea"ch &hase. (lthou#h some hostin# &"ovide"s may be e3&e"t in hostin# !ebsites, and &"ovide hi#hly "eliable hostin#, they !ill #ene"ally $no! absolutely nothing about Moodle at all. (nd that can have a si#ni icant im&act on you" Moodle site. 'e have o ten seen Moodle sites that a"e not $e&t u&<to<date, !hich is a ma)o" secu"ity "is$ to you" cou"ses and student in o"mation. This may be because the hostin# com&any does not $no! about u&dates, o" sim&ly e3&ects you to do this. ?imila"ly, unctions such as s&ell chec$, lan#ua#e &ac$s, and u&datin# thi"d &a"ty modules may be le t uninstalled o" inco""ectly con i#u"ed. Moodle needs to be o&timised to "un !ell, and this means unde"standin# and con i#u"in# se"vices so they "esult in the best &e" o"mance o you" Moodle site. These settin#s a"e s&eci ic to Moodle, and do not a&&ly to standa"d static !ebsites. ?o con i#u"in# the (&ache !eb se"ve", the unde"lyin# ?P= database, and the installation o 9H9 a"e all a"eas that "e2ui"e con i#u"ation to ensu"e you" Moodle site is stable, ast, and secu"e. Cnly individuals o" o"#anisations !ith e3&e"t $no!led#e o Moodle and se"ve" administ"ation s$ills can do this. I you" hostin# &"ovide" does not unde"stand these conside"ations, and i#no"es them, you" Moodle site !ill not be "unnin# as !ell as it should, and could be com&"omised in te"ms o secu"ity. Services Cne o the most c"itical as&ects o you" Moodle hostin# is the su&&o"t se"vices you have available to you. 4"om time<to<time the"e may be technical issues you cannot "esolve. ( sim&le one mi#ht be that a ?tudent u&loads a document o" an (ssi#nment, but the ile is co""u&t. This could cause the 7"adeboo$ to "eeAe o" that ?tudent o" e3am&le. I you need assistance !ith a technical issue such as this you should $no! !hethe" you" host has these s$ills and the hou"ly ee u& "ont o" such !o"$. Do you have con idence in the host1s $no!led#e o Moodle to eel
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com o"table that they can assist you i thin#s #o !"on#D Remembe" that no com&ute" &"o#"am is &e" ect, and &"oblems do a"ise that need "esolvin#. E"it strategy 'hat i you "each a situation !he"e you !ish to move "om you" selected Moodle hostD 9e"ha&s you !ant to b"in# you" Moodle site "om bein# hosted e3te"nally to inte"nally. C" &e"ha&s you have not "eceived a level o se"vice you e3&ect andMo" "e2ui"e "om the hostin# com&any. Movin# Moodle "om one location to anothe" involves a ai" amount o !o"$, but is usually a st"ai#ht< o"!a"d tas$ !hen &e" o"med by a $no!led#eable e3&e"t. Does you" te"ms and conditions a#"eement o" cont"act allo! you to do thisD 'ill they cha"#e you o" itD U grades and trouble&shooting Moodle "e2ui"es u&datin# "om time to time. >sually the"e is a ne! "elease o Moodle, !ith #"eat ne! eatu"es, once a yea". Ho!eve" the"e a"e smalle" "e#ula" u&dates !hich a"e mainly bu#< i3es and secu"ity u&dates. Eou should chec$ to see ho! the host cha"#es o" this, it may be included !ithin you" monthly ee, o" not. I not, you !ant to $no! the hou"ly "ate o" this ty&e o !o"$. ( Moodle 9a"tne" !ill usually include these u&#"ades o" "ee, includin# secu"ity u&#"ades, o" !ithin the a#"eed hostin# and su&&o"t ee.

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Hosting your site yourself

Most smalle" com&anies elect to host Moodle !ith a s&ecialist hostin# &"ovide". Ho!eve", the"e a"e cases !he"e you mi#ht conside" it bette" to host you" Moodle site inte"nally. ?ome o the acto"s mi#ht includeG Do you have the IT in "ast"uctu"e to do this e ectivelyD This essentially comes do!n to th"ee $ey a"easG ha"d!a"e and so t!a"e, and net!o"$ s&eed. (s !e have discussed ea"lie" Moodle needs to be ta$en se"iously in te"ms o it1s se"ve" , installin# Moodle on an old se"ve" !ith limited R(M that is also "unnin# email and &"int and ile se"vices is unli$ely to delive" a #"eat e<lea"nin# e3&e"ienceF Do you have the s$ills inte"nallyD 8ven i you have the ha"d!a"e inte"nally you" IT su&&o"t may be un amilia" !ith linu3 .the &"e e""ed C&e"atin# ?ystem to "un Moodle/, My?P=, (&ache and 9H9. 'hilst it is &ossible o" someone to en#a#e in the "esea"ch and testin# "e2ui"ed to set<u& and administe" a Moodle system this !ill ta$e time a!ay "om othe" duties. The"e can be 2uite a lea"nin# cu"ve, even o" IT sta . Do you have the time "e2ui"edD Eou should !ei#h u& the o&tions , and decide !hethe" it is !o"th someone cuttin# bac$ su&&o"t in one a"ea to #ive to anothe". (nd o cou"se, you have to &lan o" a situation !he"e this &e"son may leave you" o"#anisation in the utu"e. 'hat about connectivity e3te"nallyD 7ene"ally an inte"nal net!o"$ is aste" than the inte"net. Ho!eve", i you a"e &lannin# to &"ovide access to you" Moodle site o" &eo&le "om "emote locations such as home and !o"$, you" o!n net!o"$ inte" ace to the !ide" inte"net could c"eate a bottlenec$. =imited band!idth !ill adve"sely a ect the s&eed o Moodle e3te"nally, and c"eate hi#he" data t"a ic and "educe s&eed inte"nally. I you outsou"ce othe" as&ects o IT such as you" !ebsite and email se"vices it mi#ht be best to a&&ly this same lo#ic and outsou"ce Moodle hostin# too, &ossibly to the same su&&o"t &"ovide", o" an alte"native s&ecialist. I you" com&any is not mana#in# othe" IT se"vices on a day<to< day basic then it &ossibly ma$es mo"e sense to a&&ly this same st"ate#y to you" Moodle site , e ectively &assin# the technolo#y headaches to someone else bette" &laced to deal !ith them. This doesn1t mean you abdicate "es&onsibility, it )ust means you mana#e the &"ovide" "elationshi&, and ensu"e they delive" the level o se"vice you e3&ect and "e2ui"e.
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Free hosting
?ince Moodle ado&tion a"ound the !o"ld has #"o!n so "a&idly in the &ast e! yea"s the numbe" o hostin# &"ovide"s, consultants, desi#ne"s and so on has #"o!n. ?ome o these a"e e3cellent o cou"se. Recently the"e have been a numbe" o !ebsites and adve"ts o e"in# "ee Moodle hostin#. Natu"ally these catch the inte"est o the "eade", and can seem li$e a #"eat !ay to avoid hostin# costs. 'hilst the"e may be some value in these se"vices, it1s best to as$ you"sel some se"ious 2uestions be o"e ent"ustin# you" Moodle site to this ty&e o se"vice. Cnce you have ?tudents and (ssessments online you" Moodle site becomes a 1mission c"itical a&&lication1 , i it sto&s !o"$in# it can a ect you" business in te"ms o "e&utation, and inancially. 'hy !ould an o"#anisation &"ovided "ee hostin#D >sually it is a !ea$ly veiled ma"$etin# &loy because they e3&ect to b"in# clients in and then sell them additional se"vices such as t"ainin#, Theme desi#n etc. (s a business<minded &e"son you !ill $no! that the"e must be a &ay<bac$ o" these &"ovide"s some!he"e alon# the line, because )ust li$e you and I they need to eat, &ay thei" mo"t#a#e etc. 'hat is you" &osition i somethin# #oes !"on# !ith you" siteD ("e the &"ovide"s #oin# to cha"#e you hu#e amounts to i3 itD ?ome o the &"ovide"s $no! nothin# about Moodle at all, and a"e sim&ly sellin# 1dis$ s&ace1 on hu#e com&ute" cluste"s. I you" site is "ee, but unacce&tably slo! o" e3am&le because it is on a se"ve" "unnin# lots o othe" busy Moodle sites, you can1t say 5Im&"ove the s&eed o ou" site o" !e !on1t &ay you,6 < because you don1t have that ba"#ainin# chi&. I you a"e not &ayin# o" a se"vice !hat do the cont"acts say "e#a"din# the secu"ity o you" contentD Remembe", you" intellectual &"o&e"ty is &"iceless. 'hat !ould ha&&en i the "ee hostin# &"ovide" !as not ve"y success ul, and suddenly disa&&ea"ed ove"ni#htD 'ell, you haven1t lost any money, but ho! on ea"th !ould you #et you" site u& and "unnin# a#ainD (nd !hat about you" ?tudents the ne3t dayF

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(ll this said, a "ee hostin# &"ovide" may #ive you a cost<e ective o&&o"tunity to "un a small Moodle site o" evaluation. This means you can e3&ose sta and mana#ement to Moodle, and #et a eel o" ho! you" "eal site mi#ht !o"$. Ho!eve", #iven the &oints above you should a&&"oach any "ee hostin# se"vice !ith a ve"y c"itical eye indeed, and !ei#h u& the bene its and d"a!bac$s as they a&&ly to you" s&eci ic situation.

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Local testing site

Cne o the o&tions that "ee and o&en sou"ce so t!a"e .4C??/ #ives you is an ability to do!nload and t"y the a&&lication o" no ee. The"e a"e a numbe" o "easons you mi#ht li$e to use a local testin# siteG It allo!s you to have an actual !o"$in# Moodle site !ithout havin# to &ay o" hostin# It can be use ul o" develo&in# cou"ses o line, and &e"ha&s t"ans e""in# them to the main site late" Eou can &"actice administ"ation s$ills that you !ould not be able to do on a live site .e.#. chan#in# ma)o" settin#s/ Eou can do a lot o e3&e"imentation and lea"nin# on you" local site, !ithout any dan#e" to you" "eal Moodle siteF

Cne thin# to bea" in mind !ith local Moodle testin# sites is that you should use the same ve"sion .o" ea"lie"/ than you" actual se"ve". This is because !hile it is al!ays &ossible to move cou"ses "om one ve"sion to a late" ve"sion, it is not &ossible to move cou"ses "om a late" ve"sion o Moodle to an ea"lie" oneF This ma$es sense o cou"se because late" ve"sions !ill have ne! unctionality !hich didn1t even e3ist in ea"lie" ve"sions. ( local testin# site "e2ui"es you to install a !eb se"ve" a&&lication on you" com&ute". This is not ove"ly di icult, but you do need (dminist"ato" access to you" com&ute" .to install a&&lications/ and a "easonably aste" com&ute". T"yin# to "un a !eb se"ve" and Moodle site on an old com&ute" !ith limited R(M and a lo!<end ;9> may lead to a ve"y "ust"atin# e3&e"ience. In com&ute" te"ms this local installation o a !eb se"ve" is called a 1localhost1. In act, once the se"ve" is installed and "unnin# you !ill be able to navi#ate to the sta"t &a#e o you" localhost by ty&e the >R= htt&GMMlocalhost This is in e ect e3actly li$e connectin# to any othe" !eb se"ve" on the inte"net, aside "om you don1t need to set<u& a domain name, and you don1t need an inte"net connection.

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Microsoft Windo$s
Mic"oso t 'indo!s is the dominant 9; des$to& envi"onment in business today, and has been o" some time. Many small o"#anisations may have a Mic"oso t 'indo!s se"ve" that handles ile sha"in#, &"intin#, and email !ithin the com&any. 7iven this, it is &ossible to install Moodle on a 'indo!s se"ve", althou#h this is $no!n to be slo!e" and less secu"e and "obust than =inu3 o" e3am&le. (lthou#h most comme"cial hostin# com&anies !ill use =inu3 se"ve"s, it is "elatively easy to have you" o!n local testin# Moodle installation on a 'indo!s 9; o" even a &o!e" ul la&to&. >&<to<date in o"mation can be accessed at htt&GMMdocs.moodle.o"#MenMInstallin#OMoodleOonO'indo!sOHista. The"e is a &ac$a#e available .htt&GMMdo!nload.moodle.o"#M!indo!sM/ that contains Moodle &lus all the othe" so t!a"e needed to ma$e it "un !ith 'indo!sG (&ache, My?P= and 9H9. They a"e built usin# N(M99 .this is an ac"onym o" c"oss<&lat o"m, (&ache, My?P=, 9H9, 9e"l/. This Moodle o" 'indo!s &ac$a#e is 2uite easy to install !ith a nice cont"ol a&&lication and should !o"$ on 'indo!s 2000, 200%, N9, and Hista. I you have a Mic"oso t ?e"ve" al"eady "unnin# on you" local com&ute", Moodle can also be installed usin# the Mic"oso t 'eb 9lat o"m installe" at htt&GMM!!!.mic"oso t.comM!ebM#alle"yMMoodle.as&3. NoteG althou#h this #ives you a 2uic$ and easy !ay to setu& a local Moodle testin# site, you should not use this o" you" actual o&e"ational site. Runnin# a secu"e and "obust Moodle site o" you" business "e2ui"es mo"e than N(M99 is able to &"ovide.

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'

le Mac

MoodleIMac is desi#ned o" e3&e"imentin# and testin# locally on an (&&le com&ute", ho!eve" it is not secu"e enou#h o" use on the inte"net as you" main Moodle se"ve", so &lease bea" this in mindF Re&eatG do not use this MoodleIMac local testin# site o&tion to "un a &ublic Moodle site. I you have an (&&le Mac com&ute" then "unnin# a test Moodle site is ve"y easy. Eou !ould need a "elatively mode"n (&&le such as an iMac, Mac mini, Mac-oo$, o" Mac-oo$ 9"o. 4o" "easonable &e" o"mance the &"ocesso" should be an Intel ;o"e 2 Duo .7I, 7J/ !ith J12 me#abytes o R(M o" mo"e, and at least J00Mb "ee dis$ s&ace. Note that !e a"e not tal$in# he"e about "unnin# Moodle as a ull &ublic Moodle site on an N ?e"ve",. :ust a local co&y you can e3&e"iment !ith, and &e"ha&s lea"n some basic administ"ation s$ills o" e3am&le. The &ac$a#es a"e available "om Moodle.o"# do!nloads .htt&GMMdo!nload.moodle.o"#Mmacos3M/ and contain Moodle &lus all the othe" so t!a"e needed to ma$e it "unG (&ache, My?P= and 9H9 and !e"e built by Ral B"ause usin# the dist"ibutions o N(M99 and M(M9. It is ve"y easy to install !ith a sim&le cont"ol a&&lication. These com&lete install &ac$a#es o" Mac C? N a"e called MoodleIMac. (lso, they include a s&ecial u&date sc"i&t, so it1s easy to u&date you" local Moodle site !ithout needin# to do!nload the !hole &ac$a#e a#ain and !ithout "einstallin# all you" cou"ses. The"e a"e some e3cellent ste&<by<ste& inst"uctions on ho! to install MoodleIMac on the "elevant Moodle Docs &a#e .htt&GMMdocs.moodle.o"#MenM;om&leteOInstallO9ac$a#esO o"OMacOC?ON/ -asically you !ill do!nload the Ai&&ed MoodleIMac installation ile, unAi& it, double clic$ on the MoodleIMac.dm# to mount it, and d"a# it to you" (&&lications olde". It1s )ust li$e installin# any othe" Mac a&&lication. 'hen you a"e "eady to "un it )ust navi#ate usin# 4inde" to the M(M9 olde" in (&&lications and double<clic$ the M(M9 icon to launch. Eou may need to sta"t the (&ache .!eb se"ve"/ and My?P= .database se"ve"/ by clic$in# on the ;ont"ol buttons. In you" b"o!se" you can then visit you" localhost site, sim&le ente" the ollo!in# in the add"ess ba"G htt&GMMlocalhost Eou can $ee& you" local MoodleIMac site u& to date by "unnin# the >&dateMoodle.sh sc"i&t !hich is also in the M(M9 olde".

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Linu"
Most comme"cial !ebsites, I?91s and the"e o"e Moodle 9a"tne"s !ill "un use the (&ache HTT9 ?e"ve". In act most o the sites you visit on the inte"net !ill be "unnin# (&ache, !ell ove" 100,000,000F I you have a linu3 com&ute" then installin# a local Moodle test site is essentially the same as installin# on a comme"cial !eb se"ve". Most linu3 dist"ibutions !ill easily let you install a =(M9 .=inu3, (&ache, My?P=, 9H9/ set<u&. ?ome dist"ibutions !ill include the o&tion to install Moodle "om you" &ac$a#e mana#e" such as a&t o" Ea?T, but you should not use the ve"sion o Moodle su&&lied as it !ill be out<o <date. (s a linu3 use" you !ill unde"stand that you need to have the (&ache !eb se"ve" !o"$in# .e.#. you can access htt&GMMlocalhost/, you have 9H9 installed, and can setu& a database, eithe" usin# the command line o" an a&&lication such as &h&myadmin .htt&GMM!!!.&h&myadmin.netM/. Details o" installin# Moodle on linu3 can be ound at Moodle Docs htt&GMMdocs.moodle.o"#MenMInstall and a"e ve"y easy to ollo! o" even a mode"ately e3&e"ienced linu3 use". (s this is a local test site only you can "ealistically i#no"e settin#s "elated to o&timisin# (&ache and 9H9, because you !ill be the only use" on the system.

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bout the author

?tua"t Mealo" is Mana#in# Di"ecto" o Human Resou"ce Develo&ment Inte"national =imited .HRDNZ/. He has !o"$ed !ith Moodle since 200% and #uided HRDNZ to become a Moodle 9a"tne" in 2000. ( te" initially 2uali yin# and !o"$in# as a #"a&hic desi#ne" ?tua"t moved into teachin# desi#n, com&ute" #"a&hics, and !eb desi#n becomin# a ;e"ti ied Inte"net 'ebmaste" and late" teachin# ;I' cou"ses. Teachin# o" ten yea"s at &ublic educational &"ovide"s in the >B allo!ed him to study o" his -(.Hons/ teachin# 2uali ication, and late", !hist !o"$in# as a tuto"< counsello" !ith the C&en >nive"sity, his ;e"ti icate in 8ducation. =eavin# to !o"$ in the &"ivate secto" he set<u& nume"ous t"ainin# divisions and t"ainin# cent"es o" &"ivate IT com&anies and du"in# this time com&leted his M-( in Inte"national -usiness. Movin# "om 8n#land to Ne! Zealand in 2001 ?tua"t sta"ted to concent"ate on the use o technolo#y in teachin# and s&eci ically e<lea"nin#, !o"$in# !ith clients on a va"iety o e<lea"nin# &lat o"ms such as 4i"st;lass, -lac$boa"d and 'eb;T. He holds a cent"al "ole !ith Moodle as ;e"ti ication Mana#e", #uidin# the develo&ment o the o"i#inal Moodle Teache" ;e"ti icate, and the u&dated Moodle ;ou"se ;"eato" ;e"ti icate .M;;;/. He has coo"dinated the !o"$ o Moodle 9a"tne"s a"ound the !o"ld im&lementin# Moodle ce"ti ication. ?tua"t is !ell $no!n o" his !o"$ on Moodle in -usiness, and also Moodle as a social net!o"$in# envi"onment. He has &"esented on the to&ics o ce"ti ication, Moodle in business, and social<net!o"$in# in Ne! Zealand, (ust"alia, Rome, -a"celona, Cman, ?an 4"ancisco and many othe" locations, to#ethe" !ith "unnin# advanced !o"$sho&s a"ound these themes. He is an active membe" o the Moodle community on Moodle.o"# acilitatin# the ;e"ti ication, -usiness >ses, and Database a"eas, and is "ated as one o the to& 100 9HM1s .9a"ticula"ly Hel& ul Moodle"1s/. In his s&a"e time he &lays tennis, cycles, !atches science iction ilms, maintains .and sometimes "aces/ his classic 1L0* M7, loves t"avellin# to ne! &laces, and continues to en)oy lea"nin# about and usin# technolo#y. ?tua"t can be contacted di"ectly via emailG stua"tQ(TRh"dnA.com

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