[aklug] Re: Moodle

Quoting Marc Grober <marc@interak.com>:

> Now then..... There are some discussions of some very sexy mysql cluste=
r
> configurations for Moodle that I never pursued for lack of pieces.... but=
 if
> one had a pallet o' boxes..... one could build the mysql cluster and then
> simply point the webserver at the cluster via a separate network... and th=
ere
> are some guys at moodle.org who are very into this who would likely be ver=
y
> happy to talk to some kids exploring same....
> On 2/23/2010 2:03 PM, Shane R. Spencer wrote:
>> I talked with Mineral Management Services and Mike.. Hoping to procure
>> some P4 systems for $0.00. Chances are very high as long as I can talk
>> to somebody @ Highland and have them procure them.
>>
>> Waiting on Mike to give me the go-ahead and 411 on his person at Highland=
.
>>
>> - Shane
>>
>> Marc Grober wrote:
>>> freakin iphone ate detailed note about moodle when phone rang - =20
>>> Damn you Apple! lol
>>> OK... let's see if I can remember what I was going to say...
>>>
>>> * email is critical to moodle but moodle allows you to use php or =20
>>> system mail
>>> for e-mail
>>> * crontab is needed to run a cron app and can be done via wget, or via C=
LI
>>> * while moodle does some backup via the cron script, it is pretty =20
>>> lame so there
>>> is a need to look at backup scripts and regimens
>>> * Moodle stores data in mysql as well as in a system directory =20
>>> commonly called
>>> moodledata that is not, for obvious reasons in htdocs, while the =20
>>> moodle code of
>>> course is.
>>> * phpmyadmin is very handy and should be included in the installation
>>> * as with drupal, additional modules are placed in the correct directori=
es,
>>> then db alterations are triggered via the Moodle GUI, so kids need to b=
e
>>> familiar with structure and docs, so
>>> * a mention of RTFM may prove helpful, as everything one might =20
>>> need to know is
>>> already in the docs ;=3D}
>>> * The only gotcha with php (as long as its latest stable) is =20
>>> making sure you
>>> have everything moodle needs enabled (there is a detailed list) =20
>>> and learning how
>>> php.ini is sourced and tweaking it
>>> * Depending on tools and versions Ubuntu does the whole directory =20
>>> thing which
>>> makes it difficult to know where your conf files actually live if =20
>>> you aren;t
>>> aware of the problem.... but there are notes about that.
>>> * Moodle has some filters which slows everything down, but thats =20
>>> what filters
>>> do... as a result I usually recommend installing asciimathml for =20
>>> math display
>>> and dragmath for equation construction.... but if this is going to be a=
n
>>> academic exercise I might suggest doing a full texlive install (my =20
>>> fav linux
>>> flavor now includes this as some others....) and then ading a pile =20
>>> of macros and
>>> rehashing, then turning tex filter on....
>>> * Authentication is a big issues especially because of profile =20
>>> spam. I would
>>> argue that if the kids really want to mess with things they get a =20
>>> Google domain
>>> and authenticate via google... pretty snazzy and it makes a lot =20
>>> of other stuff
>>> work well together as well.
>>> * while Moodle will install from a zip, it can also be managed via =20
>>> cvs which
>>> provides some neat options vis-a-vis autoupdating.... but that needs to =
be
>>> addressed before moodle is installed for obvious reasons...
>>>
>>> If shane has some good how tos for apache mysql and php then we =20
>>> prolly want to
>>> get kids to get all that infrastructure down pat..... then deicee =20
>>> on the method
>>> to install moodle and do the install, which takes just a few =20
>>> minutes... tweak
>>> all the little crap to get moodle fully functional and then add =20
>>> basic modules
>>> and update.... maybe even install a copy of the moodle feature =20
>>> demos class and
>>> a java class class for them to experiment with.
>>>

OK....this is a great start. Looks like we have the needed resources =20
and information to move forward. It is Highland Tech's next step, and =20
spring break has to pass....then I can be fully involved.

Mike B.

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Received on Tue Feb 23 15:05:52 2010