This information is for teachers, using the DLB Moodle (available to schools in South Australia) and would like to import and use new themes.
Moodle comes preinstalled with a number of themes. Additional themes are available at http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?id=6552 . Download and unzip the theme that you like. Next, you will have to upload the folder containing the theme to the dlb moodle site. Do do this, you would need an FTP program. A good one to use is FileZilla and it is free. Download and install the program.
Run the FileZilla program Then select File, followed by Site Manager (or click the Site Manager icon, which is the first icon on the Toolbar).
Fill up the details for y0ur site, using the above example. The user will be the schoolmoodle name that was given to you (same for password). Click OK .
To connect to the site, all you have to do is to Select QuickConnect and then your SiteName. See Below.
To upload Files or Folder, select it from the Left Window and drag it to the Right Window or simply double click it.
Now, the newly installed Theme should be available within Moodle.
Miketemple123 Edublogs Tutorials site has many useful tutorials on using edublogs. If you know how to embed photos, videos, audios etc, then this is a site that you must visit. You have links to many useful educational videos. There is a link to Maths Video lessons, BBC Education news and of course, tutorials on how to use Edublogs (and I am sure that you are using one, and it is free to all teachers).
Below is a tutorial on using vodpod in your blog. Please visit his site for many more useful videos.
Setting up a vodpod – for video
March 2nd, 2007 by miketemple123
Vodpod is a great way to show videos directly in your blog. No downloading needed for the viewer
- go to www.vodpod.com and register – it’s free
- give your vodpod site a name – like a username
- you probably have one already – remember, it will show on your home page
- when the site opens up, click on start a new pod
- give the pod a name – you can change this later
- it automatically adds this to the url – just leave it as it is
- you can upload your own videos to this pod, or add other pods as needed
- Now the clever bit
- click on widgets
- go to the bit with bookmarklets
- simply drag the button onto your browser toolbar
- then when you see an online video like youtube
- simply click this button
- choose the pod
- this will then automatically add the video to your pod – and update the pod on your blog
- to get the pod on your blog
- stay in widgets
- on lhs, simply select the pod from the menu
- go down the page
- copy the code
- go to your post on the blog
- click on html
- paste the code in save and publish as normal
- you should have a player on the page
Teacher need to be told why you are putting courses online. Becta book (UK), gives information this that you could use.
Issues:
Are most teachers ready for it? Does it work? Is it cost effective?
Probems with F2F PD:
Wrong place and time
Disrupts routine
Too easy or too hard
What do we lose when we go online?
Benefits of online PD:
Anytime, anywhere
Point of need
Just in time
Cost Effective
No travel
Isolation/remoteness
Privacy/dignity: too embarassed to admit problems
Challenges of online PD:
Need clear instructions
easy navigation
People easily get lost
Consistent menus
A click too far is a click too far
Nedd effective just in time tools and support
