Hack Bandwidth Adaptivity for Moodle using the Multi-Language Content filter

Aptivate's "Web Design for Low Bandwidth" states that a web page should have about 25 - 75 KB of content otherwise the user will abandon the download of the page. Of course it would be difficult to estimate this, that is why my hack leaves it to the user to determine which version of the content to use. But the instructional designer should also keep in mind the overhead of the logo, headings and blocks of a moodle page. Perhaps this approach should be combined with an appropriate low bandwidth user selected theme. It is up to the designer to determine what are the cutoff bandwidths for low, mid, and high bandwidth content.

I developed this hack because I am thinking about a mix set of students coming from around the globe; specially in developing countries where bandwidth is still low.

This hack is for Moodle administrators who know where and what the moodle data folder is. You have to have access to the moodledata/lang folder to perform this hack i.e. if online you should have a Cpanel, shell or ftp access to the Moodle site. Try it first in a local test server before performing in a production server. There are no moodle files to be replaced, it only involves installing language packs which should be safe to do.

Download the language files: http://www.mediafire.com/file/fg4tjtdun1n/mdlbandwidth.zip (3.4 KB)

These language files contain only a moodle.php, and a language.php file with parent language set to en_utf8, the default. The only relevant string customized in both files was:

 $string['thislanguage'] = 'High Bandwidth'; 

Unzip the archive mdlbandwidth.zip to your lang folder in the moodle data folder which is usually moodledata/lang/. If you want to be able to edit these language files change the owner to the web server. In Ubuntu's Apache server this is www-data so:

open a terminal
cd to the moodledata/lang folder then,

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data *

After copying go to Moodle web site. You should see the languages Low Bandwidth (loband), Mid Bandwidth (midband) and High Bandwidth (hiband) listed in the language dropdown box. If you're using language caching it make take a while before the list gets updated.

Login as administrator. In Site Administration block ->Modules->Filters->Manage filters. If the Multi-Language Content filter is disabled (grayed out and the eye is closed), click on the eye to enable it (eye will open).



WARNING: Make sure the Multi-languge Content filter is above the Multimedia Filter if you are going to include multimedia files in the body of the content. Or make sure that the Multi-Language Content filter is above all other filters that you will use in the body of the content. Otherwise all the multimedia files will be displayed at the same time.





Go to your course and create a web page. Turn on editing and then Add a resource...->Compose a web page. Click the [<>] button in the HTML editor to enter code editing mode. Then type the following:

<span class="multilang" lang="XX">your_content_here</span>

e.g.

<span class="multilang" lang="loband">Low Bandwidth Content</span>

<span class="multilang" lang="midband">Mid Bandwidth Content</span>

<span class="multilang" lang="hiband">High Bandwidth Content</span>

Because you can only change the language setting in the front site page, it would be good practice to put links to the 3 types of content as a lead list to serve as navigation aid. Add &lang=loband_utf8, &lang=midband_utf8, &lang=hiband_utf8 to the web page url e.g. let's say the url is:

http://localhost/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=329

then the 3 links should be:

http://localhost/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=329&lang=loband_utf8
http://localhost/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=329&lang=midband_utf8
http://localhost/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=329&lang=hiband_utf8

Download file: Template content for bandwidth adaptivity in Moodle in utf-8 encoding (605 bytes)

I tested the setup with the following content:

Low bandwidth: transcript all text pdf 69.5 KB


Mid bandwidth: mp3 audio 5.9 MB


High bandwidth: avi video 95.5 MB


The content for this test is available as a scorm package at: http://matangdilis.moodle4free.com/mod/scorm/view.php?id=10

This hack was tested on a Moodle 1.9.4+ (Build: 20090204) installation in a local PC running in an Ubuntu Intrepid operating system. Sorry I can't show a live demo since I do not have access to the site files in my free online Moodle installation.

Reference:

Aptivate. Web Design for Low Bandwidth, Introduction. Retrieved August 22, 2009, from http://www.aptivate.org/webguidelines/Introduction.html.

Multi-language content. In Moodle Docs. Retrieved August 22, 2009 from http://docs.moodle.org/en/Multi_language_content.

Links:

Download the language files: http://www.mediafire.com/file/fg4tjtdun1n/mdlbandwidth.zip (3.4 KB)

Download file: Template content for bandwidth adaptivity in Moodle in utf-8 encoding (605 bytes)

Moodle forum discussion about this hack: http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=127619/discuss.php?d=127619

How to mashup pageflakes, youtube video, slideshare, etc. with Moodle

Jason Hando's video on how to use the much ignored html block to embed web services like pageflakes, slideshare and any other embeddable service in Moodle.




Btw. Hando forgot to say that it will only work if your Moodle administrator enabled Site Administration block -> Security ->Site Policies->Allow EMBED and OBJECT .

Moodle consider this a security issue as it states:

As a default security measure, normal users are not allowed to embed multimedia (like Flash) within texts using explicit EMBED and OBJECT tags in their HTML (although it can still be done safely using the mediaplugins filter). If you wish to allow these tags then enable this option.

Personally I like this enabled despite the risk because of the nifty functionalities.

Band width considerations in Moodle

Moodle Review No. 3: Moodle environment, Bandwidth considerations

A great resource for the study of bandwidth issues in designing instructional materials for moodle is Aptivate's "Web Design Guidelines for Low Bandwidth".

They try to explain why we should consider bandwidth in design even if it appears that the Internet is getting more powerful. This is particularly important for third world countries where the net is not very reliable and is slow.

They have develop an extensive set of guidelines. And the top ten tips are here http://www.aptivate.org/webguidelines/TopTen.html . Example is the use of 25kb pages to load page in 10 seconds for 20 kbps connections.

This is a must read for anyone reviewing the effect of bandwidth in online instructional design.

Enabling JavaScript and Cookies in Opera

Moodle Review No. 2 Part 3: Moodle Environment, Browsers (Opera ) Opera 9.5

Opera is not a "free software", it is copyrighted by Opera Software ASA.

In order to enable Javascript in Opera go to menu->tools->preferences.



Then click on the Advanced tab and check Content-> Enable JavaScript



To enable cookies go to Cookies ->Accept cookies.




Finally click the OK button.

Here is the screencast of the entire process:

Enabling JavaScript and Cookies in Konqueror

Moodle Review No. 2 Part 2: Moodle Environment, Browsers (Konqueror)

Konqueror 4.1.2

In order to enable JavaScript in Konqueror go to menu->settings->Configure Konqueror.



Then click on Java & JavaScript in the left list ->Enable JavaScript globally



Click on Cookies in the left list ->Enable cookies



Finally click on the OK button.

Here is a screencast of the entire process:

Enabling JavaScript and Cookies in Firefox, Konqueror and Opera under Ubuntu Intrepid

Moodle Review No. 2 Part 1: Enabling Javascript and Cookies in Browsers (Firefox)

Cookies

What are cookies? They're parcels of text sent back and forth between your browser and the server you are accessing. Usually used for authentication and other user information needed by the server.

A Moodle server may send you two types of cookies.

• MoodleSession - essential, necessary to maintain login from page to page. It is destroyed when you log out or close the browser.
• MOODLEID - not essential, safe to refuse, just for convenience. It remembers your username within the browser. When you return to the page, the username in the login page will be filled.

JavaScript

What is JavaScript? It's a usually a small computer program embedded in the html web page that you access. It makes your web page more interactive like allowing floating clocks on your web page. It can make your web page behave like a local application. Without it, the html usually is static and all you can do is read it. JavaScript adds fun in your browsing experience.

Why is it needed in moodle? For interactivity and functionality. It is also required in certain modules like when you display a secure window in quizzes, or use a timer.

Enabling JavaScript and Cookies in Browsers

JavaScript and Cookies are usually enabled by default in browsers for Ubuntu Intrepid. Firefox and Konqueror are "free software" and are distributed by Ubuntu, but Opera is not.

Firefox 3.0.7

To turn on JavaScript go to the menu->edit->preferences. The Firefox preferences dialog box will pop-up.




Click content->check Enable JavaScript.



To accept cookies click Privacy and under Cookies check Accept cookies from sites.



Here's a screenshot of the entire process:

Comparison of look and feel of Moodle 1.9+ in the browsers Firefox, Konqueror and Opera

Moodle Environment Review No. 1: Browsers

I have compared the look of the current stable Moodle 1.9+ in the browsers Firefox, Konqueror and Opera running in Ubuntu Intrepid. The installation is set to the default theme.

Site Frontpage


Fig. 1: Moodle site front page in Firefox 3.0.7


Fig. 2: Moodle site front page in Konqueror 4.1.2


Fig. 3: Moodle site front page in Opera 9.5

Course Page


Fig 4: Course front page in Firefox


Fig. 5: Course front page in Konqueror



Fig. 6: Course front page in Opera

I don't see much difference. Perhaps if they were running under a different operating system with different default fonts, the difference in look will be more pronounced.

What we don't see is the difference in behavior due to JavaScript support. JS is supposed to be a cross platform scripting language but each browser implements the script differently at times and causes certain scripts in Moodle not to work in certain browsers especially when AJAX is turned on. Next post will review enabling of JS and cookies in the three browsers.

You can install Firefox and Konqueror in Ubuntu by using synaptic or opening a terminal and typing:

apt-get install firefox konqueror

For Opera, get the .deb file here: http://www.opera.com/download/?custom=yes. Install with Gdebi or go to the folder where you have the deb file and type:

sudo dpkg -i opera_9.64.2480.gcc4.qt3_amd64.deb

The latest is version 9.64 opera_9.64.2480.gcc4.qt3_amd64.deb but I have yet to install this version. Replace the filename of the deb file with what you have. Remember that Opera is not a "free software". It is copyrighted by Opera Software ASA so read the license for terms of use.

The Moodle Course Creator Certificate (MCCC) as Performance Benchmark for Teachers

Moodle is a very successful "free software" learning management system (LMS). It is currently being used by UKOU and UPOU (and 51,596 sites from 206 countries as of today).

Moodle is offering a certification program called the Moodle Course Creator Certificate. What I like about this program is it lists performance criteria for a course creator. The eight MCCC skill sets are (MCC Skill Sets overview):

• Environmental technology (has to do with the client-server environment of the LMS)
• Generic Moodle skills
• Moodle Blocks
• Using Resources
• Using Activities
• Media and content
• Participant management
• Course management
  

"A successful MCCC candidate will: "Demonstrate competence in using the Moodle Course Management System to design, create, deliver, and manage courses." (Moodle Certification Guiding Principles)

I am not actually going to take the MCCC yet because of four things: first, I don't have the money yet. I would need to finish my Master of Distance Education degree to free up some resources. Second, I am waiting for a Moodle Administrators Certificate (MAC). Third, I am waiting for the landmark Moodle 2.0. And last but not the least, I got an 80% in the sample quiz. I definitely need to review my Moodle skills.

So what I am going to do is blog about my review of Moodle following the excellent MCCC performance benchmark. The 1.9 skills sets are available here in pdf (you may need to register): http://moodle.org/mod/resource/view.php?id=7183.

Btw I am going to try to extend this skill set with the concept of "loosely coupled teaching" and "loosely joined" course design.

Going back to Moodle, I am currently comparing the look and feel of it in three browsers (environmental technology) available to Ubuntu Intrepid. These are Firefox, Konqueror and Opera. It's always good to start with the basics as advance users take it for granted. I will try to report on that later.

See you in my next post :-)...