Designing a
Multi-device Moodle Course Site

A case study, presented for
Thompson Rivers University

Paul D Hibbitts 
         @hibbittsdesign      


What does the term “Mobile”
mean to you in 2014?

Why use Moodle in 2014?

Moodle’s Strengths (to me)


  • Learning
    • Discussions (Forums)
    • Networked learning (Blogs + RSS, Wikis, Twitter, etc.)
    • Collaborative (Glossary)
    • Mix of public and private (User Permissions) 
  • Interface
    • Embedding of third-party objects, via HTML
    • Ability to hide/show Topics Sections
    • Language Pack customizations
    • The easy  “hackability”of PHP

Moodle 2.5 was a
true milestone release… why?

The Bootstrap Framework


  • Grid-based layout
  • Support for responsive design
  • Interface components (e.g. tabs)
  • Javascript snippets (e.g. dialog boxes)

Responsive Web Design (RWD)


http://www.paulolyslager.com/responsive-design-hype-solution/



Multi-device delivery is now easy.

Doing it well for learning contexts? Maybe not so much...

Creating a Multi-device
Learning Strategy Foundation


  • Why? (i.e. problem, opportunity, etc.)
  • Who? (i.e. audience, setting, etc.)
  • What? (i.e. learner goals, organization goals, etc.)?
  • Where? (i.e. context of use, devices to be supported, etc.)
  • When? (i.e. learner intent, off-line access, etc.)
  • How? (i.e. organizational support and capabilities,
    existing or new content, etc.)



Redefining “Mobile Learning”
in a Multi-device World


  • Ubiquitous
  • Situational
  • Connected
  • Personal

RWD Design Process


http://viljamis.com/blog/2012/responsive-workflow/

So.... Responsive Web Design  is more than just a process, it’s an
agent of change as well!

Multi-device Experience Goals


  • Conceptual and visual consistency
  • Content and functionality parity
  • Seamless task transferability
  • Think ecosystem, not isolated devices
  • Optimize physical interactions on every device

So, What's the Real Story Here?


  • The unparalleled opportunity to enhance,
    or replace, formal learning with elements of:
  • Performance support
  • Informal learning
  • Social networking
  • Real-time coaching/mentoring

Course Companion LX/UX Principles

  • Learner-driven
    • The course companion should provide learners with performance support, informal learning, social networking, and on-line coaching/mentoring opportunities.
  • Valuable
    • For anyone interested in learning more about the course topics (i.e. not just registered students), the course companion materials should provide value.
  • Streamlined
    • Time is a precious commodity for students, and so the course companion should provide access to all the needed materials in as little time as possible. 
  • Collaborative
    • Students should be able to actively contribute and customize the course companion materials, and communicate among themselves and the course facilitator.
  • Open
    • Whenever possible, the course companion materials should be publicly available and supplied with an appropriate Creative Commons license.
  • Multi-device
    • The course companion should be multi-device friendly, with complete content and functional parity across all possible devices/platforms.
  • Available 
    • Once the course ends, the course companion should remain available to students,
      and continue to provide value.

Time for Questions or Comments


  • What we’ve covered so far 
    • Why version 2.5 was a true milestone release
    • Multi-device support is now easy, but doing it well is not
    • Creating a multi-device learning strategy foundation
    • “Mobile Learning” in a multi-device world
    • Responsive Web Design – an agent of change
    • Multi-device experience goals
    • The real story of multi-device learning experiences
    • A set of course companion UX/LX principles
  • Coming up
    • A guided tour of a multi-device Moodle course site

A guided tour of a
multi-device Moodle course site...


University of British Columbia (UBC) Continuing Studies,
part of the largest university in Western Canada.

http://iy103-w14.hibbittsdesign.com/ (built with Moodle 2.6.1)










Bootstrap (2.x) HTML Snippet


      Media Thumbnail with Descriptive Text
<div class="media">
   <a class="pull-left" href="#">
   Media thumbnail object
   </a>
   <div class="main-body">
      Descriptive text for media
   </div>
</div>


Bootstrap (2.x) HTML Snippet

      Two Column Grid
<div class="row-fluid"> <div class="span6"> Column one content </div> <div class="span6"> Column two content </div> </div>
  












Multi-device Moodle Resources



Thank you! Any Questions?


 


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TRU - Designing a Multi-device Moodle Course Site: A Case Study

By Paul Hibbitts

TRU - Designing a Multi-device Moodle Course Site: A Case Study

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