Digital Workshop

I have recently started working with Moodle and now wish to interface Opus Pro 7 with Moodle so that the scores from an Opus quiz are reflected in the Moodle activities log and against the student concerned. Is this difficult? Do I need to write Code? (Aargh...) Where can I get the appropriate documentation?

I have been using Opus for several years and think it's great and would hate to lose the Opus question facilities.
Thanks - Peter

It's relative. As you've not even referred to SCORM, I'm guessing this is a beginners exercise. Opus has templates that provide several key cmi elements (data that is passed back and forth between Opus and the LMS) and these are a good place to start. DW also provide some publications to help you ensure that the communication is functioning correctly. To set up a simple SCORM package is in principle quite straight forward but you need to remember that you cannot test within Opus, so easy access to your LMS is necessary.




Yes. The basics are in the template - but initially, it's understanding which bits you need. Opus SCORM uses lots of functions that are just necessary and you don't need to interact with these, just understand how to pass / receive the necessary cmi values.



Interesting question but I'm not sure there is a quick and easy answer. I would start with the Opus SCORM templates. If you can understand these and work out what you need to do, then get the cmi values available for Moodle and you'll know what information can be sent and retrieved from the LMS. I think that if you can build a quiz in Opus and get a pass / fail and or score, then using these templates the skill level required is intermediate.

If you are going to start playing around with the capabilities of Opus SCORM, then it can get very technical, very quickly. This isn't a fault of Opus. SCORM contains a LOT of cmi data elements and you need to understand what they do in order to build a sophisticated application. The difficulty is increased because LMSs don't implement data elements evenly and of course because you have to publish, package and load into the LMS and setup the activity in Moodle each time you want to test any element of communication.

Unlike various idiot proof programs that control the exactly what can be sent and received, Opus gives you access to the raw code performing the functions so you can tailor it to your LMS and needs. It does a damn good job of making simple SCORM projects work with relatively little learning required but as with many things Opus, it's very easy over stretch your capabilities.

Mack

Er -Thanks - I think....

I had better go and delve a little.

Thanks

Peter

Before I tried to integrate Opus with Moodle, I'd read a couple of books about Moodle first.

Here's a few titles you might find interesting...

Moodle E-Learning Course Development
Moodle 1.9 Teaching Techniques
Moodle 1.9 Math
Moodle 1.9 for Design and Technology
Moodle 1.9 For Teaching 7-14 Year Olds

Paul

Thanks Paul,
I have the Moodle 1.9 book coming and already have the e-book. It is great but unfortunately does not deal with the software interface bitween the two. I am working my way (slowly) through the comms test module and the help files but unfortunately my programming skills are soooooo out of date (IBM Basic) that is it an uphill struggle. Hey Ho...

Thanks again
Peter

Nail, head and hitting

Most Moodle books do not cover SCORM in any detail except setting up an activity in a course. Occasionally, you'll get a useful tidbit, but nothing worth £20-30 of cash. Not to say they aren't great books, I own E-Learning Design (Horton) for the pedagogical side of course creation as it helps when putting the programming bits into real world speak.

If you need the technical stuff of how SCORM and Moodle work together start here:

http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=3757

and then look at individual issues here:

http://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?id=1951).

Mack

P.S Don't forget that Moodle 2.0 RC is available so anything 1.9 will be obsolete before long.