Use of an Open Source Platform for eLearning

Use of an Open Source Platform for e-Learning with Virtual Microscopy H. P. Sinn Dept. of Pathology University Hospital Heidelberg

Agenda n Platforms for Virtual Microscopy n Characteristics of Moodle n Types of courses n Modules n Scripts and Tricks n Application examples

TUB IDC ILC PAP MPC ACC MUC MED CRIB SEC

Introduction Platforms for virtual microscopy n Embedded pages (USCAP, AFIP) n Specialized solutions for virtual microscopy (Slide. Path) n Localized standalone systems (Basel, Zürich) n Personal sites (Aachen) n E-learning Systems (Moodle, Web. CT) § Course oriented § Community oriented

Introduction Things to consider when choosing a system n E-learning functionality § § § Authentication, LDAP support Interactive Modules Exams Feedback others n Easy to use content management system n Flexibility (Modularity) n Low or no cost n Community support

Introduction Moodle Modular, Object-Oriented, Dynamic Learning Environment n Moodle is an open source e-learning system n It is course-based n It uses a LAMP (Linux, Apache, My. SQL, PHP) architecture

Introduction Course Management n A teacher administrator has full control over all settings for a course, including restricting other teachers n Choice of course formats such as by week, by topic or a discussion-focused social format n Flexible array of course activities: Forums, Journals, Quizzes, Resources, Choices, Surveys, Assignments, Chats, Workshops, Internalmail n Display recent changes to the course since the last login can be displayed on the course home page n Easy editing of text for resources, forum postings, journal entries using an embedded WYSIWYG HTML editor n Import and export custom courses, examples, and scorm compatible objects

Basic Moodle Topic based format n Lists of topics within one course n Within each topic „activities“ (such as lessons, hyperlinks, questionaire etc. ) or „blocks“ (data, images) may be included n Convenient for presentation of a list of cases, such as a study set of digital slides

Basic Moodle Topic based format

Basic Moodle Topic based format - Drawbacks - n Not good for maintaining large cases series § Repetetive formatting of every cases § Maintainence of hyperlinks tedious n Not good for structured documents, such as unknown cases and solutions n No database facilities like search or sort

Modules Database module n Provides one or multiple sub-databases per course n Database fields include numeric, textarea, file, image, menu, URL and others n Teacher and/or student can enter data n Lists can be searched and sorted

Modules Database module

Modules Database module

Modules Database module

Modules Database module

Modules Database module

Modules Database module

Modules Database module

Modules Database module

Modules Database module

Modules Database module - Further uses - n Accessability of database content from other modules n Linking database from external sources (e. g. through PHP) n Interactive use, e. g. allowing students to enter data

Modules Book Module n Provides textual and non textual content n Arragend in chapters and sub-chapters n Input is plain HTML using the integrated HTML editor or not n No search of sort facilities

Modules Book Module

Modules Wiki module n Uses Nwiki (based on df. Wiki), from Moodle 1. 9 n Syntax like Media. Wiki (used in Wikipedia) n Ideal for collaborative editing n Students and Teachers can enter data n Usueful for collecting structured information, such as when building a course n Beware: Texts in the Wiki syntax cannot be used anywhere else in Moodle

Modules Wiki module

Modules Lesson module n Interactive questions and answer pages n Case-based learning

Modules Lesson module

Modules Lesson module lesson construction page

Tricks and Hints n <iframe> tag n Javascript n Execution of custom PHP files

Tricks and Hints Use of <iframe> and external PHP script mysql_connect(localhost, $username, $password); @mysql_select_db($database) or die( "Unable to select database"); $query="SELECT * FROM svs WHERE substr(kurs, 12, 3)='". $serie. "' order by id";

Examples Example internet sites using Moodle and virtual microscopy n IAP Germany (testing site) www. iap-bonn. de/moodle n University of Heidelberg elearning. uni-heidelberg. de n Sandbox for application development www. vpathology. org/sandbox

Examples IAP Germany www. iap-bonn. de/moodle

Examples General Pathology elearning. uni-heidelberg. de

Examples Neuropathology elearning. uni-heidelberg. de

Examples CP Conference elearning. uni-heidelberg. de

Summary n Moodle is a versatile platform for pathology teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels n Provides connectivity to other systems through open standards and great variety of modules