Comments on: Tip: Flexibility with resource/activity links http://www.moodlerific.org/2009/05/21/tip-flexibility-with-resourceactivity-links/ become moodlerific! Fri, 28 May 2010 08:13:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: melissa http://www.moodlerific.org/2009/05/21/tip-flexibility-with-resourceactivity-links/comment-page-1/#comment-1648 melissa Fri, 22 May 2009 14:56:45 +0000 http://www.moodlerific.org/?p=415#comment-1648 Thanks for all of the comments and making me aware of the broken link issue. Currently, I'm only personally using it and I'm not training our staff to use it (too advanced for them). I will definitely be careful with this method and only advise it for advanced users! Thanks for all of the comments and making me aware of the broken link issue. Currently, I’m only personally using it and I’m not training our staff to use it (too advanced for them). I will definitely be careful with this method and only advise it for advanced users!

]]> By: joseph thibault http://www.moodlerific.org/2009/05/21/tip-flexibility-with-resourceactivity-links/comment-page-1/#comment-1647 joseph thibault Fri, 22 May 2009 14:49:42 +0000 http://www.moodlerific.org/?p=415#comment-1647 Agreed on the links breaking being a really big obstacle. But it's an awesome "hack" if you want to create something more like a web page. I would chalk this up as a more advanced use of Moodle...but it can really add a new dimension to your classroom. Agreed on the links breaking being a really big obstacle. But it’s an awesome “hack” if you want to create something more like a web page. I would chalk this up as a more advanced use of Moodle…but it can really add a new dimension to your classroom.

]]> By: melissa http://www.moodlerific.org/2009/05/21/tip-flexibility-with-resourceactivity-links/comment-page-1/#comment-1630 melissa Fri, 22 May 2009 02:19:53 +0000 http://www.moodlerific.org/?p=415#comment-1630 If I create a forum, put it in the last section and set it one less section in settings and copy the URL and put it in a label....how can that link get broken? I mean, what sort of things would cause the broken link? I can see an upgrade for sure but what else? Because it looks like that activity has a unique ID (just like a course's short name or ID) where it can only be linked with that one specific activity. I guess I would rather use the http://docs.moodle.org/en/Course_homepage#Tips_and_tricks method and deal with broken links IF it happens. I would just have to copy the URL again. I keep everything in order in the section that are well described and organized. I would rather be able to have flexibility with the activities than being a prisoner of several activity objects in one long list. If I create a forum, put it in the last section and set it one less section in settings and copy the URL and put it in a label….how can that link get broken? I mean, what sort of things would cause the broken link? I can see an upgrade for sure but what else? Because it looks like that activity has a unique ID (just like a course’s short name or ID) where it can only be linked with that one specific activity.

I guess I would rather use the http://docs.moodle.org/en/Course_homepage#Tips_and_tricks method and deal with broken links IF it happens. I would just have to copy the URL again. I keep everything in order in the section that are well described and organized. I would rather be able to have flexibility with the activities than being a prisoner of several activity objects in one long list.

]]> By: Michael http://www.moodlerific.org/2009/05/21/tip-flexibility-with-resourceactivity-links/comment-page-1/#comment-1625 Michael Thu, 21 May 2009 23:50:31 +0000 http://www.moodlerific.org/?p=415#comment-1625 I have to agree about the broken links issue. It is much safer to just use the traditional 'link to file or website', rather than a hyperlink to it. As a moodle admin, too much of my time is spent bailing out teachers who have a course full of broken links because of their unique design techniques! I'm all for dressing up the page will images and well placed labels, just be careful with links :-) I have to agree about the broken links issue. It is much safer to just use the traditional ‘link to file or website’, rather than a hyperlink to it. As a moodle admin, too much of my time is spent bailing out teachers who have a course full of broken links because of their unique design techniques!

I’m all for dressing up the page will images and well placed labels, just be careful with links :-)

]]> By: melissa http://www.moodlerific.org/2009/05/21/tip-flexibility-with-resourceactivity-links/comment-page-1/#comment-1618 melissa Thu, 21 May 2009 18:26:31 +0000 http://www.moodlerific.org/?p=415#comment-1618 Those are all good points! We allow our users to set course and user themes - which has been well received. I believe doing the mentioned method would not compromise any consistency because it really isn't doing a drastic change - just giving the user more options in placement and font format instead of a long list of activities. I will have to keep an eye out for the relative/broken link issue - thanks! Those are all good points! We allow our users to set course and user themes – which has been well received. I believe doing the mentioned method would not compromise any consistency because it really isn’t doing a drastic change – just giving the user more options in placement and font format instead of a long list of activities.

I will have to keep an eye out for the relative/broken link issue – thanks!

]]> By: AllisuneLearns http://www.moodlerific.org/2009/05/21/tip-flexibility-with-resourceactivity-links/comment-page-1/#comment-1616 AllisuneLearns Thu, 21 May 2009 18:12:13 +0000 http://www.moodlerific.org/?p=415#comment-1616 I think you need to be careful with manipulating the look and feel of Moodle. If you decide to do so you really need to know what you're doing with design, color and layout - I've seen so many horrid uses of color on color in Moodle sites. You also need to consider the level of consistency you are presenting in the design of courses across the Moodle sites presented in an institution - you may have a slightly different theme according to department, or one that differentiates classes from club & committee sites, but there are core design aspects that are desirable to remain the same. This supports the branding of your Moodle site, and gives the students a sense of comfort and familiarity. It's a site policy decision to consider whether to even allow instructors to switch their theme. I'm not sure if this would be the case with these links, but - at HSU we had a few instructors using the HTML editor to embed direct links to files in their file directory within the course, ie in Moodle Books. When we upgraded versions and switched servers, those links changed in the course migration & they all broke and had to be redone. This happens when you use the image icon in the HTML editor too to embed pictures...that whole issue with relative vs. fixed links....Moodle 2.0 is supposed to address this thank goodness! I think you need to be careful with manipulating the look and feel of Moodle. If you decide to do so you really need to know what you’re doing with design, color and layout – I’ve seen so many horrid uses of color on color in Moodle sites.

You also need to consider the level of consistency you are presenting in the design of courses across the Moodle sites presented in an institution – you may have a slightly different theme according to department, or one that differentiates classes from club & committee sites, but there are core design aspects that are desirable to remain the same. This supports the branding of your Moodle site, and gives the students a sense of comfort and familiarity. It’s a site policy decision to consider whether to even allow instructors to switch their theme.

I’m not sure if this would be the case with these links, but – at HSU we had a few instructors using the HTML editor to embed direct links to files in their file directory within the course, ie in Moodle Books. When we upgraded versions and switched servers, those links changed in the course migration & they all broke and had to be redone. This happens when you use the image icon in the HTML editor too to embed pictures…that whole issue with relative vs. fixed links….Moodle 2.0 is supposed to address this thank goodness!

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