Moodle and the iPad

[Stephen McFarlane]

Hi all,

 

iPad wanabe but concerned about Moodle not working well on it. Has anyone had much experience with iPad and Moodle?

 

Is it best to use EPUB format for teachers developing content? Or is PDF better?

Does Moodle look and function well on the iPad?

Moodle Media seems to use Flash to open some sound files; does this fail on iPad?

 

Thanks,

Steve

[Gavin McCullagh]

Hi,

On Sun, 22 May 2011, Stephen McFarlane wrote:

> iPad wanabe but concerned about Moodle not working well on it. Has anyone
> had much experience with iPad and Moodle?

As Moodle is just a website and the iPad uses a pretty standard web
browser, it works fine. The only rider I would put on that is that if
you're using Video, Moodle usually embeds videos using a Flash-based player
and Flash doesn't work, so embedding videos into moodle isn't trivial
(yet).

Using HTML5, it should be easy, in principal, to embed videos, but sadly
all of the different browsers and platforms support different standards, so
it's a bit of a mine-field at the moment.

> Is it best to use EPUB format for teachers developing content? Or is PDF
> better?

I haven't read much on iPads, but on ebook readers, EPUB is generally
better for prose. PDF is fairly frozen so if you want to make the text
bigger, you can only zoom in like on a photo. With EPUB, you can increase
the font size and let the text flow. If you're talking about more
intricate documents with lots of pictures and formatting, PDF might be
a better bet.

> Does Moodle look and function well on the iPad?

It works just like it does on a normal PC. There are a couple of Moodle
apps for the iPad which I have slightly mixed feelings on. They might be
of interest.

> Moodle Media seems to use Flash to open some sound files; does this fail on
> iPad?

If it's flash, almost certainly yes. So embedded audio will almost
certainly work too.

Gavin

[Stephen McFarlane]

Cheers Gavin, good practical suggestions.

Do these iPad apps add or reduce functionality?

More info on iPad and HTML5
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML5_in_mobile_devices#With_iPhones_and_iPads
)

EPUB seems to be the way to go yet very few manufactures are embracing it.
Anyone know why? Adobe Digital Editions, online EPUB convertors etc. it
seems hard for a teacher to actually create content for the iPad that is
multimedia rich?

Steve

Hi,

Gavin

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[John Hegarty]

Regarding epub - Pages, part of the iWorks suite, exports to epub,
including embedded video and audio http://www.apple.com/iwork/pages/ -
unfortunately Pages only runs on Apple

jh

[Ciaran Mc Cormack]

Hi Guys, Really slow in catching up on the threads :)

Moodle works brilliantly with the iPad. I use an app called mTouch
which up to recently was only ok. But now it allows you to upload
content directly form the iPad to your Moodle site.

Here is the link
http://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/mpage/id369809342?mt=8

And here is another one called mPage which is also great
http://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/mtouch/id390646784?mt=8


With Regards the ePub questions- The course FIS is running in
conjunction with the INTO will have workshops on how to create ePub
content for your mobile devices. While the Summer course (1 in Cork
and 1 in Dublin) are in conjunction with the INTO they are open and
also aimed at Secondary and Third level educators. Here is the link to
more info on the course - http://tinyurl.com/AppleClassroom2011 - For
those who want to learn how to make ePUbs - some of the workshops in
the summer course will show you how to make them in literally 20 mins
with no technical experience. The rest of the course and workshop are
on how to make Excellent content to support it:)


Ciaran

On May 22, 10:41 pm, John Hegarty <jhega...@clongowes.net> wrote:
> Regarding epub - Pages, part of the iWorks suite, exports to epub,
> including embedded video and audiohttp://www.apple.com/iwork/pages/-
> unfortunately Pages only runs on Apple
>
> jh
>

> On 22 May 2011, at 21:32, Stephen McFarlane <stephen...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > Cheers Gavin, good practical suggestions.
>

> > Do theseiPadapps add or reduce functionality?
>
> > More info oniPadand HTML5
> > (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTML5_in_mobile_devices#With_iPhones_and...

> > )
>
> > EPUB seems to be the way to go yet very few manufactures are embracing it.
> > Anyone know why? Adobe Digital Editions, online EPUB convertors etc. it

> > seems hard for a teacher to actually create content for theiPadthat is

> > multimedia rich?
>
> > Steve
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: cesi...@googlegroups.com [mailto:cesi...@googlegroups.com] On
> > Behalf Of Gavin McCullagh
> > Sent: 22 May 2011 21:17
> > To: cesi...@googlegroups.com
> > Subject: Re: [CESI List]Moodleand theiPad
>
> > Hi,
>
> > On Sun, 22 May 2011, Stephen McFarlane wrote:
>

> >>iPadwanabe but concerned aboutMoodlenot working well on it. Has anyone
> >> had much experience withiPadandMoodle?
>
> > AsMoodleis just a website and theiPaduses a pretty standard web

> > browser, it works fine.  The only rider I would put on that is that if

> > you're using Video,Moodleusually embeds videos using a Flash-based player
> > and Flash doesn't work, so embedding videos intomoodleisn't trivial

> > (yet).
>
> > Using HTML5, it should be easy, in principal, to embed videos, but sadly
> > all of the different browsers and platforms support different standards, so
> > it's a bit of a mine-field at the moment.
>
> >> Is it best to use EPUB format for teachers developing content? Or is PDF
> >> better?
>
> > I haven't read much on iPads, but on ebook readers, EPUB is generally
> > better for prose.  PDF is fairly frozen so if you want to make the text
> > bigger, you can only zoom in like on a photo.  With EPUB, you can increase
> > the font size and let the text flow.  If you're talking about more
> > intricate documents with lots of pictures and formatting, PDF might be
> > a better bet.
>
> >> DoesMoodlelook and function well on theiPad?
>
> > It works just like it does on a normal PC.  There are a couple ofMoodle

> > apps for theiPadwhich I have slightly mixed feelings on.  They might be
> > of interest.
>
> >>MoodleMedia seems to use Flash to open some sound files; does this fail

> > on
> >>iPad?
>
> > If it's flash, almost certainly yes.  So embedded audio will almost
> > certainly work too.
>
> > Gavin
>
> > --
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[Clare Wallace]

Thanks for this Ciaran
While I am loving the improved mTouch (much nicer interface too) I wish it would allow for admin viewing also - find it a pain that you have to be an actual teacher on a course - its just to remember to set that role my end on courses for myself! But never mind it gets better with every development!
Clare

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[Stephen McFarlane]

Hi Ciarian,

Didn't realise that there were apps for iPad for Moodle because HTML
interface needs a bit of work. Does this app allow for sound and video to be
played (presuming they use MPEG4 etc.)?

Cheers,
Steve

Ciaran

http://groups.google.com/group/cesi-list?hl=en-GB where all messages are

[Ciaran Mc Cormack]

Hi Clare,

I totally agree. Although I think we have to pinch ourselves and
remind ourselves that the device is only 18 months old - the second
iPad was released 9 months after the first one - So the devices are
still babies :) I think it will get there very soon.

On Jun 2, 11:35 pm, Clare Wallace <clareardma...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Thanks for this Ciaran
> While I am loving the improved mTouch (much nicer interface too) I wish it
> would allow for admin viewing also - find it a pain that you have to be an
> actual teacher on a course - its just to remember to set that role my end on
> courses for myself! But never mind it gets better with every development!
> Clare
>

> On Thu, Jun 2, 2011 at 11:10 PM, Ciaran Mc Cormack <fisvi...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>
>
> > Hi Guys, Really slow in catching up on the threads :)
>
> > Moodle works brilliantly with the iPad. I use an app called mTouch
> > which up to recently was only ok. But now it allows you to upload
> > content directly form the iPad to your Moodle site.
>
> > Here is the link
> >http://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/mpage/id369809342?mt=8
>
> > And here is another one called mPage which is also great
> >http://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/mtouch/id390646784?mt=8
>
> > With Regards the ePub questions- The course FIS is running in
> > conjunction with the INTO will have workshops on how to create ePub
> > content for your mobile devices. While the Summer course (1 in Cork
> > and 1 in Dublin) are in conjunction with the INTO they are open and
> > also aimed at Secondary and Third level educators. Here is the link to

> > more info on the course -http://tinyurl.com/AppleClassroom2011- For

> > > >http://groups.google.com/group/cesi-list?hl=en-GBwhereall messages are

> > > > archived and are publically available to non members of the list.
> > Messages
> > > > may also show up in search engines etc.
> > > > Visit the web sitewww.cesi.ie
> > > > Attempts to use the list for commercial purposes may result removal
> > from the
> > > > list.
>
> > > > --
> > > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
> > > > Groups "CESI-list" group.
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> > > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> > > > cesi-list+...@googlegroups.com
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> > > >http://groups.google.com/group/cesi-list?hl=en-GBwhereall messages are

[Ciaran Mc Cormack]

Hi Steve,

Yes it does - It will open up the generic video player to play the
video for the iPod touch and if you are using MPEG4 it will play
within Safari on the iPad- I embed the video into moodle with an
iFrame from Vimeo - Vimeo allows me set the privacy on the videos so
only the specific school url can play them etc (so nobody outside my
Moodle can view them). The vimeo videos are all HTML5 compatible - so
its a match made very nicely :)

C

On Jun 3, 12:22 am, "Stephen McFarlane" <stephen...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi Ciarian,
>
> Didn't realise that there were apps for iPad for Moodle because HTML
> interface needs a bit of work. Does this app allow for sound and video to be
> played (presuming they use MPEG4 etc.)?
>
> Cheers,
> Steve
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cesi...@googlegroups.com [mailto:cesi...@googlegroups.com] On
>
> Behalf Of Ciaran Mc Cormack
> Sent: 02 June 2011 23:10
> To: CESI-list
> Subject: [CESI List] Re: Moodle and the iPad
>
> Hi Guys, Really slow in catching up on the threads :)
>
> Moodle works brilliantly with the iPad. I use an app called mTouch
> which up to recently was only ok. But now it allows you to upload
> content directly form the iPad to your Moodle site.
>

> Here is the linkhttp://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/mpage/id369809342?mt=8
>
> And here is another one called mPage which is also greathttp://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/mtouch/id390646784?mt=8

>
> With Regards the ePub questions- The course FIS is running in
> conjunction with the INTO will have workshops on how to create ePub
> content for your mobile devices. While the Summer course (1 in Cork
> and 1 in Dublin) are in conjunction with the INTO they are open and
> also aimed at Secondary and Third level educators. Here is the link to

> more info on the course -http://tinyurl.com/AppleClassroom2011- For

> > >http://groups.google.com/group/cesi-list?hl=en-GBwhereall messages are

> > > archived and are publically available to non members of the list.
> Messages
> > > may also show up in search engines etc.
> > > Visit the web sitewww.cesi.ie
> > > Attempts to use the list for commercial purposes may result removal from
> the
> > > list.
>
> > > --
> > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
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> > > cesi-list+...@googlegroups.com
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> > >http://groups.google.com/group/cesi-list?hl=en-GBwhereall messages are

> archived and are publically available to non members of the list. Messages
> may also show up in search engines etc.
> > > Visit the web sitewww.cesi.ie
> > > Attempts to use the list for commercial purposes may result removal from
> the list.
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google
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> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> cesi-list+...@googlegroups.com

> For more options, visit this group athttp://groups.google.com/group/cesi-list?hl=en-GBwhere all messages are

[Clare Wallace]

Hi Steven/Ciaran

Just to add that I make all my screencasts with Jingpro (costs about $15 per year). I then export in MPeg4 format. The free version of Jing only allows .swf which will not play on ipod/ipad - had been using the free version for a few years so it was a pain this year getting material into MPeg4 format but it was worth it! Thanks for the Vimeo tip Ciaran - can you make screencasts with it?? or is it just for video hosting???
Clare

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[Ciaran Mc Cormack]

Hi Clare,

Viemo is just for hosting. Why dont you use the brilliant and free video converter Hand Brake for the PC and the Mac to convert from .FLV to MPEG 4 and then upload them to Vimeo (vimeo is also free - and its not blocked by the filtering system)

C

[Clare Wallace]

Good plan Ciaran - have also used DVDVideosoft suite to do conversions in the past though the quality after conversion is not always as good - is there any loss of quality when you convert screencasts with handbrake (which I only found recently). As an ICT teacher/Moodle person I rely on screencasts so much in my teaching.........they need to be good quality else the game is up!
Thanks
Clare

--

[Ciaran Mc Cormack]

HI Clare,

Have a play with hand break - you can get close to flawless transcoding - its not loseless but Humans would-never notice the difference :) In the spirit of screen-cast if you are having any props with getting the setting right I can do a screencast on getting the most out of settings. 

C

[Stephen McFarlane]

So in terms of best practice then for iPad...

Embed video using Vimeo using Moodle or link to a MP4 file? Use Handbrake for conversion from ??? to MPEG4.
Moodle works best through an app and not directly through HTML/Safari (NOTE: Moodle Design Team do not recommend using HTML interface through an iPad, they recommend an app) Slightly strange though that Moodle is an open source project but I have to pay to access it with the iPad while the app technically demotes its functionality? I guess its the same for Android!

Ciarian, can I open a Google Doc PPT file through the iPad Moodle app? It doesn't work through HTML/Safari (Google problem, not iPad). Using Google Cloud Sync I have linked directly for my resources so this issue really effects me personally.

Can I just say that I am delighted with the HTML5 implementation in Safari and the fact that InDesign also spews out HTML5 for future ePub exports. Agree with you that ePub is the future as long as the issues surrounding the VIDEO tag are resolved.

Also Ciarian you say that content creation for iPad is easy and it is on a Mac but what a PC? Have been installing Calibre, Sigil etc. and find ePub creation a bit of a nightmare, specifically with video and audio. Agree that Mac with Notes/Pages/Numbers makes this process easy but unless I buy InDesign 5.5 (€908?) I still have a very bespoke PC model to try and master.

Thanks,
Steve

Hi Steve,

C

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[Gavin McCullagh]

Hi,

On Fri, 03 Jun 2011, Stephen McFarlane wrote:

> (NOTE: Moodle Design Team do not recommend using HTML interface through
> an iPad, they recommend an app)

Can you give us a link to where they say this?

Not that I don't believe you, I'm just interested to get a little more
context.

Gavin

[Stephen McFarlane]

http://docs.moodle.org/20/en/Mobile_Moodle_FAQ

Steve

[Gavin McCullagh]

On Fri, 03 Jun 2011, Stephen McFarlane wrote:

> http://docs.moodle.org/20/en/Mobile_Moodle_FAQ

Thanks....

Gavin

[Clare Wallace]

:) a screencast on getting the most out of settings in screencasting software - love it!
must have a little experiment now that July is here!! yippee (sorry primary colleagues!)
C

C

--

[Ciaran Mc Cormack]

:) Enjoy. If you need any help don't hesitate to give us a shout. 

[Gavin McCullagh]

Hi,

On Fri, 03 Jun 2011, Stephen McFarlane wrote:

> http://docs.moodle.org/20/en/Mobile_Moodle_FAQ

I'm not sure I would assume that's the Moodle Design Team advocating use of
mTouch on iPad. That's their wiki and the guy who posted it is apparently
a community member, but I wouldn't assume he speaks for the core
developers. Also, this page is on "Mobile Moodle". I'd read that to mean
phones so I'm not sure if it applies to a 10" tablet screen.

The suggestion on the page is:

1. Users can open Moodle sites in their mobile web browers (not
recommended).
2. Users can download native apps for their mobile devices.
3. Admins can configure their Moodle site to be Mobile-accessible through
server extensions.

I've used moodle on an iPhone and HTC Desire and it's usable, though it can
be difficult to be precise on such a small screen. I found Moodle on the
iPad pretty usable personally and I preferred it to MTouch (though this is
subjective of course).

It would seem very surprising that Martin Dougiamas and the moodle
developers who are pretty strong open source advocates would recommend you
use a proprietary, paid-for application to access moodle, while they choose
to charge nothing for moodle and distribute it under a free software
license.

I could be wrong of course...

Gavin

[Ciaran Mc Cormack]

Lots of questions there and ill try and answer them 

-Embed video using Vimeo using Moodle or link to a MP4 file? Use Handbrake for conversion from ??? to MPEG4.- Personally I believe Its best to embed the video code (and not the actual video) into Moodle - That way sites like YouTube or Vimeo will take the hit on hosting the bandwidth for the video. handBrake was for Clare solution where she had .SWV files that she wanted to upload to moodle - the suggestion was a way of converting the video and also getting someone else to take the hit on hosting the bandwidth- it one Work Around. 

With regards the MAC/PC for creating ePub. If you are lucky enough to have a Mac yes its as easy as a €15 investment on Pages. However as a starting point for PC user why not use the free online ePub converter - http://ebook.online-convert.com/convert-to-epub

Its not brilliant - but its free and its a great start. The video and audio element is a tricky one as the developers are still catching up with the ePub trend. The PC users currently have some options - if you are going to spend 908 on inDesign - buy a mac - a mac mini would be chapter and pages does an excellent job on interactive audio in word documents. If we have old PC then I would stick with the online converter for free until the rest of the developers catch up what is required to make eBooks. Just some additional thoughts :)

[Stephen McFarlane]

Agree completely yet, unless they release an official iPad/Android app, we
have to use this extra layer. Agree that this is slightly odd in the Moodle
model of learning.

Steve

-----Original Message-----
From: cesi...@googlegroups.com [mailto:cesi...@googlegroups.com] On
Behalf Of Gavin McCullagh
Sent: 03 June 2011 12:00
To: cesi...@googlegroups.com

Hi,

> http://docs.moodle.org/20/en/Mobile_Moodle_FAQ

Gavin

--

[Laurence Cuffe]

Sory to hijack the thread, but if I make an ePub, do I get consistent page numbers for my students to reference, or is that an issue?

All the best

Laurence Cuffe

--

[Stephen McFarlane]

I guess not as inline reflow based on device size/user choice text size etc. change it.

 

Steve