E-Learning platform Moodle integrated to Opensim
The SLOODLE open source project brings the e-learning platform Moodle to the virtual world server Opensim. The first prototype of Moodle in Opensim is at Reactiongrid.
Moodle is a free and open source e-learning software platform. It has over 30M users worldwide, ranging from local middle schools up to some of the top 100 international universities. Moodle is a web based platform where users can take on roles of admins, course creators, tutors, and students. The Moodle platform includes a lot of features to support collaborative learning and a range of learning technologies.
SLOODLE (Simulation Linked Object Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) is a free plug-in, which integrates Moodle and Second Life, and now also Moodle and Opensim.
Here is a summary of what the Moodle integration means in practice:
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Web-intercom. A chat-room that brings Moodle chatroom and Second Life chats together. Students can participate in chats in Second Life using the accessible Moodle chatroom. Discussions can be archived securely in a Moodle database.
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Registration booth. Identity management for Second Life and Moodle. Link students’ avatars to their Moodle user accounts.
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Quiz tool and 3D Drop Box. Assess in Second Life – grade in Moodle. Set quizzes or 3D modelling tasks in an engaging 3D environment. Review grades quickly and easily in the standard Moodle gradebook.
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Choice tool. Allow students to vote (and see results) in Second Life as well as in Moodle.
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Multi-function SLOODLE Toolbar. Enhances the Second Life user interface. Use a range of classroom gestures, quickly get a list of the Moodle user names of the avatars around or write notes directly into to your Moodle blog from Second Life.
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Presenter. Quickly author Second Life presentations of slides and/or web-pages on Moodle. Present in Second Life without having go through lengthy processes to convert or upload images.
The successful integration was possible because Opensim supports already most of LSL scripting language. This most probably means that Moodle works with realXtend too, but that is still untested.
This is a nice addition to the tools we have available in OpenSim. We have been actively using Sloodle in OSGrid for two weeks now to assist in basic building classes. We are nearly ready to start training others to use Slodle at our Metaversity Campus region in OSGrid. We still have a few things to iron out in the port. But, overall, it is already very usable.
Thanks!
BlueWall