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| Product Name | Moodlerooms joule |
|---|---|
| Developer Name | Moodle Rooms |
| URL | www.moodlerooms.com/joule |
| Review Date | March 25, 2010 |
| Forums | Moodlerooms joule Discussions |
| Reviewer | Email Review Staff |
| Communication Tools | |
| Discussion Forum |
Forums can be created at the site level, course level, and group level. They are made up of Topics, which serve as separate sections for communication and collaboration about particular “topics” of conversation. Within a Topic area, users can create discussions to which others can then post replies. Discuss |
| Discussion Management |
Forums can be backed up (archived) within a course backup. Course backup files can then be exported in a ZIP file, imported or restored to retrieve selected course data, such as forums. If an instructor wants to move a discussion, there is a drop down menu that allows the selection of which forum or topic it should be moved to. If a teacher wants to move a reply post, they have the option to split the reply and move it to a different discussion. Discuss |
| File Exchange |
Students can submit assignments using drop boxes. They can also attach files to discussion forums or in messages using eMail List in joule. Instructors can also create a database activity and allow students to upload files to a common area. Instructors can use joule's integrated digital repository to store, share, rate and tag files and content in a central location. Discuss |
| Internal Email |
joule has several options for internal e-mail, including the Message module, eMail List feature and Quickmail feature. eMail list allows for internal messages with attachments. Quickmail allows instructors to select a subset of students within a course to send a mass message. Discuss |
| Online Journal/Notes |
Reviewer Comments joule's blog feature enables each user to have his or her own online journal. Users can tag each entry and decide who can view it. This allows students to create a blog entry for the purpose of taking private notes or creating a private journal with the option of sharing their work. Users can also attach a file to their blog entry, insert an image, and embed multimedia or any other HTML item. Discuss |
| Real-time Chat |
Chat sessions can be enabled for specific groups or can be used as a virtual office for communication between students and instructors Privacy settings can be changed to make chats visible to students in the course or hidden so only someone with instructor or administrator permissions in the chat is able to see it. Chatters can insert smileys, hyperlinks, and even HTML code to do things like insert images, play sounds or create different colored and sized text. When two or more people participate in a chat session, a complete transcript of the session is created. An instructor can choose how long these transcripts are saved and are available for viewing. Instructors also have the option to make these chat transcripts available to all of the learners in the course. Discuss |
| Whiteboard |
joule provides white board capabilities through AMVONET Connect Lite -- a free mPower Plug-In. Moodlerooms has also successfully integrated third-party white board tools such as WebEx, Wimba, Elluminate Live!, Dimdim and WizIQ. Customers have the option to select whichever tool best meets their needs. (NOTE: Some third-party tools require a subscription from the third party) Discuss |
| Productivity Tools | |
| Bookmarks |
As a Web-based application, students can bookmark pages within joule using their preferred Web browser. Most Web popular browsers also allow students to make notes about the page within the bookmark. Discuss |
| Calendar/Progress Review |
The calendar within joule displays global site events, course events, group events and a user’s manually added personal events. Course events are automatically created if closing dates are added to activities like assignments, assessments and forums, along with a link to the activity. Calendar styles can be customized through the use of themes, which can be enabled for users. The Calendar block shows an outline of the current date as well as a color coded monthly view that displays events upon mouse over. Users can hide or show various categories of events by clicking on the color key below the calendar. This can make the calendar easier to read (especially if there are many events on the calendar). Calendars can be exported and then imported to a mobile device or in software such as Apple iCal, Microsoft Outlook, or Mozilla Thunderbird. Discuss |
| Searching Within Course |
joule has several search functions. Global searches can search site-wide and course-wide, and each course has a specific forum search. Both global searches and forum searches have advanced search options. Global Search can search for content in an uploaded file after indexing. Instructors can selectively include or exclude course components from search by selectively indexing content. Discuss |
| Work Offline/Synchronize |
Instructors can upload content in PDF, Word, PPT or other file formats as a resource within a course to allow students to download and store content locally. joule also allows for selective back up of courses and course content. Each backup is stored as a zip file that can be downloaded (exported) for offline storage or restored to another course. Any backup file that has been exported can be imported at a later date and restored using the restore feature in the administration block. Most data related to student activity can be included in a course back up. Discuss |
| Orientation/Help |
Students can access context sensitive help for any tool that can be customized by the site administrator as desired. joule also includes context sensitive step-by-step tutorials to help end-users (instructors, students, etc.) learn how to use the platform. Additionally, Moodlerooms provides free access to all end-users to a detailed product knowledge base. Discuss |
| Student Involvement Tools | |
| Groupwork |
Instructors can create groups/sections so students can see common materials for a course. Groups can be made invisible (so users can only see their own groups) or visible (so users can work within their own groups and, with read only access, view other groups as well). Instructors can also use joule's grouping feature to create groups of groups. Discuss |
| Community Networking |
If given the appropriate permissions, an organization can create "courses" for clubs students can create online clubs, interest, and study groups. These groups can have their own catalog, templates, discussion boards, and more. joule's social format enables collaborative course editing at the student level. Additionally, profiles include an "Interests" field where each entered interest becomes a hyperlink that connects users with other users that share that interest. Discuss |
| Student Portfolios |
Through our integration with eFolioWorld, students can create customizable and portable Web-based portfolios to manage their education and plan their career. Learners are able to store and organize their educational, career and personal data and take it wherever life takes them. Students can selectively and securely display their course work, personal information, photos, links, etc. Discuss |
| Administration Tools | |
| Authentication |
joule supports more than 15 methods of authentication. Courses can be set to allow guest (public) access or to require individuals to enter a correct username and password before gaining access. Moodlerooms can also provide SSL encryption for organizations that require it. Discuss |
| Course Authorization |
Administrators can create multiple categories and designate users, courses, roles, and branded themes to each category. joule has a sophisticated 4-layer roles-based access system. Administrators can mix and match capabilities, permissions and contexts to create an unlimited number of custom roles with specific access privileges to course content and tools. Instructors or students may be assigned different roles in different courses. Administrators and Instructors can assign different levels of access to the system or to specific courses based on pre-defined roles. Administrators can use roles to delegate administration of the system to different organizational entities within an institution or consortia. The system can access authorization information stored in an LDAP directory. Discuss |
| Registration Integration |
Using Conduit (a systems integration tool within joule), administrators can automate batch loading and enrollment of students to a course from an external information system. Students can also self-register. Self-registration can be controlled through the use of enrollment keys (passwords). Administrators can also automate batch creation of courses, users, and enrollments in the system. Conduit can also be configured to enable bi-directional data exchange between joule and an SIS. joule supports the use of SOAP-based data integration. Discuss |
| Hosted Services |
Moodlerooms offers a hosted system that includes 99.97% Service Level Agreements (99.997% average uptime) with guaranteed system availability and performance on a network of high-performance, fault-tolerant servers with fail-over capability including load balancing and clustering, managed software installation and ongoing maintenance, redundant Internet connections, redundant and conditioned power, 24x7x365 monitoring, 30 GB storage space to start (per 500 users), 600 GB of bandwidth to start (per 500 users), redundant T3 connections, daily data backups that are retained for one week each and monthly backups that are retained for 3 months each, and a secure facility with environmental control and a biometric security system. Discuss |
| Course Delivery Tools | |
| Test Types |
Discuss |
| Automated Testing Management |
Multiple languages and mathematical symbols can be used in creation of questions and responses, as well as embedded images, graphs/charts, symbols, audio or video files, HMTL, and file attachments because the same text editor is used within quizzes as is used throughout joule. Instructors can create different levels of feedback messages, import questions from existing test banks and set open and close dates/times to control when students can access the quiz. Quizzes have several security options to help secure assessments. Time limits for quizzes may be specified, at which point the LMS launches a floating timer (Web browser must be able to support JavaScript) with a countdown. When time runs out, the quiz is automatically submitted. Capabilities may be set to allow a student to have unlimited time on timed tests – particularly beneficial for those requiring accommodations. Quizzes can be shown in a ""secure"" window as well, which restricts some of the things that students can do with their browsers, launches the quiz in a new full screen window (so they cannot use resources from their joule course to cheat), and prevents certain mouse actions on text or keyboard commands. Number of attempts and how long the quiz is available can be limited. Quizzes can also be password protected so only those with permission can access it. Specific network addresses can also be specified and required, which is helpful for making sure only those within a proctored room are accessing and taking the quiz. Discuss |
| Automated Testing Support |
Instructors can create question pools, and export and import those pools. The system provides analysis data for surveys and test item results can be exported for analysis. joule provides detailed reports that allow an instructor to easily gauge student performance, comprehension based on outcomes and effectiveness of questions. Discuss |
| Online Marking Tools |
Instructors can provide feedback during quizzes and along with grades using joule's grade book. Furthermore, Moodlerooms' partnership with iParadigms provides integrated online marking functionality using iParadigms Grademark feature, an innovative paperless grading tool that makes it easy for instructors to give students the valuable, time sensitive feedback that is so essential for building quality writing skills. Discuss |
| Online Gradebook |
Grades in joule are tied to course activities and automatically calculated and entered (or refreshed) when a student completes an assignment, assessment or participation-based activity (such as posting in a forum or viewing a video). Grades can also be manually entered if the activity occurs offline, and automatically calculated grades can be manually edited by row (student) or column (graded item). Grades can be weighted or excluded for students who have been given exceptions. Instructors can also use the grade book to send e-mail reminders to students who are missing work. Symbols to represent ranges of grades may be set as grade letters. Instructors can also delegate the responsibility for grading assignments through roles. Grades can be exported to CSV, XML, XLS or Text format. Exported grades can be transferred to a student information system using Moodlerooms’ systems integration tool (Conduit). Grades can also be automatically transfered to an SIS through Moodlerooms Web services. Discuss |
| Course Management |
Instructors can set open dates for the scheduled release of instructions/ descriptions of assignments and quizzes. Students can see the assignment or quiz on their calendar (much like a syllabus) but will not be able to see details or submit anything until the specified date. Instructors can also hide content and manually unhide it when they wish to release it. Discuss |
| Student Tracking |
joule's enhanced reports and dashboards allow teachers to view activity and performance information in numerical and graphic formats. Instructors can create alerts based on student activity events (or lack thereof) with course activities, and receive notifications when a particular event occurs. Activity and participation reports show the number of times and date on which each student accessed course content, discussion forums and assignments. Discuss |
| Content Development Tools | |
| Accessibility Compliance |
"As an internationally developed tool, Moodle (the core of joule) is designed to meet a variety of world accessibility requirements, including Section 508, Section 504 and W3C. Moodle is the only open-source learning management system that is fully Section 508 compliant. Moodlerooms collaborates with California State University’s compliance office to ensure it remains that way. joule has standard accessibility tests available on every page. These checks run the W3C's Validator application to check for strict XHTML compliance, as well as the common ""Cynthia Says"" validation from Hi Software for both Section 508 and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) compliance. Other tests can be added to also validate user-generated content in joule pages. " Discuss |
| Content Sharing/Reuse |
Through its integration with award-winning digital repository, EQUELLA, joule supports sharing content across course and institution boundaries. The system provides a central content repository where course content files can be stored and accessed by other instructors. Instructors can designate their files to be private or publicly accessible. Content files can also be shared with specific groups or users as well as individuals outside of the system. Instructors can create links to content files in the central content repository so that changes made to the linked content are automatically displayed in their courses. Tools are available to enable version tracking and linking to specific versions as well as the creation and management of workflows for collaborative content creation and review. Instructors can also rate and tag content to ensure they're using the highest quality content available. Organizations can also share content between federated repositories -- i.e. incorporate content from the Library of Congress's digital repository. Discuss |
| Course Templates |
Courses can be backed up and repurposed (with or without content) when creating additional courses. Conduit automates course rollover from templates by automatically creating courses from a master template. Templates without content can be used to provide a shell that can help instructors create courses. Discuss |
| Customized Look and Feel |
joule provides a sleek appearance, dashboard, and flexible design and layout options. Organizations have the capability to customize pre-existing themes or develop completely unique themes that are specific to their program. Administrators can upload logos, change header and footer colors and update font styles with simple menu selections. Organizations with strict branding guidelines can enter HTML color codes to ensure an exact match. Students can customize their own view of the learning management platform by selecting from pre-determined themes. Instructors can also modify layout and navigation of their courses into different formats. Discuss |
| Instructional Design Tools |
Instructors can create both linear and nonlinear learning sequences using joule's Lesson module, activity locking capabilities and flexible course layout options. Organizations can automate creation of courses with content from templates. Moodlerooms can offer training on instructional design and creating a collaborative learning environment. Moodlerooms can also offer course design services for a fee to help instructors create their courses. Discuss |
| Instructional Standards Compliance |
joule also support IMS Common Cartridge and is currently in development to support IMS Enterprise Web Services, IMS Learning Design and SCORM 2004 (currently partially supported). Discuss |
| Hardware/Software | |
| Client Browser Required |
Reviewer Comments joule is supported by all major Web browsers including IE 6 or higher, Mozilla Firefox (all versions) and Safari 3 or higher. Most additional Web browsers almost support joule. Discuss |
| Database Requirements |
Discuss |
| UNIX Server |
Discuss |
| Windows Server |
Discuss |
| Company Details/Licensing | |
| Company Profile |
Reviewer Comments Moodlerooms, Inc., is one of the largest Moodle partners in the world with approximately 500 clients worldwide. Founded in 2005, Moodlerooms provides online learning management solutions based on open-source Moodle to K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, corporations, and non-profit and government agencies. With its all-inclusive learning management platform, enterprise hosting and dedicated support, Moodlerooms offers open, connected and sustainable solutions that evolve around its clients. Discuss |
| Costs / Licensing |
Reviewer Comments Moodlerooms does not charge for license fees but rather for actual usage of storage, bandwidth and number of active enrollments. Discuss |
| Open Source |
Discuss |
| Optional Extras |
Reviewer Comments Moodlerooms can provide customization services to develop or test additional capabilities or integrations that help meet the unique needs of each organization. Training is also available to help educators unlock the potential of their platform. Included with joule is Moodlerooms' customer-centric administrator IT help desk support and proven, professional installation, ongoing maintenance, free version upgrades of joule's Moodle core, and needs-based implementation process. Organizations that desire onsite hosting can opt for Moodlerooms' appliance model hosting option, for which Moodlerooms, in partnership with Dell, professionally installs and supports a turnkey hosting configuration within the organization's own data center. Discuss |