I have got most of it working, but before I spend ages on the *hard* bugs, I would like to ask if this would be a welcome addition and do I have the go ahead to commit it when I am happy with it?
Any other comments on this feature are very welcome
I have been working on a button to switch a teacher/admin in and out of a 'Student View' mode (see attached screen grab). The idea is that when in student mode they are temporarily 'transformed' into a student and see the screen and all the activities as a student would.
I have got most of it working, but before I spend ages on the *hard* bugs, I would like to ask if this would be a welcome addition and do I have the go ahead to commit it when I am happy with it?
Any other comments on this feature are very welcome
I have got most of it working, but before I spend ages on the *hard* bugs, I would like to ask if this would be a welcome addition and do I have the go ahead to commit it when I am happy with it?
Any other comments on this feature are very welcome
Hi Howard.
Yes this would be a useful feature. I have often found myself login as a specific student when setting up a classroom so I can see exactly what a student sees. Having a button to switch back and forth would be nice.
Ralph
Howard, thanks a lot for working on this.
I am just wondering how this differs from the "Login as" button that exists now for admins on a student's profile screen.
Tim.
I am just wondering how this differs from the "Login as" button that exists now for admins on a student's profile screen.
Tim.
Only in that it turns the teacher or admin into an actual student - temporarily. The other route is to create a 'dummy' student (are there any other kind? ), and 'login as' that student and then log back out again. This does all that with one click.
...just to add, that if you don't create a 'dummy' student and 'login as' as an actual student, then you *are* that student, with all the ethical issues and risks that comes along with that.
I any case the Student View button is intended to be easier and, dare I say it, more intuitive that the 'login as' route.
I any case the Student View button is intended to be easier and, dare I say it, more intuitive that the 'login as' route.
I'll add another reason--sometimes I will create a "course" that really isn't a course at all, e.g. "Library", and I don't want to add any irrelevant blocks. Thus, if it doesn't have the Participants block, then I can't even use loginas from that course. This would definitely be handier, Howard. I'm curious, though, does this "dummy" have a real account in the database?
No - I was referring to to notion of creating a fake student to 'login as' in order to see what the student sees. That's what you have to do at the moment if you don't want to login as a real-life student. My code simply temporarily changes the status of the use (teacher or admin) that you are currently logged in as.
I would also imagine this would overcome a problem which I have
experienced after using the current 'log in as' method. It would appear
that when you do this and then log off the username of the random kid
you used can appear in the login box.
A bit tricky to explain when you are testing something before the start of the lesson and then the kids name appears at the end of the demo ... on the whiteboard ... in front of the whole class.
A bit tricky to explain when you are testing something before the start of the lesson and then the kids name appears at the end of the demo ... on the whiteboard ... in front of the whole class.
It would - but I think that's a bug by itself. Perhaps you could post it in http://moodle.org/bugs. I actually don't think it would be too hard to fix - the logout function should just need to fix up the session before it exits (guessing here!).
I hope this feature gets included in future Moodle releases! We have had TONS of faculty requesting this feature.
When you feel ready to release this please share the code.
Thanks.
When you feel ready to release this please share the code.
Thanks.
It's lots of small changes in a number of routines in all sorts of different directories. I keep hoping Martin gives a 'ruling' on this as it would be difficult to provide as a reliable 'patch' to try
Anyway - I hope to have it ready soon. It actually takes quite a lot of testing for all the different conditions and possibilities.
Anyway - I hope to have it ready soon. It actually takes quite a lot of testing for all the different conditions and possibilities.
I'm definitely looking forward to this when it is finished....
For better or worse I've committed this to 1.6dev.
I've tested it pretty heavily, but it's one of those 'tricky' things - so I would very much appreciate if those who are interested could try this out and let me know any problems they encounter (or just comments even).
Thanks!
I've tested it pretty heavily, but it's one of those 'tricky' things - so I would very much appreciate if those who are interested could try this out and let me know any problems they encounter (or just comments even).
Thanks!
Also... what do we think of the actual interface? I'm not sure I like the extra button at the top. I have had a suggestion of adding it to the Administration block. That means that it must be enabled to use the function though. Also I have thought about changing the 'Turn Editing On' button into a drop-down for 'Editing Mode', 'Student Mode', and 'Normal' - but, this will screw up everybody's documentation.
What do you think about just making the button in a block? That might be a nice alternative.
Maybe... it would also have the advantage of lighting up "You are in student mode' so you don't forget.
The disadvantage is that student mode is not specifically turned off if you jump from one course to another, so you may land in another course without the block and think you are a student. Similarly, it's not designed (currently) to function on the front page, as I didn't think it was necessary (and it would only really apply to admins).
The disadvantage is that student mode is not specifically turned off if you jump from one course to another, so you may land in another course without the block and think you are a student. Similarly, it's not designed (currently) to function on the front page, as I didn't think it was necessary (and it would only really apply to admins).
Also I have thought about changing the 'Turn Editing On' button into a
drop-down for 'Editing Mode', 'Student Mode', and 'Normal'
Howard, please don't do this. That button needs to be visible and one click away.
I would like it to be adjacent to the editing button, not above. In its present location i.e. above it takes away another bit of visible working space on the course page below.
IMO the "toggle" between normal/editing is perfectly logical and, again, only needs one click to change the mode.
Howard, please don't do this. That button needs to be visible and one click away.
I would like it to be adjacent to the editing button, not above. In its present location i.e. above it takes away another bit of visible working space on the course page below.
IMO the "toggle" between normal/editing is perfectly logical and, again, only needs one click to change the mode.
I didn't really like the drop-down idea - it would be far too big a change.
Yes, it needs to be along side - it seems to be a theme issue though. I was going to get our themes 'guru' Dave Scotson to have a look at that in true passing-the-buck style.
Yes, it needs to be along side - it seems to be a theme issue though. I was going to get our themes 'guru' Dave Scotson to have a look at that in true passing-the-buck style.
PLEASE no drop-downs! I'm weary of having drop downs when in fact buttons (regular or radio) will do. Choosing an item from a drop down takes several discrete hand motions (click, hold-drag, release) whereas clicking a button is just easy.
I wonder if there is not a way to incorporate such a button into the functionality of the "turn editing on"... you know that to view as a student editing is turned off... maybe a three-way toggle? First click turns on editing, 2nd click goes to student view, 3rd goes back to non-editing instructor view...
I suppose that's a big usability no-no, but seems to work with well with the switches on my car's headlights (one is off, other is parking, other is on). Are there other metaphors worth exploring?
I like the way that you click on your own name to get back into the instructor view, but it's not intiutive.. .you just learn it quickly b/c it's such a useful feature. (how did I learn that..?? don't remember). Actually, I think right next to where it says: You are logged in as D.I. von Briesen (Logout) it could say (login as generic student)
so: You are logged in as D.I. von Briesen (Logout) (view as student)
Which would only add slightly to the real estate, be unobtrusive, and be consistent with the idea of being in (as me) out (logout) and kind of in (as student).
Cheers!
d.i.
I wonder if there is not a way to incorporate such a button into the functionality of the "turn editing on"... you know that to view as a student editing is turned off... maybe a three-way toggle? First click turns on editing, 2nd click goes to student view, 3rd goes back to non-editing instructor view...
I suppose that's a big usability no-no, but seems to work with well with the switches on my car's headlights (one is off, other is parking, other is on). Are there other metaphors worth exploring?
I like the way that you click on your own name to get back into the instructor view, but it's not intiutive.. .you just learn it quickly b/c it's such a useful feature. (how did I learn that..?? don't remember). Actually, I think right next to where it says: You are logged in as D.I. von Briesen (Logout) it could say (login as generic student)
so: You are logged in as D.I. von Briesen (Logout) (view as student)
Which would only add slightly to the real estate, be unobtrusive, and be consistent with the idea of being in (as me) out (logout) and kind of in (as student).
Cheers!
d.i.
I just saw this thread for the first time ... I've been offline a lot recently.
Hmm, OK, thanks, Howard.
Yes, I'd like people to test this HEAVILY.
Hmm, OK, thanks, Howard.
Yes, I'd like people to test this HEAVILY.
Hi Howard!
This feature was discussed a bit previously
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=25629&parent=126038
The thread was
New course format :: Tabbed
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=25629&mode=2
I know I am late to this thread, but, I just want to thank you for your work on this script and making it a reality. This will definitely aide in "usability" by decreasing clicks for a necessary function.
Looks really "cool" as well.
WP1
This feature was discussed a bit previously
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=25629&parent=126038
The thread was
New course format :: Tabbed
http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=25629&mode=2
I know I am late to this thread, but, I just want to thank you for your work on this script and making it a reality. This will definitely aide in "usability" by decreasing clicks for a necessary function.
Looks really "cool" as well.
WP1
I have wished for such a feature many times (all of them!) when adding/editing an activity. It's true I can 'login as' Student1 or keep a separate Moodle window open with Student1 logged in, but this would be much cleaner.
Does testing a quiz in student mode create a persistent quiz attempt under your name? I think I would prefer that it did, so that you can have a look at the review options. Then you can delete the attempt(s) when you are done (similar to current method using Student1).
I suppose this is for 1.6, or is there some chance it may find its way into 1.5.x?
Jim.
Definitely for 1.6, no chance for 1.5 - far too risky. It needs more testing in 1.6 even... which brings me to your next point... I think it does create a persistent quiz attempt although I only checked individual modules to the extent that I was happy it didn't actually break them. Let me know how you get on with this!
I really like the Student View button feature, it is a great help when designing courses!
I have a quick question though, how does one change the placement of the "Student View" button? Id like it to be adjacent to the "Turn editing on" button, and not below it.
I also think it's a great addition.
I also, like Chris, think that placing the "Turn student view on" button next to the "turn editing on" would be better use of the screen. I would go so far as suggesting it ought to be default rather than a hack. The only possible conflict I can see is if there is a LONG "cookie trail". I would suggest calling the "Turn student view on" button a more compact: "Student view" with a tooltext: "Turn student view on". (In the student's view one could have a compact "Teachers view" button with tooltip "Turn student view off".)
Is there anyone that prefers, the 2 line placement?
Hi Chris,
In latest distribution of version 1.6 beta 3 the 2 buttons are indeed adjacent, just as you want them (see screen shot of a Standard Theme view).
Check that you have the following lines in your version of moodle\theme\standard\styles_layout.css.navbar .navbutton form {
float: left;
}That does the trick!Joseph
It's going back a bit now but I seem to remember that they used to be next to each other. Somebody changed it a month or two back. I'm not sure who or why.
EDIT:
Oh yes, I've just noticed that it's back to where it started. The wandering 'student view' button
EDIT:
Oh yes, I've just noticed that it's back to where it started. The wandering 'student view' button
Thanks for the quick replies!
That definately did the trick Joseph, exactly what i wanted.
Thanks again,
-Chris