Since the Quiz Module was implemented in the latest version of the mobile app, a lot more users have been paying attention to the app and it's potential going forward. In particular, the ability to download content to be accessed offline has intrigued me and my fellow teachers working here in Japan.
During a series of large earthquakes that occurred in April of this year, it became impossible to conduct normal face-to-face classes with the students. Although they were able to continue studying using their smartphones, students soon began to remark that using Moodle through a mobile browser was consuming valuable data at a time when they needed internet access to keep informed of the various emergency measures in place.
While we were aware of the possibility of creating SCORM packages for the students to download and access offline, very few teachers had any experience of creating SCORM content, nor was it likely that the school would be able to purchase expensive authoring programs at that time.
We were in desperate need of a "within-Moodle" solution, and one of the first things that came to mind was the Lesson module. If the Lesson module were available via the Moodle Mobile app, we would be able to curate content and conduct assessment, all the while enabling considerable choice as to which content is consumed (something not easily accomplished in either the Quiz or the Book module).
Although the context of post-earthquake Japan might seem highly specific, it's likely that teachers and learners in a variety of different situations would benefit from having offline access to Moodle Lessons. For example, what about remote communities where internet access via a mobile device is limited, unreliable and/or expensive?
