Is anyone aware of simple, straightforward a list of Moodle Do's and Don'ts for newbies? If not, is there a need for one?
Thanks,
Art
Or would such a list have to be so general and obvious that it might not be useful? I guess it might have to be organized like this: http://www.spiderpro.com/pr/prstgm001.html
-- Art
-- Art
Well, I think there could be a use for one! I wish I had know two things, in particular:
1) Be careful of using multiple windows when writing to the database. IE, do not work on two quizzes at one time. I think I got 20 extra questions in a quiz once because I was doing this . . .
2) As admin, do not restore courses out of the "files" area in the main site course. I destroyed our front page several times before I figured this one out! Now, I restore all courses, particularly conversions from other LMSs, from a special course created just for that purpose.
We probably need different lists for teachers and for admins! Well, if you can make a mistake, I usually do!
atw
1) Be careful of using multiple windows when writing to the database. IE, do not work on two quizzes at one time. I think I got 20 extra questions in a quiz once because I was doing this . . .
2) As admin, do not restore courses out of the "files" area in the main site course. I destroyed our front page several times before I figured this one out! Now, I restore all courses, particularly conversions from other LMSs, from a special course created just for that purpose.
We probably need different lists for teachers and for admins! Well, if you can make a mistake, I usually do!
atw
For admins, but from a really happy end-user: I heartily second Art's encouragement to find the money for a Moodle Partner. We have had so few problems, and when we do, they are so very easily resolved by people who REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH HOSTING!!! I don't mean there aren't other good hosters out there, but these Moodle Partners are tried and true.
--Mary
--Mary
My candidate: watch out for the "Enrol[l]ment duration" setting. It's no fun at all when your students are suddenly booted out of the class and you have no idea why. 
I remember that creating some consternation here when we first started using Moodle; one of the instructors accidentally set his enrollment duration to a short time. It took a little while to figure out what had gone wrong.
Fortunately Moodle doesn't actually delete any of the student work, so re-enrolling the student (and changing the enrollment duration setting!) fixes things right up.
Fortunately Moodle doesn't actually delete any of the student work, so re-enrolling the student (and changing the enrollment duration setting!) fixes things right up.
On the other hand, if they get booted out, they might have to come to you to admit that they haven't been accessing the site, you get a chance to discuss with them what the problem is. Lots of good can come from that, learning what is going on in their lives that may be impeding their success, for example. Just a thought...
Sorry, I didn't know that the counter could be set from the time of enrollment. I thought it was always from last access. 
For us, it is last access, and so if students are booted off, they come to me and ask to be put back on, (I do not give out my enrollment key) and then often we talk about why they have not been on, what might be going on in their lives, in other words, a student who otherwise might have fallen through the cracks might get some personal attention, gets back on the site, and has renewed focus. With 100-150 students per year, this is helpful for me, as often the squeeky wheel gets the attention.
I see this situation is different from ours, where activity keeps them on the site. It appears to me that other teachers are there forever, until you delete them, even if they are not active.
For us, it is last access, and so if students are booted off, they come to me and ask to be put back on, (I do not give out my enrollment key) and then often we talk about why they have not been on, what might be going on in their lives, in other words, a student who otherwise might have fallen through the cracks might get some personal attention, gets back on the site, and has renewed focus. With 100-150 students per year, this is helpful for me, as often the squeeky wheel gets the attention.I see this situation is different from ours, where activity keeps them on the site. It appears to me that other teachers are there forever, until you delete them, even if they are not active.
Hi Art,
I started a page in Dutch, not exactly like this, more something like 'how do I do this with Moodle'. I translated it to English
I think your (by the way great suggestion) is in the same sense. THE place to create such information is in the MoodleDocs pages. I'm sure Helen will find a place for this
The page I started (and everyone, especially everyone is invited to add questions and answers) can be found here
I started a page in Dutch, not exactly like this, more something like 'how do I do this with Moodle'. I translated it to English
I think your (by the way great suggestion) is in the same sense. THE place to create such information is in the MoodleDocs pages. I'm sure Helen will find a place for this
The page I started (and everyone, especially everyone is invited to add questions and answers) can be found here
Hi everyone,
Of course you're welcome to add your do's and don'ts to MoodleDocs. Here are a couple of pages:
MoodleDocs Teacher do's and don'ts
MoodleDocs Administrator do's and don'ts
Of course you're welcome to add your do's and don'ts to MoodleDocs. Here are a couple of pages:
MoodleDocs Teacher do's and don'ts
MoodleDocs Administrator do's and don'ts