Hi Diane,
Your Mac team to the rescue.
Over in Moodle Docs, we just finished an initial version of a step-by-step guide to installing on Mac OSX 10.4.5. Take a look and see if there are any clues to your problem.
http://docs.moodle.org/en/Step-by-step_Guide_for_Installing_Moodle_on_Mac_OS_X_10.4_Client
Your Mac team to the rescue.
http://docs.moodle.org/en/Step-by-step_Guide_for_Installing_Moodle_on_Mac_OS_X_10.4_Client
For those in the future for whom 10.4 is a distant memory, see http://docs.moodle.org/en/Installing_AMP#Mac_OS_X
Or simply double-click the official Moodle icon that Apple have conveniently provided in the iServer application within OS X 11.1 and later .
Or simply double-click the official Moodle icon that Apple have conveniently provided in the iServer application within OS X 11.1 and later .
Hi Don,
Thanks so very much for your reply.
.
I went to the instructions and they are somewhat overwhelming to me, but very clear. I am not sure I want to make my MAC a server and I looked at the other option and those directions are confusing to me. Your directions are great. I also want to be able to update continually my MAC OS as new versions come out. Am I understanding this correctly, that to do this, one must make your MAC a server? I also have minimal security.
I teach at a university where I teach online using Blackboard 6.0. I do find that environment very confining and when I read about Moodle, I was very impressed with the overall goals of the software. I think it is a great idea, but I am afraid I do not have the nerve to get this thing up and running; I am afraid it will mess something else up. I can't afford that, since I have to maintain constant access for my online graduate classes.
What are the future plans for Moodle? Will Moodle develop a product for sale that would take care of these kinds of problems?
I thank you warmly for taking the time to get back to me. Let me know at your convenience, what might be future plans for Moodle.
Many thanks,
Diane
Thanks so very much for your reply.
I went to the instructions and they are somewhat overwhelming to me, but very clear. I am not sure I want to make my MAC a server and I looked at the other option and those directions are confusing to me. Your directions are great. I also want to be able to update continually my MAC OS as new versions come out.
I teach at a university where I teach online using Blackboard 6.0. I do find that environment very confining and when I read about Moodle, I was very impressed with the overall goals of the software. I think it is a great idea, but I am afraid I do not have the nerve to get this thing up and running; I am afraid it will mess something else up. I can't afford that, since I have to maintain constant access for my online graduate classes.
What are the future plans for Moodle? Will Moodle develop a product for sale that would take care of these kinds of problems?
I thank you warmly for taking the time to get back to me. Let me know at your convenience, what might be future plans for Moodle.
Many thanks,
Diane
Yes, Diane, to use Moodle, you need to install it on a server. A Mac server is one very good option. Do you want to use Moodle just for demonstrations, or do you want to use it for running your classes? If for demonstrations or personal use, go to the Downloads page and get Moodle4OSX. It is an extremely easy, one-step installer (but not secure for public use). If you want to do "production" of real online classes on an ordinary Mac, then you have to follow those long instructions or get someone computer-savvy to do it for you.
If you follow these steps, your Mac-server will be quite secure. As for future plans for Moodle, it will always be free, never commercial. If you need help installing you can try our step-by-step guide or ask/beg/hire a technical person or a Moodle Partner to help (see moodle.com).
"I do not have the nerve to get this thing up and running; I am afraid it will mess something else up. I can't afford that, since I have to maintain constant access for my online graduate classes."
Another alternative to get started is to ask someone to provide a free course(s) for you on their site. Just ask on the Open Social Forum, and you will get some offers. I hope this helps.
If you follow these steps, your Mac-server will be quite secure. As for future plans for Moodle, it will always be free, never commercial. If you need help installing you can try our step-by-step guide or ask/beg/hire a technical person or a Moodle Partner to help (see moodle.com).
"I do not have the nerve to get this thing up and running; I am afraid it will mess something else up. I can't afford that, since I have to maintain constant access for my online graduate classes."
Another alternative to get started is to ask someone to provide a free course(s) for you on their site. Just ask on the Open Social Forum, and you will get some offers. I hope this helps.
Just to clarify, Diane, that to use Moodle one needs a server, but it does not mean you need the Mac OS X Server. A normal, sometimes called 'client', version of Mac OS X operating system will do just fine for most installations. By 'server' Don means having a computer open to internet and providing services to others. I think this is how you understood it but wanted to make sure since it is a common misconception.
It is recommended that this computer is not a computer you use for your normal work but a computer that is dedicated to those service functions. An alternative to setting up your own server is to use a provider to run Moodle. This may still involve installing Moodle (but not other steps) unless a provider you chose offers Moodle preinstalled.
I should also add that while the instructions recommend using the newest and greatest Mac, you can use an older Mac for this as well. I have over 1700 users in Moodle running on an earlier G4 with 1 GB memory, although a G5 with at least 2 GB RAM would definitely be preferable (and required if more than a dozen students use Moodle at the same time).
It is recommended that this computer is not a computer you use for your normal work but a computer that is dedicated to those service functions. An alternative to setting up your own server is to use a provider to run Moodle. This may still involve installing Moodle (but not other steps) unless a provider you chose offers Moodle preinstalled.
I should also add that while the instructions recommend using the newest and greatest Mac, you can use an older Mac for this as well. I have over 1700 users in Moodle running on an earlier G4 with 1 GB memory, although a G5 with at least 2 GB RAM would definitely be preferable (and required if more than a dozen students use Moodle at the same time).
Robert wrote:
>> ...I should also add that while the instructions recommend using the newest and greatest Mac, you can use an older Mac for this as well.
Actually, Robert, the instructions I wrote were for an installing Moodle on a four-year old 933mhz Mac--not the latest Mac by any means.
If you have anything to fix or add on the wiki, please feel free to do so. And let me know if you do, so I can learn about my mistakes.
>> ...I should also add that while the instructions recommend using the newest and greatest Mac, you can use an older Mac for this as well.
Actually, Robert, the instructions I wrote were for an installing Moodle on a four-year old 933mhz Mac--not the latest Mac by any means.
If you have anything to fix or add on the wiki, please feel free to do so. And let me know if you do, so I can learn about my mistakes.