Can I install a PC/Server at home and bring it to a public school?
Would changing the IP address be the only thing I would need to do?
I am a teacher at the school.
"Would changing the IP address be the only thing I would need to do?"
Nope, more than just that! Much to consider and you still might not be able to ....
First, your provider for your home connection to internet. Normally allow traffic outbound **** but not inbound ***.
In your boundary router you would have to allow at least port 80 and 443 traffic to your PC.
Next is DNS - site accessible by fully qualified domain name that goes into config.php ... that has to be entered into DNS systems somewhere! And the IP address would have to be the IP address your home router pulls from provider - provider could change that IP address at any time and without your knowledge nor permissions to change.
Next is your PC ... Windows ... UGH! The most attacked OS on the planet and the software you install to run a moodle ... XAMPP etc. not designed nor recommended to use for a production moodle.
Senario ... you are at school and there is something wrong with the moodle that could be fixed if you had access to the files ... now you need to open up windows file sharing ports 13x to get to it that way .... or FTP port ... which means your Windows server will also have to run an FTP service.
For all reasons above, not a good idea to try to host from home.
You are better off hosting with a provider and using Linux ... not Windows. Cheapo shared hosting ... which means you might struggle with resources of the server - depending upon number of students/course/how often hit (blended - teachers and students using in class live or sync - same as blended or async - students use as extra after F-2-F class time).
My 2 cents ... but what I've shared is from first hand experience.
'SoS', Ken
+1 to Ken, moving a PC/Server between the home network and a public school network is a complicated thing. On top of that Windows desktop OS is a not server OS. Linux is the leader and here in the forum supported best.
You are better off with a "portable server", like MoodleBox or Kiwix. The special thing about MoodleBox is that it comes with the latest Moodle pre-installed and its own network. It is also a wireless hot-spot.
You are better off with a "portable server", like MoodleBox or Kiwix. The special thing about MoodleBox is that it comes with the latest Moodle pre-installed and its own network. It is also a wireless hot-spot.
Another problem, which I personally encountered when the district hired a new IT person, is they tend to frown upon "foreign" stuff on "their" network, such as "computers from home". In fact, he would search for anything foreign on the network and physically remove it. To bad if you were not there rescue it.
it is possible to create your own Moodle accessible in a classroom. You bring alone a laptop and a router, and create your own network in the classroom but it is not a good idea. Did it once myself and spent most of the teaching period trying to work out why some students could not connect. Turns out my router could not handle too many connections, something I could only find out in a busy classroom.
Better to have your Moodle accessible from the internet, allowing you to check before coming into the classroom and allowing students to access Moodle for homework. How you do that depends on your skill level and budget, both in money and time.
MoodleCloud is a good start as it does not require Moodle installation and is reasonably priced. Other methods of running Moodle are perhaps cheaper in money but certainly not in your time. Do not underestimate the time required to create learning materials for your students.
Better to have your Moodle accessible from the internet, allowing you to check before coming into the classroom and allowing students to access Moodle for homework. How you do that depends on your skill level and budget, both in money and time.
MoodleCloud is a good start as it does not require Moodle installation and is reasonably priced. Other methods of running Moodle are perhaps cheaper in money but certainly not in your time. Do not underestimate the time required to create learning materials for your students.