Moodle Plugin: Local WEBCOURSE

Description

This plugin integrates Moodle with an external microservice to automatically create courses and enroll users. It validates users, generates a CSV file for non-existent users, and automates the course creation process. Additionally, the plugin now includes a scheduled task within Moodle, which runs periodically via cron, to ensure that the courses in Moodle are always in sync with the courses available from the external endpoint. The plugin mirrors its courses with an external endpoint, which is very useful for institutions that use an external academic system outside of Moodle.

Installation

1. Copy the plugin folder to moodle_root/local/.
2. Access the Moodle admin panel to finalize the installation.
3. Configure the external API endpoint in the plugin settings.

Features

• Fetches course data from an external microservice.
• Creates courses automatically from the courses array in the response.
• Enrols users in courses automatically.
• Generates a CSV of missing users that were not found in Moodle.
• Includes a cron task to synchronize the courses in Moodle periodically with the courses from the microservice.

Requirements

• Moodle 4.x or higher.
• PHP 7.3 or higher.
• Admin permission.

Usage

1. Set the correct endpoint for your API request.
2. Access the plugin page in Moodle: Site administration -> Courses -> WEBSERVICE Integration - COURSE
3. Confirm courses creation.
4. Download the CSV report of missing users, if applicable.
5. The cron task will run periodically to sync courses from the microservice to Moodle.

Json Format

{
    "courses": [
        {
            "shortname": "unique_field1",
            "name": "Exemple name - Geography Course",
            "participants": [
                { "username": "00000000074" },
                { "username": "00000000076" },
                { "username": "00000000077" },
                { "username": "00000000078", "roleid": "teacher" },
                { "username": "00000000069" }
            ]
        },
        {
            "shortname": "unique_field2",
            "name": "Exemple name - Physics Course",
            "participants": [
                { "username": "00000000023", "roleid": "teacher" },
                { "username": "00000000076" },
                { "username": "00000000087"},
                { "username": "00000000078"}
            ]
        },
        {
            "shortname": "unique_field3",
            "name": "Exemple name - Math Course",
            "participants": [
                { "username": "00000000023", "roleid": "professor" },
                { "username": "00000000076" },
                { "username": "00000000087"},
                { "username": "00000000078"}
            ]
        }
    ]
}

Error Handling

• Displays errors for invalid inputs or missing API responses.
• Warns about missing users with a downloadable CSV report.

File Structure

• index.php: Handles user interaction and workflow.
• lib.php: Helper functions for course creation and enrollment.
• lang/en/local_webcourse.php: Language strings.
• classes/task/create_course_enrol_users_task: Task responsible for periodic course synchronization.

License

This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License.

Author

Maxwell H. S. Souza