Use of an Open Source Platform for e-Learning with Virtual Microscopy
H.P. SinnDept. of PathologyUniversity HospitalHeidelberg
Agenda
Platforms for Virtual Microscopy
Characteristics of Moodle
Types of courses
Modules
Scripts and Tricks
Application examples
ILCIDC
ACCMPC
TUB
MED
PAP
SECCRIB
MUC
Platforms for virtual microscopy
Embedded pages (USCAP, AFIP)
Specialized solutions for virtual microscopy (SlidePath)
Localized standalone systems (Basel, Zürich)
Personal sites (Aachen)
E-learning Systems (Moodle, WebCT) Course oriented Community oriented
Introduction
Things to consider when choosing a system
E-learning functionality Authentication, LDAP support Interactive Modules Exams Feedback others
Easy to use content management system Flexibility (Modularity) Low or no cost Community support
Introduction
Moodle
Moodle is an open source e-learning system
It is course-based
It uses a LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) architecture
Modular,
Object-Oriented,
Dynamic
Learning
Environment
Introduction
Course Management
A teacher administrator has full control over all settings for a course, including restricting other teachers
Choice of course formats such as by week, by topic or a discussion-focused social format
Flexible array of course activities: Forums, Journals, Quizzes, Resources, Choices, Surveys, Assignments, Chats, Workshops, Internalmail
Display recent changes to the course since the last login can be displayed on the course home page
Easy editing of text for resources, forum postings, journal entries using an embedded WYSIWYG HTML editor
Import and export custom courses, examples, and scorm compatible objects
Introduction
Topic based format
Lists of topics within one course
Within each topic „activities“ (such as lessons, hyperlinks,
questionaire etc.) or „blocks“ (data, images) may be
included
Convenient for presentation of a list of cases, such as a
study set of digital slides
Basic Moodle
Topic based format
Basic Moodle
Topic based format- Drawbacks -
Not good for maintaining large cases series Repetetive formatting of every cases Maintainence of hyperlinks tedious
Not good for structured documents, such as unknown cases
and solutions
No database facilities like search or sort
Basic Moodle
Database module
Provides one or multiple sub-databases per course
Database fields include numeric, text, textarea, file, image,
menu, URL and others
Teacher and/or student can enter data
Lists can be searched and sorted
Modules
Database module
Modules
Database module
Modules
Database module
Modules
Database module
Modules
Database module
Modules
Database module
Modules
Database module
Modules
Database module
Modules
Database module
Modules
Database module- Further uses -
Accessability of database content from
other modules
Linking database from external sources
(e.g. through PHP)
Interactive use, e.g. allowing students to
enter data
Modules
Book Module
Provides textual and non textual content
Arragend in chapters and sub-chapters
Input is plain HTML using the integrated
HTML editor or not
No search of sort facilities
Modules
Book Module
Modules
Wiki module
Uses Nwiki (based on dfWiki), from Moodle 1.9
Syntax like MediaWiki (used in Wikipedia)
Ideal for collaborative editing
Students and Teachers can enter data
Usueful for collecting structured information, such as when
building a course
Beware: Texts in the Wiki syntax cannot be used anywhere
else in Moodle
Modules
Wiki module
Modules
Lesson module
Interactive questions
and answer pages
Case-based learning
Modules
Lesson module
Modules
Lesson modulelesson construction page
Modules
Tricks and Hints
<iframe> tag
Javascript
Execution of custom PHP files
Tricks and Hints
Use of <iframe> and external PHP script
Tricks and Hints
mysql_connect(localhost,$username,$password);@mysql_select_db($database) or die( "Unable to select database");$query="SELECT * FROM svs WHERE substr(kurs,12,3)='".$serie."' order by id";
Example internet sites using Moodle and virtual microscopy
IAP Germany (testing site)
www.iap-bonn.de/moodle
University of Heidelberg
elearning.uni-heidelberg.de
Sandbox for application development
www.vpathology.org/sandbox
Examples
IAP Germanywww.iap-bonn.de/moodle
Examples
General Pathologyelearning.uni-heidelberg.de
Examples
Neuropathologyelearning.uni-heidelberg.de
Examples
CP Conferenceelearning.uni-heidelberg.de
Examples
Summary
Moodle is a versatile platform for
pathology teaching at undergraduate and
postgraduate levels
Provides connectivity to other systems
through open standards and great variety
of modules