pcprofessor

OK. that's done. I've put it under the HowTo section. I wrote it for Breezy so I hope it's still OK for Dapper. Let me know if not.

I run Ubuntu on my desktop and have compiled a document on how to install Moodle for testing purposes. If you PM me with your email I'll send you a copy. Nick

Thanks everyone for your tips so far. There is plenty for me to go at. I'd still be interested in contacting some of your physics lab techs directly as well if anyone has any friendly email addresses. Regards Nick

Hi everyone. I realise that this isn't really the place for this query, but I'd appreciate any help. I have recently taken up a post as physics lab technician at a local school. The school is way behind on the technology front - we don't have networked PC's or the internet or email at the moment in the science dept. I intend to do what I can to improve things which will hopefully involve FOSS somewhere down the line. My query at the moment though is more about the physics technician role. Do any of you in more advanced schools have any physics resources on PC or Internet that I can use or introduce to my new school. I have in mind things like moodle courses (I have already found one of these) but also databases of diagrams, experiments, equipment required etc. I am trying to build up a document of all the physics experiments along with photos, diagrams instructions etc and at least in my situation, locations of the equipment. This will be made available to everyone else else once I have finished but I don't want to re-invent the wheel if anyone else has already done something similar. Please feel free to pass this request on to your own physics technicians and anyone can contact me directly on nick[at]thepcprofessor.co.uk Many thanks. Nick

I think there is already a thread about BSF somewhere but I can't find it and I think this may be important. Take a look at the latest thread on the schoolforge discussion site http://groups.google.com/group/sf-uk-discuss apparently Kent have come up with a plan for the future in conjunction with microsoft which at first glance anyway looks like a fait acomplis (is that spelt rite). I haven't had chance to read everything but it's looking like any school not wanting to go along with the plan will have to make up an extremely strong case and the sooner the better or it may be too late. Nick

Hi all. for some pretty uptodate info on Becta and Learning Platforms (at least open source ones) keep an eye on http://www.schoolforge.co.uk . have a look at the news section and also the discussion groups (they are found under mailing lists). the main one is running athread about the SEGfL Learning Platform as we speak. Nick

I don't know much about these but you could have a look at http://www.2x.com/pxes/ It's a thin client package that seems to work in a number of different environments Nick

two other relevant threads are: "blocking .exe" in the windows forum and "portable apps" in the general chat forum. the common answer seems to be the use of Software Restriction Policies.

On the topic of layout, I came across a great Open Source package for doing a blog style website called edupress. It's a doddle to download and install, but needs a server with Mysql and for a beginner (obviously not you lot) cpanel. Apparently it's a cut down version of wordpress. For an example of what it looks like have a look at http://thepcprofessor.co.uk/edupress You manage everything online so don't need ftp (except possibly to upload it in the first instance).

so do you need a copy in English then or what - never did get the hang of foreign languages despite spending the last six years in Portugal. I only managed there to learn how to order a beer.

Anybody come across "Portable Apps" (portableapps.com). It seems that you can run these apps from a USB device and they don't leave any trace on the machine. You can run for example Firefox with all your own bookmarks. There are quite a few apps available even now (including a full OpenOffice.org, NVU, Filezilla, Thunderbird, Gaim....), with more on the way - including "operating systems" according to the info on the site. What are the implications for "secure" networks? My nephew apparently uses them all the time at school.

****URGENT*** There is a thread running today (Thursday) on the schoolforge-uk website touching on this topic. If anyone wants to get their ten pennorth in, then go to http://groups.google.com/group/sf-uk-discuss and look for the BECTA meeting thread. Tomorrow will be too late.

Hi all, a couple of things of questionable relevance here: you can find a comparison of Blackboard and Moodle carried out by an Humboldt State University here. http://www.humboldt.edu/~jdv1/moodle/all.htm also for anyone in the North West, their LEA (through Lancashire grid for Learning and CLEO) are offering a Moodle installation free of charge. "if schools wish to investigate the potential of using a learning platform we can set up a full functional moodle vle at no cost to the school. if you are interested in joining the 40 schools currently using this facility, please contact [email protected] Contact rob also on 01257 516379

well it was like this. Unbeknown to me, my assistant had a bottle of champagne hidden behind the filing cabinet and deciding we needed to celebrate a successful operation popped it with a loud bang - just as I switched the main power back on. I thought a circuit had blown and dived under the desk to see, but banged my head and spent the next 30 mins unconscious. When I came round, my assistant was drunk and I didn't know who I was or where I was. I staggered out and wandered aimlessly around the streets until I was picked up for vagrancy and spent the night in a Police cell. Fortunately the beatings caused my memory to return and so here I am, Monday morning bright and breezy.

Thanks for your help so far chaps but unfortunately no go as yet. I have tried re-installing things and also tries apache rather than apache2 and also postgresql instead of mysql. Still the same. I've tried the thing with config.php but that didn't help either. I'm going to try an installation on Mandriva rather than ubuntu and see if that makes any difference.

this is on the server - I can also type 192.168.0.3/moodle/admin or 127.0.0.1/moodle/admin, they all give me just an empty screen. If I type localhost, I get a directory which has a folder with basic apache info which displays on screen if I go into that folder. I'm sure when I tried just localhost on a different linux machine, it went straight to the apache screen, which leads me to believe it is a directory structure problem, but I can't figure out what.

does anyone have any experience with moodle. I'm trying to get it installed on an ubuntu system. I get as far as installing apache2, mysql etc and then the install script stops with "The moodle install script will create the database but the tables are to be created with a PHP script. Please launch it right after the install. http://localhost/moodle/admin" all I get is a blank page when I go to this url, I'm supposed to get an install script. Moodle itself seems to be installed but I can't get any further. I have tried the moodle forums and the ubuntu forums but can't find the answer. Nick

why not take the plunge and install ubuntu linux. It has all the software that you could want. Or failing that, email me your address and I'll send you a copy of cyberlink PowerDVD. I have a few copies left over from installing various DVD players. Incidentally you shouldn't need codecs to play DVD's just avi, divx, xvid type files.

don't know if I'm on the same wavelength here, but I've been messing with edubuntu which has the Linux Terminal Server Project software as standard and a thin client software called PXES - both easily found on the web. I'm amazed at the results. Nick

I have been experimenting at home with thin clients and VLE's. I found edubuntu was great to serve the thin clients and used a thin client software called PXES - all available to download. I have also been experimenting with Karoshi which is designed to provide all a school needs in a number of dedicated servers. Their server called Colossus has moodle, squirrelmail and a library package all included and the install is a breeze. I installed this on top of Mandriva 2006, but it also goes on a couple of others - only KDE desktops at the moment though. I'm still experimenting, but if anyone wants more info, just ask. Nick