A few weeks ago a Primary School Governor posted an article listing a series of questions you really need to be asking your host Moodle provider if you are considering buying in Moodle (click here to view the original article).

Synergy Learning are the leading Moodle Partner in the UK and Ireland and we are confident we tick all the boxes, so here are our answers.

Are they a registered Moodle partner?
Synergy Learning is a registered Moodle Partner and plays a vital role in the Moodle Community. Moodle is provided freely as Open Source Software, which is made possible by the financial support from the Moodle Partners, through clients who pay for specific development. Clients who chose to work with a Moodle Partner in turn play a vital role in the ongoing development of Moodle.

What training does your host provide, if any?
Synergy Learning is one of the leading Moodle Training providers with professional Moodle Instructors across the UK and Ireland. We offer a series of hands-on training courses to cater for a wide range of customer needs.

We offer training on demand for course creators and administrators as well as bespoke training for specific requirements, onsite or offsite depending on our clients requirements.

Synergy Learning also offer Moodle Theme design to make sure your Moodle suits the look and feel of your organisation, and Moodle Development for increased Moodle functionality.

What other packages, extension and add-ons are possible to extend the features and functionalities of Moodle?
At Synergy Learning we are willing and able to install any additional Moodle modules, filters, blocks and extensions available. The packages are negotiable and can be tailored to suit the client’s individual needs.

As well as that Synergy Learning is the leading approved Mahara (ePortfolio) Partner in the UK and Ireland and the only Moodle Partner in the UK approved to offer ZiLink services for Online Reporting and Parental Engagement.

For more information on Mahara click here.

For more information in ZiLink click here.

Do they provide the Moodle Admin AND the Server Admin?
Synergy Learning has generated a lot of eLearning technological and pedagogical expertise since our inception in 1997. As a result we understand what is required for the smooth running of an eLearning environment and ease of use for the people involved.

We offer both Moodle Admin and Server Admin in tailored packages to suit our client’s requirements. Synergy Learning can provide and maintain the server, supporting other server side packages as well as providing full technical support for the Moodle software or we can simply provide and maintain the server which Moodle runs on. It all depends on what best suits our clients.

We are also the leading Moodle Partner for Hosting, Training, Support and Development in the UK and Ireland

Updates – how often are they going to update the software and ensure compatibility?
Moodle is changing all the time and it is important that Moodle sites are updated in line with core changes for the sake of security issues and improvements.

At Synergy Learning Moodle updates are included as part of every Hosting package. As a Moodle Partner we make it our business to be first in the know with progress in all elearning technology and as a result can advise our clients on important advances and updates.

Moodle 2.0 is on its way and we are well prepared for upgrading our clients Moodle sites and networks, as we are with every Moodle update no matter how big or how small.

Access – what are you allowed to do?
Our clients have secure access to their data files in case they need to upload large learning resources.

Backups
At Synergy Learning we back up our clients Moodle sites daily, early in the morning at approximately 2am. We back up Moodle files, Moodledata and databases.

As well as that our clients have the option of backing up their individual courses. Secure shell access is provided – if the client wishes to back up their sites themselves that is an option.

We also back up any additional modules our clients Moodle sites may have, themes, customisations and code.

Databases
At Synergy Learning we dump and store databases nightly, and this can be done manually / remotely.

Maximum file upload size and storage capacity
We recommend a maximum file upload size of 32MB, anything else can be uploaded via sFTP. The maximum file size limit can be increased if requested.

Synergy Learning offers a number of options for storage capacities ranging from 1GB upward. The limit on email volume and storage space for users and courses varies depending on user numbers and the server space in the clients chosen package.

Our clients get unlimited user accounts in Moodle, server accounts again will depend on the package our client has chosen. Packages can be upgraded if required.

Downtime – when and how much?
Routine maintenance takes place late at night or early in the morning so as to cause minimum disruption. The duration of the downtime will depend on the severity of the issue and can be anything from 15 minutes to 1 hour.

Security – who has access to what?
Security is provided via firewalls, antivirus and daily monitoring by our team of Moodle experts.

For each of our clients one named person will be given access to the Moodle code, the data Moodle places in the MySQL database and the data placed in the Moodledata file structure.

Ports can be made available for access to certain web services and applications (e.g. Skype) providing they are compatible and are not deemed a security risk.

What operating system will the server run on? What database will it use?
Our server runs on Linux and uses MySQL database software

If you require anymore information on any of our services email me at info@synergy-learning.com

7 reasons e-book readers make lousy gifts this year
by Mike Elgan, Computerworld

Editor’s Note: This story is excerpted from Computerworld. For more Mac coverage, visit Computerworld’s Macintosh Knowledge Center.

Two years ago, the best holiday gift was an Amazon Kindle — if you could get your hands on one. They were hot, new and sold out hours after going on sale. Last year, the Kindle made an awesome gift as well.

PEOPLE WHO READ THIS ALSO READ:
Eight steps to better holiday cards, books, “

(Via .)

Having played with both the Sony eBook Reader and the Amazon Kindle, I am still not convinced. Let’s just see what goodies the Apple Tablet brings….

Please choose what this post is worth to you and donate!

A former colleague of mine recently read a Dutch article about Martijn Aslander and the new economy. Whenever Aslander does a presentation or talk, he lets the members of the audience decide what the value of the talk was and pay him accordingly. My ex-colleague was fascinated with the concept and is now wondering whether he should do something similar. He especially likes the idea of having a more direct way of getting feedback about what he does. He has asked me what I think of it as a business model. I will try and outline my thoughts in this post.

Aslander is inspired by Radiohead’s In Rainbows album and probably by authors like Cory Doctorow who gives away electronic versions of his book under a Creative Commons license. The reason why this can work as a business model for music and literature is twofold:

1. The costs for the production and delivery of digital goods is so marginal that it can be considered as being zero. Once the CD is finished there are no real costs to Radiohead for delivering an extra copy to someone.
2. The problem of content creators is not that everybody pirates their content, it is that nobody knows about their content. Giving away your content can help build an audience, who then might be willing to pay for others things that you do or have (e.g. go to your speech or concert). Currently this is an usual model, which by itself also generates interest (this is why it can work for Aslander). Usually the money isn’t made with the content that is given away on a voluntary donation basis, it is made with the other opportunities that become available when you have a larger audience.

I personally have reached a stage where I expect digital information to be free. If there is no marginal costs to something, then I don’t really see why I would have to pay for it. This is why I like free software so much: it enables me to use software freely and legally. It is my belief that this is the future of music too, as more and more people find it absurd to pay about a dollar for something that costs absolutely nothing to deliver.

This begs the question of how content creators can make a living for themselves. Kevin Kelly (who has been thinking about the new economy for over a decade now) has written an fascinating manifesto about the things that people will always be willing to pay for, even in a digital economy with abundant and free copies: Better Than Free. One of those things is embodiment. People will pay to see you in person.

Back to my former colleague. Should he try a business model in which he asks the participants of a workshop to pay him what they think it was worth? I don’t think he should, unless he wants to use it as a marketing gimmick. What he does has a very real value. When he does a workshop he needs to be physically present to make it a success. His time is worth something. Also, there is an optimum amount of participants for a workshop. If you get any more participants, you negatively impact the quality of the workshop: an extra space has a real and tangible cost. You cannot say the same for a song download…

This leaves open the question about how to get more direct feedback. I will have to address that in another post.

Posted in Other

”

(Via Hans de Zwart: Technology as a Solution….)

Having received funding from the Welsh Assembly Government to help Wrexham deliver the 14-19 agenda, the forward-thinking LA looked to Moodle’s open source Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The open source approach can help learners to collaborate, within and across schools, and to develop new knowledge and skills supporting the current drive towards personalised learning.

Wrexham installed Moodle across 10 secondary schools, two work based learning providers, one advisory learning and teaching support unit and four Pupil Referral Units.

Moodle is a free and fully customisable management system however, Wrexham LA took the strategic decision to work with leading Moodle partner Synergy Learning (www.synergy-learning.com) for expert guidance, maintenance and support in order to maximise the full teaching and learning potential of this open source technology.

Synergy Learning is an UK & Ireland Moodle partner which offers a range of support services. Simon Billington, Learning and Teacher Advisor at Wrexham LA explains why they chose to work with Synergy Learning: “Moodle provided us with flexibility and is one of the best learning platforms available. However, in order to make such a large eLearning installation successful and run effectively we required professional level support from a company with Moodle expertise.”

Synergy worked closely with Wrexham LA to adapt, support and develop Moodle services to suit the individual needs of the LA and schools. Services offered by Synergy range from customising the look and feel of the software to reflect a school’s own identity, to the hosting and installation, training, content migration and even systems integration. Synergy can also supply bespoke content and resources for use in the classroom as well as offer advice and support in rolling out Moodle across an entire Local Authority.

Synergy implemented Wrexham’s eLearning Network providing the LA with a range of services including hosting, installation, technical support and training through an on-going support contract until 2011. Simon explains: “Our eLearning Network consists of one overarching Moodle Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) acting as an eLearning Portal linking to other Moodle VLEs across different schools and colleges who can access shared resources and courses. From anywhere within the authority you can log on securely to access work and records.”

Synergy Learning provided central training sessions for teachers and LA staff. Simon comments: “Within six months, Synergy had trained 200 staff enabling them to really embrace the eLearning programme. Eleven of us from the Local Authority have been fully trained as “trainers” and we now run one central training programme per week for other teachers. It is imperative to have staff fully trained to use Moodle in order to fully integrate the eLearning Network across Wrexham and maximise its educational benefits. ”

Wrexham LA is now able to support students who are moving between locations to study options such as BTEC Sport, GCSE Law and Performing Arts. Through the portal, Wrexham provides all students in the area with a “Collaborative Options Menu” enabling them to choose one course for an afternoon per week that they study at a different institution. This has been made much simpler by the network as students can log in and access their files wherever they are. Yale College in Wrexham, which offers many of the collaborative options courses for the students, has also installed Moodle. Synergy worked closely with Yale to ensure that they were networked with all the schools in the area.

Simon continues, “In extending choice for learners and delivering a collaborative options menu enabling learners to move between learning settings, it is imperative that our portal is effective, reliable and available 24/7. Our experience with Synergy Learning has been completely positive. It has been a big transition for the authority to move to Moodle but with Synergy’s support the process was seamless. Synergy’s technical support is excellent allowing us to truly concentrate on the delivery of education for 14-19 across Wrexham.”