Any ICT Integrator using Moodle in Aus will be familiar with this issue. The Learning Federation (TLF from now in), a government agency, have been creating a series of Learning Objects. These now number in the hundreds and are becoming a valuable resource for any teacher. but how do we get these into Moodle?

In the past most users will have used the built in IMS repository tool built into Moodle. This tool allows for IMS packages (of which a TLF Object is one of) to be uploaded stored and deployed from a central repository. This repository could even be outside of Moodle in any directory the administrator has set up.

Although this functionality was a useful addition to Moodle to assist in the deployment of Learning Objects, it was not without its flaws. Some of the major ones included:

• Finding materials which are relevant to a number of disciplines but only filed under one (i.e. a learning object on climate change that might apply to both science and geography streams).
• Adding more materials to the repository was difficult. A teacher may have created or gained access to anotherIMS object but would need to send it to the admin for inclusion in the repository.
• Extending keywording (tagging) or amending title and descriptions. This functionality is required by librarians where validation or reclassification of materials is acceptable.
• No way to search the database for specific Learning Objects

Now there is a third option! Thanks to the Worcester College of Technology we now have MrCute. MrCute (the cutest acronym I have her yet) extends the functionality of the IMS Repository system originally developed by Alton College, UK that is built into standard Moodle’s. MrCute addresses the above issues while also adding:

• A search and embed option (and a hidden automatic indexing option to support the search)
• An upload and IMS package creation option
• A validation option for library and other staff. This is facilitated by the addition of a new permission added to Moodle that can be added to existing roles or, as in my case, to a new one called “librarian”

Below is a short movie demonstrating this new code in action on my live site. I is running 1.9+ but this code works on anything 1.7 and above.

Useful Links

• Additional Information on MrCute
• Download MrCute

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This post is tagged ICT, integration, learning objects, Moodle, repository, TLF