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One of the most common uses of Moodle is to share PDF files. When a user clicks on a PDF file link, Moodle sometimes tries to open its own PDF reader within the user’s web browser. Unfortunately that approach causes problems for a number of users. In order to improve that experience we have changed the default file display method on Moodle 2 to “Force download.” The change will apply only to new file resources, and it can easily be overriden. In the settings for the file look for the “Display” drop-down:

Using the new default “Force download” will ensure the widest accessibility to your PDF files. For certain other file types, video or images for example, you may prefer to use one of the other display options in order to allow users to view the media in their browser. In that case “Automatic” may be the best choice.

EPortfolio will be offline between 6:45 and 7:00 AM on Friday, December 7 AND Friday, December 14 while we prepare our databases for end of year tax updates.  The window will be no more than 15 minutes.

Wesleyan has launched the newly redesigned Center for the Humanities website. You can view the site by visiting http://www.wesleyan.edu/generalcounsel/.

Wesleyan has launched the newly redesigned Center for the Humanities website. You can view the site by visiting http://www.wesleyan.edu/weswell/.

Wesleyan has launched the newly redesigned Center for the Humanities website. You can view the site by visiting http://www.wesleyan.edu/anthro/.

Wesleyan has launched the newly redesigned Office of International Student Affairs website. You can view the site by visiting http://www.wesleyan.edu/oisa/.

EPortfolio will be offline tomorrow morning, November 29, from 6:30 to 6:45 am for needed database maintenance.   During that 15 minutes, there will be no access to EPortfolio and users will see a Maintenance screen.

During fall 2012 we have been running a small Moodle 2 pilot while most of the campus continues to use Moodle 1. During spring 2013 we will continue to run Moodle 1 and Moodle 2 side by side, but we will be opening the Moodle 2 pilot to all interested faculty.

There are many reasons an instructor may wish to start using Moodle 2. You can find a summary of advantages and a growing list of introductory videos at:

http://moodle.blogs.wesleyan.edu/two-in-twenty/

To facilitate participation in Moodle 2 this spring, the Moodle Course Request app in the faculty portfolio now offers an option to create courses on either system. While requesting courses in the accustomed way, faculty who wish to do so will easily be able to opt in to Moodle 2.

Our course creation process will automatically create not only the desired course, but also a counterpart redirect course on the other system so that wherever a course is, students will be able to find it easily.

Highlights

• Integration with external calendars such as Google Calendar
• Updated activity icons
• Group assignments
• Blind marking
• Submission date extensions
• Submission statement

For full details on whatever version is currently under development please visit the official Roadmap at:

http://docs.moodle.org/dev/Roadmap

On Monday Nov 12 the Wesleyan Station Postal window in the Usdan Student Center will be closed in observance of Veteran’s day. There will also be no USPS metering service available. The package room will be open and normal campus delivery and pickup will continue as usual. If you have any questions, please contact me at aalonzo@wesleyan.edu or x2228.

Best,
Allen Alonzo
Associate Director Auxiliary Services
Information Technology