Moodle common problems
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Transcript of Moodle common problems
Moodle
Common
Problems
LEWIS CARRSOLUTIONS ENGINEER
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What are the common problems?
The Gradebook Mobile AccessInadequate reporting
Poor user interface
Cumbersome Admin tasks Site is too Slow Moodle Training Scroll of Death
Login Problems Upgrade Issues Clutter and Confusion House-keeping
CLICK ON A BOX ABOVE
Server Outages Failed Backups Database Crashes Technical Support
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Problem: The web service crashes, Moodle goes down. Admins constantly checking site is up.
Solutions: • Use www.uptimerobot to monitor server outages – get email or
text notifications to reduce downtime and produce reports• Then check web server logs to identify last action that crashed
the server• Disable the function or upgrade plugin/component
Server Outages
Problems
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Problem: Backups fail, courses skipped or often server hangs or crashes.
Solutions: • Courses over 2Gb fail on 32-bit PHP systems• Configure a separate 64 bit Linux web server for backups• Let the separate server do the heavy lifting and system crons• Increase the max_allowed packets on MySQL• Delete the Log table each year. (Reduce DB size)• Periodically remove the DB backup (Reduce DB size)
Failed Course Backups
Problems
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Problem: Database can crash or tables get corrupted. Restore is often in the form of an SQL dump taken the night before
Solutions: • Take scheduled daily backups at key times of day• Repair MyISAM tables by running table diagnostics• Configure a database replication server for real-time
synchronous backups• In event of failure, point config to replicated DB – no data loss
Database Crashes/Corruptions
Problems
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Problem: No in-house technical support to help with Moodle issues- IT department reluctant/busy/or lack Moodle skills
Solutions: • Use the Moodle forums, they are invaluable (www.moodle.org/forums)
• Use the Moodle Tracker to submit bugs and get official fixes (http://tracker.moodle.org)
• Use your JISC Regional support mailing lists• Use Twitter and follow useful Moodle people
Technical Support
Problems
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Problem: Overwhelming, awkward scrolling, cumbersome
Solutions: • Create a separate theme layout for reports and gradebook• Use 100% full page width to reduce inherit scrollbars• De-clutter the page by removing bulky headers and footers• Use filtering/categories and hide columns where necessary• Don’t grade directly in gradebook, grade at assignment level as
to avoid grade overrides and locking
The gradebook
Problems
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Problem: Theme does not support mobile access
Solutions: • Enable mobile device detection in Moodle• In theme selector, choose the mobile theme for mobile devices
(support for which may be dropped in favour of below)• Consider using a responsive theme such as Bootstrap (Moodle
2.4 onwards)
Mobile Access
Problems
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Problem: Reports are confusing, clunky and do not show what I need
Solutions: • Create bookmarks to your most used reports• Where possible, Export report data and edit in Excel• Install the “Configurable Reports” block (requires SQL
knowledge to use)• Create report templates for the data you require using the
block above.
Inadequate Reporting
Problems
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Problem: Moodle looks dated, clunky and boring
Solutions: • Download a new theme• “Essential” by Julian Ridden is an amazing configurable theme
built with Bootstrap and can be customised via a GUI so no coding needed
• Bootstrap Clean (in core Moodle 2.5) is also a great theme• Outsource theme development to a Moodle partner
Poor User Interface
Problems
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Problem: Creating user accounts, enrolling users, un-enrolling users, groups, adding teachers and roles.
Solutions: • Automate the process• Use enrolment plugins and connect to your MIS data• Use LDAP authentication for Single Sign-on and password
resets• Configure auto-grouping and add teachers via MIS
synchronisation
Cumbersome Admin Tasks
Problems
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Problem: Moodle runs slowly, concurrent users slow site down further, slow page refreshes, slow database calls, system hangs.
Solutions: • Tweak server for optimum Moodle performance• Install a PHP Accelerator such as APC or Xcache• Consider load balancing webserver and database server• Use Memcache for database caching• Allocate more dynamic resource (if virtual) and assign them in
PHP/Apache
Site is too slow
Problems
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Problem: Lack of resources, difficult to organise site wide training, time constraints, lack of interest.
Solutions: • Consider the Moodle MOOC course (learn.moodle.net)• Use Moodle Docs• Use Bath University Wiki Guide• Embed Tutorial videos from YouTube into your Moodle• Pact Publishing Books on many Moodle subjects
Moodle Training
Problems
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Problem: Large courses scroll indefinitely. Confusing for students and information overload
Solutions: • Consider using “show only sections” (2.3+)• Use the collapsible topics format• Use the grid course format• Use meta courses and link via labels
Scroll of Death
Problems
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Problem: Students forget passwords, teachers forget passwords, users get locked out of the system
Solutions: • Consider using LDAP and get IT Service desks to reset system
passwords, thus resetting Moodle passwords by default• Or Use email addresses and manual accounts and use the
forgotten password email function.• Use the information box on the login screen to convey useful
information, such as how to reset a password, where to get help, or link to your password recovery page if you have one.
Login Problems
Problems
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Upgrade Issues
Problems
Problem: Upgrades fail, custom plugins stop functioning, errors occur.
Solutions: • Backup database before upgrading• Backup site files before upgrading• Check all third party blocks have updated and supported
versions• ALWAYS upgrade via the command line, not via web page.• Backup during each upgrade stage & upgrade sequentially• NEVER jump stages or miss versions
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Problem: Too much on screen, “Icon Soup”, too many blocks, too many options
Solutions: • Disable blocks you don’t need – reduce the list• Disable any modules you don’t need – reduce the list• Change your icon set to something simpler• Use the new activity chooser• Set your theme to only add core blocks to new courses• Create custom sticky blocks with common links to help staff
and students – then hide the complicated bits
Clutter and confusion
Problems
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Problem: Cleaning up courses, removing users, deleting courses
Solutions: • Good MIS integration eases the burden (database enrolments)• LDAP Integration can snyc and remove old users• Use the course “Reset” option in the course settings to clean
up courses, wipe forums, reset assignments etc..• Run reports to find inactive courses and archive them• Devise a year-to-year roll over strategy keeping archived data
House-keeping
Problems