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Tag: python

Importing into Moodle from Examview – With Images

Edit on 8/7/2014

Well, this script is pretty much worthless now. Not sure when it happened, but Moodle now lets you upload the entire Blackboard zip file, images included, and everything gets imported. No more messing around with the res00000 files.

Going to leave the original post though. Might be handy for someone stuck using an older version of Moodle.

Original Post

I’m a big fan of Moodle, but really don’t like the way you have to add questions to banks. There’s just too much on that page.

So I normally build question banks in Examview and then import to Moodle. Only catch is that importing that way doesn’t allow for images.

So what I’ve done is create a simple Python script that takes the exported file and replaces the image links with a data scheme URI. Wasn’t expecting it to work, but it works without a hitch.

Teaching recursion with Scratch BYOB

One of the biggest limits we came across teaching with Scratch this year is the inability to write methods and use parameters.  Methods, returns, and parameters are probably the only major concept in our intro CompSci class that we can’t teach in Scratch; so we introduced them in Alice this past year.  It worked ok, but we haven’t been able to come up with any really good labs that explain the purpose of parameters well to the students.

This past week I came across an extended version of Scratch called Scratch BYOB, or Build Your Own Block.  And it does exactly what I was looking for.  It gives you the ability to create methods and optionally include parameters.

Don’t “unplug” your students

Came across this post from a technology teacher in Cedar Park, Texas.

Much of what she talks about is the result of a conference she returned from in Austin a couple weeks ago.  A conference that I, along with a few thousand other technology teachers, was also at.  I even got talked into presenting a couple of sessions.  One on Python and one on Alice.

Her point, and one I definitely agree with, is that as teachers we don’t embrace technology when it can be used to enhance the education of our students.  I teach computer science so we’re on the computers most every day.  But there are subjects that are not forced to use technology, and many times they don’t.  And that’s unfortunate.  Students are online pretty much 24/7.  Even when they’re sitting in class and supposed to be paying attention to us they have their cell phones in their pockets receiving text message from friends.