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Integrating Strathmore University Library resources into Moodle e-learning

environment

A project report submitted for the lib@web 2015 by

Raymond Chepkwony Strathmore University, Kenya

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I am thankful to Prof. Dr. De Smet Egbert, Universiteit Antwerp and course coordinator of

Lib@Web International Training Program 2015 for his quick assistance in the project work. I

would also like to thank all the Professors who were very dedicated and hardworking in making

sure that we get the best out of the training. Much appreciated. I would also like to thank Mieke, the

Coordinator of the training who made our stay comfortable, thanks so much.

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Statement of the Problem Decline in the use of library resources (databases) has been a major concern for librarians.

According to research by Project Information Literacy (PIL), there is a serious decline in the use of

library resources and students instead use social networking tools like Facebook, access their emails

more and use e-learning environments like Moodle, canvas or blackboard. The library catalogs

come distant after Google, YouTube, Wikipedia and other sites.

Methodology

The researcher being familiar with the basics of moodle software, he needed to study more and

research more about the software especially in integrating library resources into e-learning. Since

most libraries have not embrace this concept it was an opportunity for the researcher to explore the

possibilities of embedding library resources into e-learning environment.

This project mainly wants to:

provide improved access to library resources from within the moodle course.

To improve students` information literacy skills

to provide specific resources for a specific course Module

to script codes for integrating library resources into Moodle courses i.e. HTML codes and widget codes

About the Project

Installation of the Moodle LMS in a Linux environment

Configurations and settings

integrating databases, library services into a course module through HTML blocks, widgets, library catalogue (search within moodle), library databases and library guides.

Software Requirements

An operating system. Anything that runs the following software; although the choice will most likely depend on the performance you need and the skills you have available. Linux and Windows are the most common choices. Linux is generally regarded to be the optimal platform.

Web server. Primarily Apache or IIS

PHP

A database. MySQL and PostgreSQL are the primary development database, the most comprehensively tested and have extensive documentation and support.About Moodle

software

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Moodle is a free, online Learning Management system enabling educators to create their own

private website filled with dynamic courses that extend learning, anytime, anywhere.

Integrating approaches

a) Using a link to library resources from a university-level sticky

block template

b) Using embed feature

-dynamic JavaScript widget

-static HTML code

c) Using permanent URLs to link to resources

Fig 1. Installing Moodle on Ubuntu 14

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Web server configuration

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Admin Login settings

After successful installation, you can access moodle by typing localhost/moodle or

127.0.0.1/moodle in any supported browser. Login in with the administrator.

Fig 2. Creating a course

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Fig 3. Moodle Courses

Creating a Library Block within the course Library blocks help ensure that students have quick, easy access to important information about the

library, including links to our website and contact information for librarians. Because you create the

library block from scratch, you're free to customize it with whatever information is most suitable for

your students' needs.

To create a Library block in Moodle

1.) Turn editing on, and go to Add a Block (this option appears at the bottom of the right sidebar

as the default)

2.) Select HTML from the dropdown menu

3.) Select "Configure (new HTML block) block" from the list of actions to begin adding content

to your library block.

4) On the next page, type in “Library Links” into the Block Title text box and click the Toggle

HTML Source Code icon and paste the following code

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<a href="https://www.library.strathmore.edu/" target="_blank" style="display:block; margin-bottom:0.5em;"><img style="width: 225px; margin: 0.5em 1em;" alt="Strathmore Library Logo" src="http://www.strathmore.edu/en/images/aboutsubanner.jpg"></a> <a href="https://www.library.strathmore.edu/sites/default/files/images/pdf/library_guide.pdf?source=customlinks" target="_blank" style="display:block; margin-bottom:0.5em;"><img src="http://hartness.vsc.edu/images/widgets/topics.png" alt="Research Topics Icon"> Library Guide</a> <a href="https://su-plus.strathmore.edu/?source=customlinks" target="_blank" style="display:block; margin-bottom:0.5em;"><img src="http://hartness.vsc.edu/images/widgets/topics.png" alt="Research Topics Icon"> Digital Repository</a> <a href="http://www.apastyle.org/?source=customlinks" target="_blank" style="display:block; margin-bottom:0.5em;"><img src="http://hartness.vsc.edu/images/widgets/citation_guides.png" alt="Citation Guide Icon"> APA Citation Guide</a> <a href="https://www.library.strathmore.edu/?q=node/10?source=customlinks" target="_blank" style="display:block; margin-bottom:0.5em;"><img src="http://hartness.vsc.edu/images/widgets/linking.png" alt="Linking Icon"> Zotero tutorials</a> <a href="https://ezproxy.library.strathmore.edu/login?url=https://su-plus.strathmore.edu/handle/11071/3872?source=customlinks" target="_blank" style="display:block; margin-bottom:0.5em;"><img src="http://hartness.vsc.edu/images/widgets/tutorials.png" alt="Tutorial Icon"> Exams Bank and Repository</a> <a href="https://opac.library.strathmore.edu/cgi-bin/koha/opac-user.pl?source=customlinks" target="_blank" style="display:block; margin-bottom:0.5em;"><img src="http://hartness.vsc.edu/images/widgets/tutorials.png" alt="Tutorial Icon"> My Library Account</a> <a href="https://ezproxy.library.strathmore.edu/login?source=customlinks" target="_blank" style="display:block; margin-bottom:0.5em;"><img src="http://hartness.vsc.edu/images/widgets/tutorials.png" alt="Tutorial Icon"> Off-campus access to E-resources</a> <a href="https://opac.library.strathmore.edu/?source=customlinks" target="_blank" style="display:block; margin-bottom:0.5em;"><img src="http://hartness.vsc.edu/images/widgets/catalog.png" alt="Library Catalog Icon"> Library Catalog (search books, ebooks &amp; videos)</a> <h3 style="margin-bottom: 0.3em;">Suggested Databases:</h3> <a href="https://ezproxy.library.strathmore.edu/login" target="_blank" style="display:block; margin-bottom:0.5em;"><img src="http://hartness.vsc.edu/images/widgets/databases.png" alt="Database Icon"> ScienceDirect</a> <a href="https://ezproxy.library.strathmore.edu/login" target="_blank" style="display:block;

margin-bottom:0.5em;"><img src="http://hartness.vsc.edu/images/widgets/databases.png"

alt="Database Icon"> JSTOR</a>

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Fig 4. HTML block

Fig 5. Library block

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Embed library catalog Search Widget To create a Library catalog search engine in Moodle

1.) Turn editing on, and go to Add a Block (this option appears at the bottom of the right sidebar

as the default)

2.) Select HTML from the dropdown menu

3.) Select "Configure (new HTML block) block" from the list of actions to begin adding content

to your library block.

4) On the next page, type in “Library Catalog” into the Block Title text box and click the Toggle

HTML Source Code icon and paste the following code.

Code for the deep linking search in Koha catalogue <br><div id="bd"> <div id="opac-main-search" class="yui-g" style="width:100%;"> <h1 id="Strathmore Library" style="background-image: url(http://www.library.strathmore.edu/logo.png);height:20px;margin-left:4px;"> <a href="/cgi-bin/koha/opac-main.pl" target="_blank" style="display:none;">Strathmore Library</a></h1> <div id="fluid"> <div id="fluid-offset"> <form name="searchform" method="get" action="https://opac.library.strathmore.edu//cgi-bin/koha/opac-search.pl" id="searchform" target="_blank"> <label for="masthead_search" class="left">Search</label> <select name="idx" id="masthead_search"> <option value="">Library Catalog</option> <option value="ti">Title</option> <option value="au">Author</option> <option value="su">Subject</option> <option value="nb">ISBN</option> <option value="se">Series</option> <option value="callnum">Call Number</option> </select> <input id="transl1" name="q" type="text"> <input value="Search" id="searchsubmit" type="submit"> </form> <div id="moresearches"> <a href="https://opac.library.strathmore.edu//cgi-bin/koha/opac-search.pl">Advanced search</a> <span class="pipe"> | </span> <a href="https://opac.library.strathmore.edu//cgi-bin/koha/opac-authorities-home.pl">Browse by author or subject</a> </div></div></div></div></div>

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Fig 6. Library catalog block

Google custom search To create a Library catalog search engine in Moodle

1.) Turn editing on, and go to Add a Block (this option appears at the bottom of the right sidebar

as the default)

2.) Select HTML from the dropdown menu

3.) Select "Configure (new HTML block) block" from the list of actions to begin adding content

to your library block.

4) On the next page, type in “Custom search” into the Block Title text box and click the

Toggle HTML Source Code icon and paste the following code

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Code for custom search <script> (function() { var cx = '004943028205502239300:ocu6yqob3lg'; var gcse = document.createElement('script'); gcse.type = 'text/javascript'; gcse.async = true; gcse.src = (document.location.protocol == 'https:' ? 'https:' : 'http:') + '//cse.google.com/cse.js?cx=' + cx; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(gcse, s); })(); </script> <gcse:searchbox-only></gcse:searchbox-only>

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Fig 7. Google Custom search configuration

Fig 8. Google custom search configuration in moodle

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Creating library resources links Turn editing on

Click on add a resource drop down menu

Choose URL

Give name and description of the URL

Fig 9. Adding URL in Moodle

Adding plug-ins in moodle One of the advantages of moodle e-learning software is the ability to integrate powerful external

tools such as plug-ins which are used within the course in moodle. Such tools include plagiarism

software, video conferencing tool such as BigBlueButton.

BigBlueButton in Moodle BigBlueButton is a video conferencing plug-in in moodle which students and their teachers can

easily communicate via video, chat or voice. BigBlueButton can be installed into moodle using the

plug-ins option.

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Fig 9. BigBlueButton Chat Plug-in

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Conclusion

Bringing information resources closer to the user using learning management systems such as

moodle is important as there will be maximum use of these resources. However, there must be a

collaboration between the course administrators, IT personnel and librarians. Without these

collaborations chances that use of library resources will be minimal. It’s also important to seek

management support as they are the decision makers who may provide funding to the whole project.

Librarians also must be prepared to provide point-of-need service and facilitate students’

information needs.