Customlabel module (Course elements)

The customlabel module is a specialisation of the core label module to improve content writing in course main pages.

The customlabel module proposes a set (extensible) of subtypes that match well known uses of the learning editorial activity. Subtypes are essentially small parts of content rendered through a predefined html template fo layout (internal renderer), applying a subtype specific small stylesheet (overridable) and using a small predefined dataset.

When adding a new instance of a customlabel (called Course Element in the GUI) to a course, the activity settings usual form can change of aspect depending on the choosen subtype. The form will self-adapt to the requirements of the element internal information model.

This plugin has two effects on content handling and management :

• productivity effect : teachers do not nead to bother with styling and aspect consistency, as they just need to enter the adequate payload into the presented fields.
• stability effect : Any of the course elements will be rendered and layout the same way, thus keeping the same graphical aspect whoever authors a course. This is a good point for an institutional LMS that needs to keep content consistant although deferred to many contributors of distinct IT addition skills.

Installation

Available archive : https://github.com/vfremaux/moodle-mod_customlabel

Unpack the customlabel package into the 'mod' directory of your Moodle installation.

Browse to the Administration -> Notification service to proceed to logical install.

Dependancies

To process accurately the multiple language content, a modified version of the multilang filter is necessary to process nested spans in content.

Get the filter MultilangEnhanced and install it along to customlabel.

Disable the standard multilang filter and activate the enhanced filter (he enhanced filter will process all other lang selection strings as required).

Features summary

• High semantic level course elements
• Style preset by integrator/styler
• Role sensible elements can hide for some roles (role conditional content)
• Easy extensible subtype model

Using labels

Course elements are known as enhanced labels. So adding a course element is just like adding a label, and filling information parts.

On Moodle versions < 2.2, you'll find the 'Course element' choice in the "Add a ressource" menu.

On Moodle versions > 2.3, activities and resources have been unified.

When displaying the setting form, check the first dropdown list for a subtype of label you need (See the above section about subtypes). Let the setting form reload with modified field list and complete the required information. you will notice that when changing the type of a customlabel, the content is not keeped, as there are low chances the semantic is consistant between distinct types.

The label will layout the content in the course sequence.

Subtypes

Generic bricks

• "Text"
• "Comment Box"

Pedagogical bricks

• "Definition"
• "Example'
• "Important"
• "Key Points"
• "Local goals"
• "See Also"
• "Soluce"
• "Theorema"
• "Tips and tricks"
• "Work to do"

Role conditioned bricks

• "Pedagogical advice"
• "Authoring Note"

Structural bricks

• "Course Heading"
• "Section Heading"
• "Sequence Heading"
• "Course Classifier"
• "Course Information"

Utilties bricks

• "Contact Point"

Integrator corner

Customlabel is built to easily add new custom subtypes as required by the context and the pedagogical local project. Following documents give some reference upon how to build new types.

• Customlabel subtype development framework
• Customizing the graphical rendering of customlabels

Credits

Valery Fremaux (2008 original) valery.fremaux@gmail.com

The customlabel content strategy was developped to serve the Governement Level Public Teacher PD program (Ministère de l'Education Nationale) in France (called Pairformance) with Intel support.