OER Exchange client block
| OER Exchange client block | |
|---|---|
| Type | Block |
| Set | N/A |
| Downloads | https://marketplace.moodle.com/plugins/block_oerclient |
| Issues | https://github.com/adamjenkins/moodle-block_oerclient/issues |
| Discussion | https://marketplace.moodle.com/plugins/block_oerclient |
| Maintainer(s) | Adam Jenkins (WiseCat) |
The OER Exchange client block is a Dashboard block for Moodle sites that share and import open educational resources through an OER Exchange. It shows what has been shared to the Exchange from your site, and the newest resources available on the Exchange, so teachers see the Exchange without opening a separate page first. It works together with the OER Exchange client plugin, which must be installed on the same site. In Moodle the block is called OER Exchange.
Installation
The block needs the OER Exchange client plugin (local_oerclient) version 1.0.4 or later. Moodle refuses to install the block without it. Install and register the client plugin first, then install the block from the Moodle plugins directory, or download the ZIP file and follow Installing plugins. The files go in the folder blocks/oerclient. The plugin supports Moodle 5.0 to 5.3.
The block has no site settings and no block settings.
Adding the block
- Go to your Dashboard and turn on Edit mode.
- Click Add a block and choose OER Exchange (see Blocks).
- Moodle adds a new block to the side of the page. To make it easier to see, you can move it into the main column, for example below Timeline.
The block can be added only to the Dashboard, and only once per Dashboard. An administrator can put it on the default Dashboard for all users in Site administration > Appearance > Default Dashboard page.
What the block shows
The block has two parts.
Shared from this site lists the eight most recent shares from the site to the Exchange (whole courses or single activities), newest first. Each share shows its title, its status and the course it came from. The status is Queued, Building backup, Uploading, Published or Failed.
- You see all your own shares. Site administrators see every share.
- Other users see someone else's share only when it is Published and they are allowed to see its course in the course list. So students don't see shares that are still waiting or have failed, or the names of hidden courses.
- For your own shares (and for all shares, if you are an administrator), the title links to the share's Share status page in the OER Exchange client.
- If there is nothing to show, the block says Nothing has been shared to the Exchange from this site yet.
Recent OER available shows the five newest resources published on the connected Exchange. Each resource has its cover image, its title, the name of its creator (Created by …) and its licence code. The title opens the resource's preview page in the OER Exchange client, where you can check the resource and import it. Browse more... opens the client's Browse OER Exchange page.
- The list is fetched from the Exchange at most once every five minutes and shared by all users, so a new resource can take up to five minutes to appear.
- Cover images are shown only when they come from the Exchange itself. Otherwise the block shows a plain thumbnail.
- The licence code follows the client plugin's Show licence codes in capitals setting.
- If the site is not registered with an Exchange yet, the block says so and asks you to contact a site administrator, who checks Site administration > Plugins > Local plugins > OER Client > General settings. If the Exchange can't be reached, the block shows Could not reach the Exchange right now. Try again later. The rest of the Dashboard keeps working.
Capabilities
- block/oerclient:addinstance (Add a new OER Exchange block): allowed for managers and editing teachers by default.
- block/oerclient:myaddinstance (Add a new OER Exchange block to the Dashboard): add the block to your own Dashboard. Allowed for authenticated users by default.
Privacy
The block doesn't store any personal data. It shows shares that the OER Exchange client plugin already stores (that plugin's privacy provider covers them) and public catalogue information from the Exchange. It implements the Moodle privacy API.
