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Box.net Authentication in Moodle 2.0

September 5 2011 by mvonhof in Moodle |No Comments

One of the great new features in Moodle 2.0 is the updated file picker. Moodle 2 has integrated Box.net, Dropbox, YouTube, Google Docs and WebDav access into the file picker. Moodle administrators can manage access under Site Administration – Plugins – Repositories. After enabling Box.net administrators will need to enter a box.net API key in the Box.net repository settings. To generate an API key follow the link on the Moodle Box.net configuration page.

After generating the API key Box.net will now appear in the file picker. Clicking on Box.net will bring up the login page. Box.net has recently changed it’s authentication to OAuth and Moodle developers have yet to implement this change, so clicking on login in the file picker fails. Thankfully, a developer has created patched files for the Moodle Box.net repository which worked great on our site. You can download his patched files here (zip file download). He has also created video instructions and put them on YouTube. The instructions from the readme file are below. Thank to iacordova for the fix!

THIS INSTRUCTIONS FIX THE PROBLEM WITH (PASSWORD INVALID) FOR BOX.NET REPOSITORY ON MOODLE 2.X

DUE TO CHANGE OF AUTHENTICATION USED PREVIOUSLY FOR BOX.NET REPOSITORY VERSION 2009080105

STEP 1.- DOWNLOAD & DESCOMPRESS THE PATCH FILES: http://bit.ly/qMH5Zm

STEP 2.- COPY AND REPLACE THE boxnet FOLDER & repository_callback.php FILE INTO “REPOSITORY” FOLDER OF YOUR MOODLE ROOT INSTALATION

STEP 3.- LOGIN AS ADMINISTRATOR IN YOUR MOODLESITE AND CHANGE THE API VALUE FOR ANY LETTER O NUMBER OF 3 DIGIT, EXAMPLE: 123 SAVE THE SETTINGS

STEP 4.- ADD A FILE SOMEWHERE, YOU’LL HAVE A WINDOW ERROR, CLOSE THAT & COPY THE REDIRECT URL THAT THE FILE PICKER PRINT

STEP 5.- GO TO http://www.box.net/developers/services/ LOGIN & EDIT YOUR WEB APPLICATION, PASTE THE PREVIOUS URL COPIED INTO “REDIRECT URL” FIELD INPUT, FINISH SAVE SERVICE

STEP 6.- COPY THE APY KEY AND GO BACK TO YOUR MOODLESITE, AGAIN EDIT THE SETTINGS FOR BOXNET REPOSITORY TO REMOVE THE 3 DIGIT NUMBER FOR THE APY KEY VALID

STEP 7.- THAT’S ALL, NOW YOU CAN ADD A FILE USIGN YOUR BOX.NET ACCOUNT

———————————————————————-

FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME:

iacordova | @iacordova

Profile Codecanyon: http://codecanyon.net/user/iacordova

Self Service Password Changes for Active Directory

September 5 2011 by mvonhof in One-To-One, Windows |2 Comments

As we have moved away from desktop computers in the classroom to every student having an iPad we ran into a problem with having students, and staff not having easy access to change their Active Directory password. This password is still important because our Moodle server uses AD for authentication and we are looking at doing the same for our Google Apps account. The goal was to setup a simple web interface to allow users to change their passwords. The solution below only allows password changes where the user knows their current password, it does not allow for password resets for forgotten passwords.

In searching this issue I had a harder time than normal finding a solution, at least a free one. I was not interested in paying for third party software. The first solution that looked like it was heading in the right direction was found on serverfault.com in a comment. From this comment I found a Microsoft knowledge base article detailing the install of IISADMPWD. After installing IIS and ASP.net on a secondary domain controller I followed the steps in the article to get things started. I set the PasswordChangeFlags to 1 since I only wanted users to change passwords from the LAN and did not want to deal with the complexity of ssl.

I went to http://[server address]/iisadmpwd/aexp2b.asp and the page to change my password responded. After entering the information and clicking submit I got a 404 error, it was sending me to an https page. I opened the aexp2b.asp page with Notepad and found the reference to https://[server address]/iisadmpwd/achg.asp. After changing https to http and saving the page I got my next error, stating that Either the password is too short or password uniqueness restrictions have not been met.

After digging some more I found another Microsoft knowledge base article solving a problem with users not being able to change their password in Outlook Web Access. I followed the instructions in the workaround and was able to successfully change my password!

Student iPad Setup

January 20 2011 by mvonhof in iPod Touch - iPad |No Comments

I spent most of my day preparing iPads for students who will be piloting them in the Spring Chemistry class. Ever since we started working with iPod Touches and then the iPad I have struggled with iTunes syncing and finding the best way to manage larger groups of iOS devices. I was able to make some progress today by using the iPhone Configuration Utility, but having to update the OS, select the apps, movies and books, label and inventory the iPads is just a painful, time consuming process. It would be great if Apple would allow us to create playlists for apps and books. Having to go through and select apps individually is a slow process and leaves too much room for error. Thinking back over the setup I know I forgot to uncheck sync new apps automatically on at least half of the iPads.

As painful as the initial setup is I know things only get better from here, at least until Apple updates the OS. Last semester I did not have to update or restore a single student iPad and I would expect the same thing this semester. We will be more focused on the use the iPads and may need to update apps but that will be simple compared to the initial install.

Here are the apps that I installed for our students:
YouVerison Bible, Civil War, DocToGo, Dragon Dictation, Dropbox, Evernote, Flashcards, Google Earth, HistoryTools, iBooks, iResponsePro, Kindle, LabTimer, Math Ref, Pandora, ChemTouch, GraphicCalc, Chemistry Tutor Videos, Calc XT, The Elements, Good Reader, iThoughtsHD, Keynote, Whiteboard, Numbers, Pages, PhatPad, SketchBook Pro, USA Today, and TWC Max+.

We are using the Apple iPad cases. I like the protection but they are very difficult to keep clean. I will be on the lookout for a good basic case that will protect the iPads but that is not so difficult to keep looking good.

I have created an iPad Policy document that our students and parents will sign before they are permitted to take the iPad home. You can access the document here. I have also created a MindMap (with iThoughtsHD) that attempts to show what I am thinking for the iPad Pilot program. I am working on a video and a page on our website, but they are not ready yet.

iPad Competitors – Round 1

November 4 2010 by mvonhof in One-To-One, iPod Touch - iPad |No Comments

I was recently asked a question about some of the soon to be available competitors and what my thoughts were about them. Here is my response:

I’m not too excited about the first round of any of the iPad competitors…except for the possibility of HP and I think they will be just as expensive. Here are my reasons:

-Windows – Balmer has said they are not developing an OS specifically for the touch tablet but that Windows 7 is ready today. I don’t agree that Windows 7 is right for touch tablets, nor would I want to manage a network where every student had a Windows 7 device.

-Andriod – a lot more promise when the next version comes out but I think it will take Google and the vendors a year to get things worked out. It is going to be harder to develop for the range of screen sizes and device types that we are hearing about.

-Hardware – this will be the first time that most of these vendors attempt and device like this. First generation device = trouble. I don’t see the iPad as a first gen device. Apple learned from the iPhone and iPod Touch before they attempted the iPad. The other PC vendors don’t have that same mobile device experience. The mobile phone vendors have the experience with the smaller touch devices but they don’t have the PC experience. Apple has done both well and the iPad fits in a neat place in-between the 2.

The key is focusing on tools that are web based on the iPad and not app based so that we are not locked into any platform and that is going to be hard to do until HTML5 is a standard.

Discovery Education – Mobile

October 8 2010 by mvonhof in iPod Touch - iPad |No Comments

Discovery Education added a mobile site to their offerings recently that works well with the iPad but not very well with the iPod Touch. The iPad interface was clean and allowed for quick browsing of the different subject areas. The search tool worked great as well. It does not give a teacher access to any tools such as saving videos to classes/folders or creating assignments they are used to from the full site. After working between the mobile site and the full site on the iPad I was much happier with the full site. It works well on the iPad and allows teachers access to the tools they are used to using. The mobile interface may have value with devices like the iPod Touch but during my testing it did not work well at all.

http://mobile.discoveryeducation.com/

Interactive White Boards – iPad

August 31 2010 by mvonhof in Interactive White Boards, iPod Touch - iPad |No Comments

While evaluating different interactive white board products I was also considering the iPad for different applications in the classroom. When I started working with the slate based products I liked the idea of being mobile in the classroom but struggled with having to look at the projected image while drawing on the slate. It was very difficult for me to find my cursor and location on the screen.

I set the slate down and picked up my iPad to write down some of my thoughts and immediately thought the iPad would make a great slate product. Being touch based and having a real display would solve the issues I was having with the other slate products. I did not want to have to connect the iPad to a VGA cable and be tethered to the front of the room so I looked for a VNC application that would allow the iPad to control my MacBook Pro. I downloaded the RealVNC VNC Viewer app ($9.99). Because I was on a Mac I was able to use the built in screen sharing app after enabling screen sharing inside of sharing in system preferences. For Windows machines I download the free RealVNC Server to make the connection. After setting up the host computer and verifying that VNC was running, I made the connection by entering the host name or IP address and password in the VNC Viewer app on the iPad.

The VNC Viewer app behaves like VNC or Remote Desktop on a computer giving an image of your computer screen and full control of the keyboard and mouse functions. The biggest issue I ran into was remembering that my touch was controlling the cursor on the computer just like I would use a trackpad on a laptop. So, if my cursor is in the upper right corner of the screen and I want to click on a hyperlink in the lower left I can not just touch the hyperlink. I have to use the touch screen like a trackpad to move the cursor of the the hyperlink and then double tap to follow the link. This took a little getting used to but after using it for a few minutes I began to like it. Another challenge is with multiple screens. If you have your computer setup in a dual display configuration the VNC Viewer on the iPad will move between the displays as you drag the cursor. It is actually a very slick implementation but it makes it harder to control from the iPad. A final issue is writing on the iPad. Because you are controlling the cursor and not interacting directly with the touch interface it is difficult to write. It is usable for quick notes or for highlighting text but not for heavy writing or drawing.

I have used this setup in the classroom and it has really freed me from my computer and the front of the room. I appreciate being able to keep my focus on the class and still see what they are seeing from the projector. It has also been very helpful to be able to jump online and have full use of my computer without having to go back the desk. I am confident that the iPad with a VNC connection to a computer will help teachers to be more mobile. It will give them Smart Podium type interactivity for a fraction of the cost and with increased mobility.

iOS Keyboard Shortcuts

August 26 2010 by mvonhof in iPod Touch - iPad |No Comments

Over the last 2 years I have learned to type quickly and fairly accurately on the iPhone and ever more so on the iPad. Here is a link to the top 10 keyboard shortcuts available on iOS devices. Well worth a read if you type on an Apple mobile device.

http://www.labnol.org/software/keyboard-typing-shortcuts-for-iphone-ipad/13564/

Interactive White Boards – Polyvision Eno

August 25 2010 by mvonhof in Interactive White Boards |No Comments

It turned out to be a very busy end to the summer and start of the new school. We are back in school now and I am trying to get back in the habit of posting. I continued my hunt for the best IWB solution over the summer and came to the point of purchasing 2 for our school that we are still waiting to get delivered. I will let you know what direction we took in the next post.

The first product we were able to demo in house was the PolyVision Eno Click. The eno was delivered by a PolyVision sales rep who went above and beyond in coming to our school to setup the demo and spending the afternoon helping me understand how to use the hardware. He also spent a great deal of time talking about the different software options such as RM Easiteach and Wiz Teach.

The eno click is very easy to install and setup. The board has large magnets in each corner and can be installed without any tools over a magnetic whiteboard. There is no wiring needed to setup the board. The pen connects with the host computer via bluetooth. It took us about 5 minutes to get the pen to sync with OS X. I had download the software and drivers from the PolyVision site prior to the setup so once we got bluetooth working we were able to get right to work. The calibration of the board took another minute and we were ready to go. Another big positive of the board is that it is designed to be written on with standard dry erase makers and can be used just like a regular white board.

If you stopped here with the review you would think I was ready to go out and purchase these for every classroom in the school. We did not do that, for a couple of reasons. The biggest issue with the board was writing on it with the interactive pen. It just did not feel natural and even after using it for a week and did not feel any better about it. I do not see that it is a great tool for writing on the board. The other big issue was that teachers would still have to have their backs turned to students to work with the board. We also tested the eno mini slate but I found that to be very difficult to use because you can see what you are writing on. Another issue for me was the requirement of the pen. I have grown found of the touch response of the iPad and want an IWB that gives us similar functionality.

I do not see the PolyVision Eno Click as a bad product. It does what it was designed to do well. In a high school classroom I do not see the educational benefit of the eno.

Interactive White Board Thoughts

July 16 2010 by mvonhof in Interactive White Boards |No Comments

I am just starting the process of evaluating Interactive White Boards (IWB) for our school for next year. I have always watched this technology and have been waiting for it to mature before we adopted a solution. Four years ago we decided to focus on ceiling mounting projectors in each class room after evaluating solutions from Smart, Promethean and EBeam. They all had some wow features but in terms of real day-to-day functionally in the classroom I was not convinced. As I have visited other schools over time I am more convinced that we made the right decision. I see IWBs in many classrooms but it is rare that I see them used as more than a projector. They are certainly capable but only if teachers have training and time to enhance their lessons with the provided software.

We have decided to revisit this area again this summer. I have spent some time doing research and am in the midst of testing various products. As we progress in our evaluations I will keep you up-to-date on what we like and what we don’t. If you’ve had successes or failures with IWBs or have a product you think we should evaluate let me know in the comments.

Slow FTP on OSX 10.6 Server

June 25 2010 by mvonhof in OS X |1 Comment

I have been struggling with a sluggish FTP server on OS X 10.6. The server configuration seemed simple enough. After following the setup instructions in Apple’s Documentation(PDF) I was able to get the server to authenticate users and to send them to the correct directory. The users could log in but directory listing took 3-4 minutes to respond and most FTP clients would timeout. After some searching and trial and error I found that with the firewall turned off the issue was resolved. I found this document on Apple’s Support page that details how to define the passive ports in the ftpaccess file. Very simple solution, if only I had come across it a couple of hours ago.