Github download link

First, this new glossary format is not intend to replace your existing flashcard module or flash card lesson. It combines the flash card and glossary together as a tool to help students memorise terminologies. Users can click on the link (or anywhere on the card – this is on my to-do list:) ), it will flip the card and show them the description of that concept.

One big advantage of using this format over old formats is this is more interactive, and students will have incentives to add more entries as they can use this glossary later on to help their study new concepts.

It has some limitations at the moment, such as the card border is fixed, if you insert an image that is bigger than the card size, you won’t be able to flip the card back to front; the other concern I have is I used a non-official javascript library, jQuery. In terms of page loading efficiency, it might not be the best approach to do, but it’s much easier to find some useful plugins in jQuery than in YUI.

To install this new glossary format:

1. Unzip the flashcard zip file, and drop the folder to mod/glossary/formats/.

2. Modify style.css file under mod/glossary/, add the following css style sheets.

/** Flashcard styles **/

.quickFlip{height:216px;width:322px}

.backPanel,.frontPanel{text-align:center}

.quickFlip .frontPanel,.quickFlip .backPanel{background:#F7F7F7;-moz-border-radius:8px;-webkit-border-radius:8px}

.quickFlip .frontPanel{border:1px outset #ddd}

.quickFlip .backPanel{border:1px outset #ddd}

.frontPanel .nolink {padding-top:40px;}

.backPanel .nolink {padding-top:40px;}

3. Add the following line to your lang file under mod/glossary/lang/en/ folder

$string['displayformatflashcard'] = ‘Flashcard style’;

4. You’re done:)

–Verison 0.8

-Fixed grader report layout error

–Version 0.7

-Add stylesheet for hidden sections

–Version 0.6

- Fix “Adding a node that already exists” error with awesome bar.

– Version 0.5

- Fixed left navigation block overlay error;

- Fixed block_manager error after selected Decaf theme in the theme selector.

- Add two new icons.

Github download link

Blocks in Moodle are caffeine, ever-growing settings block is hundred-shots long black (consider 1 shot per setting), they get you addict to them. It’s time to have some “decaf” now.

Decaf is simple, plain, and “caffeine-free” theme based on both Base and Canvas as parent themes. Borders around blocks have been removed to reduce some visual impacts, they’re less attractive to users compare to the course content in the middle of the web page.

Settings block in Moodle 2 has been changed significantly. The setting block used to be site/course administration block depends on which page you’re looking at. Now they’ve been merged into one single giant block, it makes sense that all settings are in this block, but it can be frustrated to click on a setting, page gets to expand and click on another setting. To resolve this issue, Decaf takes advantage of Moodle 2 new theme engine override the setting block, and place it on top of the page as drop down menus. Now you’re just one click away to your destination. This should improves Moodle’s usability as a whole, as it so awesome, I call it “Moodle awesome bar”.

In Decaf theme, icons have been carefully replaced by a beautiful icon set from a Japanese artist, it took me a lot of time to decide which one to use as if I have never used Moodle before, only the one that make the most sense was chosen.

Like most recent Moodle 2 theme, I have added a theme setting page with some careful selected options, this hopefully provide some flexibility for the user.

Last but not least, the old plain performance information for developers/administrators is replaced by a colorful floated bar at the bottom of the page. You’re no longer need to scroll down to the bottom to view how fast a page is loaded. To turn this feature on, go to development->debugging in site administration, tick performance info box and click on save. Its feature is limited so far, I’m planning to extend it include more information later when Moodle 2 is officially released.

Tested browsers

Firefox, Safari, Chrome, IE7+.

Future Plans (To-Dos)

Convert Navigation block into vertical drop down menus.
Add an option for users to turn on standard setting block.
Expand performance Info bar to include more debugging information, such as string info, page content type etc.
Credits
Drop down menu: http://www.lwis.net/free-css-drop-down-menu/
Fugue icon set: http://p.yusukekamiyamane.com/
Performance Info bar ideas from: http://particletree.com/features/php-quick-profiler/