Posted by samson on Jun 27, 2009 in
Computer World Based on my current reviews on all the Learning Management systems available, I have to say that Moodle, even with its popularity, is not as promising as Sakai can be. The ultimate technology that drove me to this decision is that Sakai is Apache/Tomcat based where as Moodle is Apache/PHP based. By the nature of Tomcat, Sakai LMS is written natively in Java where as Moodle is in simple PHP scripts.
I am not saying that PHP is useless or other possible degrading terms, but I do believe that PHP is not as stable, reliable and ultimately as powerful as Java. One of the underlying abilities of WebCT that I personally really like is its Java back end. The ability to actually create Client-Server communication in an N-Tier architecture, that’s really amazing. This is something that, even with the emerging of Web 2.0 and HTML 5 standards, PHP can never really achieved. It can simulate it, but not achieve.
Another special abilities that Java based LMS, such as WebCT, can do while PHP based LMS can not accomplish, are the server side initialization events. In WebCT, this includes all the private messaging, the invitation to chat rooms, sharing of pictures. Since we have a real Client-Server connection, the client does not have to revisit the server on a pre-determined schedule to obtain updated information. It is notified when new events need its users’ attention, just imagining the graphical version of this network gives me a headache.
So, my suggestions is that if you are planning on using your LMS as the general Portal for all your students and staff, choose very carefully before you make a decision, since we all know, once you got used to something, you don’t want to adopt something different.
Tags: LMS, Moodle, WebCT
Posted by samson on Jun 18, 2009 in
Computer World LMS, stands for Learning Management System, or to me, a dynamically generated Webpage written in either PHP, Java or ASP(x). However, the discovery does not really stop there, the power of LMS is not what is can do out of the box, but what it really represents.
Most common LMS, such as WebCT or Moodle will allow interactions between the instructors and the instructed. However, the ability to submit assignments or review one’s grades is not all that a LMS can do. Ultimately, we can think of the LMS as a virtual school, we can add anything we like on to it. With each new addition, the LMS becomes stronger, have more useful tools or in some case, simply looks better. It is idea to think of the world of an LMS as portal to many virtual classrooms rather then an electronic version of a student’s handbook.
Tags: LMS, Moodle, views, WebCT
Posted by samson on Jul 1, 2008 in
Computer World As I’ve said it numerous times before, I am by trade a Software Developer. Actually, I’ve recently focused on Web development, which gave birth to all that is pleasantlifestyle.com.
My basic URL pleasantlifestyle.com serves as my test bed for web apps I found, or wrote myself. Some examples, which I have opened to the public would like sites like ‘fileHaven’.
However, how much does my site worth? To me, it is a lot, since it is the launch pad for future operations, but if someone were to attempt to purchase my site off me, what should the price be?
Well, here is a nice tool by Sootle.com, LINK HERE, it calculates your website’s worth, based on back links and other options considered web purchaser.
In reality, I’d never sell my url, considering it is my live launch pad, but some people might be interested in this.
Oh, they also allow you to add a live feed to their page, stating how much your site is worth.
Posted by samson on Jun 9, 2008 in
Computer World Recently, lots of people have been asking me ‘why doesn’t <insert web 2.0 related issues> work on my home machine?. They have tried everything, from crying at their keyboard to punching their monitors until they ended up in their local hospital.
The reason is actually pretty simple, Javascript, a very important part of Web 2.0 has been disabled on their browser.
In the long history of the Internet, Javascript was at one point considered the ‘evil’ code. Hackers would create web pages with Javascript codes to steal information from the users’ browser, without the user knowing. One type of sites that love to use this technique are the X-rated Pornography sites or other ‘undernet’ sites.
However with famous companies like Facebook or Google siding with Javascript, AJAX is born. This AJAX should not be mixed with Ajax the city, it is the backbone to our ever so funny Web 2.0. To identify whether your browser is Web2.0 ready, simply go to sites like www.facebook.com and see if you can move your profile’s little windows around. If you can then you are Web2.0 ready, else continue reading 
to enable Javascript on your Browser Read more…