Proposed New Features

Introduction

Everyone who uses this plugin is encouraged to contribute ideas about increasing its capabilities and user-friendliness. Together we can decide on a first update for it.

Overview

This page will explore features to enhance Moodle as a blended learning management solution. The module could have the following things in addition to its already wonderful features:

• Produce printable PDF timetables and reports that can be styled and exported
• Run a cron job that warns students and their instructors about exceeded absences
• Have calculation functions for its grade component
• Be optimized for taking attendance on a touchscreen device
• Usability tested for teachers/users
• Compatibility with Badges

Printable PDF rosters

Many teachers don't use a smartphone in class or prefer to keep paper records of their attendance. Additionally, classes may be cross proctored during tests and it is useful to produce styled printable documents for teachers to use. This will take a lot of the manual exporting and excel styling some schools do with rosters.

Run a cron job to warn about excess absences

In some cases, students can fail a course if they do not complete a required amount of classes. A cron job might be able to send warnings to students and instructors of impending violations of this kind.

Grade calculations

Calculating a mark for participation and attendance isn't always straight forward. If we can have the ability to use some operators in the moodle interface, it could be a great advantage for students to see their final grade in real time.

Touch screen optimized

Many instructors are making the move to paperless records, however, the attendance plugin has a habit of not always completing its submission. With some improved error and data caching we could ensure that attendance taken in the classroom is efficiently recorded. Additionally, a touchscreen view would be able to display names and toggle button to move through the states. Most instructors hit the little 'P' to mark all present then switch absent students. This could be improved with a large button at the top for 'All Present' or automatically mark all present when a session is opened - then one tap to mark absent and two taps for late etc.