Helpful Tool

Into the Summer: The New Moodle GPS Course Format

Heidelberg (GER), July 2013 - On time for the summer season, Moodle users can now utilize location-based learning. The newly developed -œkamedia GPS Format Free-œ allows eLearning content to be displayed according to the geo-coordinates of the learner. This enables location-based mobile learning.

In events like a city rally, the learner walks among predefined locations using a smartphone or tablet PC. At these stations, the learner gets certain information and tasks that are directly related to the location. All conceivable Moodle content like text, pictures, videos, and tests can be used.

The trainer is able to integrate new content at his desktop PC by simply creating a new Moodle course. The GPS format largely matches the popular topics format. Every topic section can contain different material or activities. In a second step, specific topic sections can be assigned to the corresponding GPS coordinates where they should be visible. After the installation of the course format "kamedia GPS Format Free", Moodle courses can be created in the new format, and existing courses can be transferred into the new format with only one click.

Reasons for "kamedia GPS Format Free"

ka:media interactive GmbH developed the GPS course format in a "Pro" version for the commercial Moodle distribution Totara and its own rental system "ka:media Learning Space". The focus lies on country-specific learning, mobile learning in large commercial spaces, and the efficient training of rescue and delivery services.

The team already discovered in the developing process that "kamedia GPS Format Free" will be a very helpful tool for a broad range of users, e.g. teachers and people in tourism.

To support the meanwhile-great development of Moodle in the area of mobile applications, ka:media decided to publish the GPS format in a simplified version that offers no fee-based support by ka:media and can be installed by every Moodle administrator.

The "kamedia GPS Format Free" will soon be found in the download section of moodle.org. Anyone who doesn’t want to wait for the official appearance on the Moodle site can already download the new course format from the ka:media website blog.