CHAPTER I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS
SETTING
Background of the Study
Through out the year, the use of
social networking sites became even more popular. It is becoming widespread that it does not
only catch the attention of the researchers but as well as the students do.
Unsurprisingly, it reached over one (1) billion users worldwide as of 2012
(Dinham, 2012)
There are several studies regarding
social networking sites and its effect to students. One of these studies is
about the impact of social networking usage on grades among college students.
It state that, students who grew up in technology and heavily use it receives
higher grades, compared to those who lightly use it. The use of social
networking is just now becoming a part of a student’s daily routine. (Stollak,
Weiss, et al., 2011)
The
University of the Immaculate Conception uses a virtual learning environment
(VLE) that allows educators to create an effective online learning site, which
is MOODLE. MOODLE helps educators to create different courses online that
focuses on a specific area of interest. Since it is a virtual learning
environment, it also allows educators to interact with the students through the
following: (1) assignment submission, (2) discussion forum, (3) files download,
(4) grading, (5) online quizzes and (6) online news and announcements.
(Wikipedia, 2012)
The proponents conducted a survey
and everyone said that they have their own FACEBOOK account and 88% of the
population claimed that they open their FACEBOOK account every day. The
respondents are using MOODLE but 87.5% of the population said that they only
open their MOODLE accounts whenever their instructor told them so. Whenever
there is a new activity posted in MOODLE, 20% of the population said that a friend informs them, 56% said that
they get informed through FACEBOOK and sadly, 8% said that they are always
uninformed.
To combine social networking and
learning is the first aim of this proposal. Since social networking has a huge
effect on the students, the proponents are trying to integrate MOODLE to
FACEBOOK. According to survey, 92% agreed that the integration of MOODLE to
FACEBOOK would help them since students spent more time in this social
networking site, and often forget to check their latest updates on their MOODLE
accounts.
Therefore, the integration of MOODLE
to FACEBOOK would be very helpful. This application reminds the students on the
latest updates on MOODLE. Whenever the teacher posts something new, the
students enrolled under the course will be informed through a wallpost or a
notification on their individual FACEBOOK accounts. In creating such
application, it would become easier for the educator to remind the students and
it would be easier for the students to be reminded.
Opportunity Statement
This research tends to implement a
FACEBOOK application for integrating MOODLE updates. Through this application,
students will have an up-to-date announcement from their instructors. This
research seeks to meet the following opportunities:
1.
Since the students will be given up-to-date
details on their courses, then they can now easily monitor them and take every
activity or quiz given.
2.
The students can increase their academic grades
due to the fact that they will be informed for every activity available in MOODLE.
Objectives
General
To design and create an application
that would help the students to expand the use of social networking to
education by integrating MOODLE updates to FACEBOOK.
Specific
1.
To develop an application that would help the
students to keep track on their courses’ updates.
2.
To develop an application that would help the
students improve their learning.
3.
To make the use of FACEBOOK became more
significant to both the students and educators.
Conceptual Framework
To
create a new FACEBOOK application, the proponents should first register to
FACEBOOK the website where the application is deployed. Every connected website
will be treated as FACEBOOK application (“MOODLE”, 2011). Once the application has been registered to
FACEBOOK, the application will be loaded to FACEBOOK through an iframe. By
then, it can be considered now as a FACEBOOK application.
Implementing a FACEBOOK Application for
Integrating MOODLE Updates
Figure 1. 0 – Conceptual Diagram of Implementing
a FACEBOOK Application for Integrating MOODLE Updates
How
does this application works? To use the application, the user must first login
to MOODLE. After that, the user will be connecting its MOODLE account to
FACEBOOK to be able to receive updates from MOODLE. To connect MOODLE to
FACEBOOK, the user will now click connect to FACEBOOK button found in MOODLE.
The user will now authenticate the application to allow the application to
retrieve its FACEBOOK data and receive updates. Once MOODLE and FACEBOOK get
connected, the user will now be receiving updates from MOODLE.
Scope and Delimitation
Scope
The
focus of this study is to create a FACEBOOK application where MOODLE updates
will be integrated. In creating such, the research covers the following:
·
Update for New Announcements
Whenever an instructor post an announcement
in an enrolled course in MOODLE, a notification via wall post in FACEBOOK will
be received.
·
Update for New Assignments
If
a new assignment is posted under an enrolled course in MOODLE, a wall post on
FACEBOOK will appear stating that there is an assignment to be answered.
·
Update for
New Handouts, Powerpoint Presentation and others
If ever the instructor post a new handouts,
powerpoint presentation and other learning modules, the user will be notify on
FACEBOOK through wall post.
·
Update for Attendance
User can monitor the number of absences
committed. If a user reach the number of absences allowed during the semester,
the user will be notify on FACEBOOK through a wall post.
Delimitation
·
No update for newly uploaded quiz
Whenever the instructor under an enrolled
course in MOODLE post a new quiz, the user will not be notify at all unless the
instructor post announcement that there is a new quiz.
·
No update for an uploaded Periodical Exams
The University of the Immaculate Conception
has three (3) exams in every semester: (1)Prelim, (2)Midterm and (3) Finals. If
an instructor publishes a periodical exam, then the user will not be receiving
any notification from the application unless the instructor posts an
announcement.
·
The application will not affect educators
account
Since the educator is the one who will be
posting the update, then it does not affect their account. This research
plainly focuses on students updates.
·
The application will be test for one
subject only
For
the testing of the proposed application, the proponents will be focusing to one
subject only. This is to determine if the application meet the opportunities
stated.
·
The use of MySQL for Data Storage
Moodle 2.3.3 supports three (3) different
databases such as MsSQL 2005, Postgres 8.3, Oracle 10.2 and MySQL 5.1.33. In
this research, the proponents will be using MySQL alone as their primary data
storage. (“Moodle”, November 2012)
Significance of the Study
The
accomplishment of this study would benefit the following:
Educators
Educators will no longer have a hard
time in passing information to students. Since almost of the students have
their own individual FACEBOOK accounts, it would be easier for them to inform
the students in every update.
Students
Students can monitor their MOODLE
accounts without having to leave their favorite social networking site. Since
users will be notify for every new update posted, they will no longer have to
login to MOODLE repeatedly for checking any updates.
Future Researchers
When they integrate
similar application to a social networking site, this research is good to serve
as their reference.
Definition of Terms
The definition of the terms are
defined according to its technical function
API (Application
Program Interface) - Sets of routines, protocols and tools for building
such application software. It is where a programmer combines all of these
building blocks to create new application software.
FACEBOOK – Is a social networking
website that allows user to customize their own profile by posting some photos,
videos and information of themselves.
FACEBOOK API
– These
sets of protocols used to be able to connect to FACEBOOK
FACEBOOK Application – Is a program in FACEBOOK,
which is designed to do something.
JSON (Javascript Object Notation) – Is a lightweight data-interchange format.
A text format, which is language dependent but uses conventions to the
programmers of the C-family of languages.
MOODLE (Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning
Environment) – Is a free web application or a Course Manangement System (CMS)
which allows educators to create effective online learning site.
Oauth – Also known as Open
Standard Authorization that allows applications to authenticate a user and
interact to third party applications on behalf of the user wherein the end
user’s information will be securely transferred without revealing its own
identity.
CHAPTER
II
This chapter
presents the past and current related publications and studies in this
research. These researches and studies
are being utilized as basis and guide to provide sufficient and useful
information regarding the study. This part shows the related studies and
concepts in “Implementing a FACEBOOK Application for Integrating MOODLE
Updates”.
Related Literature
Foreign
Data Manipulation API from MOODLE Documentation modified last
August 13, 2012
There are people who are curious on how MOODLE LMS works and
operates. Data manipulation API describes the functions available to access
data in the MOODLE database. Developers should use these functions exclusively
when retrieving or modifying MOODLE database content. These functions provide a
high level of abstraction and guarantee that the database manipulated will work
against different RDBMSes (MOODLE, 2012). The functions used in this Data
Manipulation API apply for MOODLE 2.0 and higher versions of MOODLE.
All the function
calls are public methods of the $DB global object, then the user will import
these methods within functions with simple global $DB;(MOODLE, 2012).
This data manipulation API provides functions that retrieve and search records
from the database such as MOODLE_database::get_records() to get a number of records as an array of objects where all the
given conditions met, MOODLE_database::get_records_select() to get a number of records as an array of objects which match a
particular WHERE clause and many other functions that allows user to manipulate
data inside the MOODLE database.
FACEBOOK Applications by FACEBOOK Developers modified last
September 2012
Developing a FACEBOOK Application allows
the user to get into the core of FACEBOOK experience. The application made can
be integrate in different aspects of FACEBOOK including the News Feeds and
Notifications.
FACEBOOK applications are web
applications loaded in the context of FACEBOOK that is referred to as a Canvas
Page. FACEBOOK applications can be developed using different programming
language such as PHP, Python, Java and C#. A canvas page is a blank page where
the applications will be loaded. To make up the application, it needs a Canvas
URL. When a user request for the Canvas page, the canvas URL will be loaded
within an iframe. By default, the canvas chrome is 760 px but it can be set to
fluid canvas which means that the iframe is set to 100%.
Figure 2.0 – Sample Canvas Page
How do FACEBOOK
Applications works? (1) The user will send a request from the web browser to
FACEBOOK for an application. (2) FACEBOOK will now ask the user for the
permission to grant access to the application so it can access the FACEBOOK
user’s basic information but this permission request may vary depending upon
the requirements of the application. (3) Once the user authorizes the
application, FACEBOOK can now access the code on the server. (4) FACEBOOK will
now load the application in an iframe on FACEBOOK;s official website. (5) Now,
if the application needs any FACEBOOK data such as user’s friends, news feed
and etc, developer will have to send request to FACEBOOK server with
application ID and Secret key which is provided upon registering to a FACEBOOK
application. (6) After receiving the request, FACEBOOK will now authenticate
and respond with data in JSON format.
Figure
2.1 – How Facebook Application Works
|
|
File API from MOODLE Documentation modified last May 22, 2012
File API is used
for managing all files, which is stored in MOODLE. These files are usually
stored in specific FILE AREAS and a file area are uniquely identified by the
following: (1) a context ID, (2) full component name like ‘course’, ‘mod_forum’ and others, (3)
file area type like ‘intro’, ‘post’ and (4) a unique itemID . Normally, the
itemID relates something depending on the file area type. (MOODLE, 2012). File
API provides functions that allow the user to browse the file from the
database, move files around and list area files. It also allows the user to
create, read and delete a file.
FACEBOOK API Developers
Guide by Wayne Grahams last February 28, 2008
FACEBOOK
API gives the web developers an opportunity to create a FACEBOOK application
and access FACEBOOK data from a third party websites.
FACEBOOK API
uses different languages, (1) FACEBOOK Query Language (FQL) (2) FACEBOOK
Mark-up Language (FBML). FQL is a way to query the same FACEBOOK data accessed
through the other API functions, but with a SQL-style interface (Musser, 2007).
By default, the returned data from an FQL query is in JSON format. Last June 6,
2011, applications that use FBML will be removed on FACEBOOK. FBML applications
will no longer work in the platform (Gingerich, 2012). Instead of using FBML,
FACEBOOK developers suggested to implement the applications using HTML,
JavaScript and CSS formats. They also provide Javascript SDK and Social Plugins
to use when embedding some social features that are also available in FBML
(“FACEBOOK Developers”, 2012)
MOODLE 1.9 Extension
Development by Churchward & Moore last April 2010
Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment or also known as MOODLE is a Course Management System/
Learning Management System. It is an open source E-learning Software. It is used by many
schools, universities and colleges to help them manage exams, grading, and many
more utilities, which can be helpful to the said establishments.
MOODLE has features that allow it to scale very large
deployments and hundreds and thousands of students, yet it can also be used for
primary schools or to an education hobbyist. The
users can use the activity modules (such as forums, databases and wikis)
to build richly collaborative communities of learning around their subject
matter.
To get MOODLE it comes in variety of packages that can be
installed .Some webhosts offer MOODLE as part of their hosting packages,
although it varies in reliability. Other webhosts offer MOODLE for free, but
this usually comes with conditions attached, like having advertisements on
user’s site.
Oauth by Hammer-Lahav last September 05, 2007
Oauth is a security protocol that enables the users to grant
third-party access without revealing the true identity of the user. Oauth started last November 2006. After a
long month of discussion, the final draft of Oauth Core 1.0 was released on
October 3, 2007.
Figure 2.2 – How Oauth Works
What is Oauth
for? As what Mr. Hammer-Lahav cite in his example, Oauth provides a special key
that allows a third-party user access personal data without revealing the
identity of the user. The user will just have to authenticate the application
so user can grant limited access to its personal and secret data but the
regular key which is only the user knows will be used to unlock everything.
Most of the
websites today are upgrading. They offer different services that ties together
functionality from other sites. This is a very good service but what is not
good is that these third-party websites requires the username and password of
the user. By this, the secret credentials of the user will be revealed and they
will be given a full access on manipulating the personal account.
In using Oauth,
the user will no longer have to provide passwords to grant access on users
private resources when using a third-party application. “While OpenID is all
about using a single identity to sign into many sites, Oauth is about giving
access to your stuff without sharing your identity at all.” (Hammar-Lahav,
2012)
Related Studies
Foreign
An Application of Social
Media in eLearning 2.0 by Labus, A., et. al ..
last June 17, 2012
Edutainment
is a term, which is used to describe software that gives both educational and
entertaining characters (Turban, E., King, D. & Lang, J., 2008).
Typically in edutainment, the game goals
match the learning goals and competition is added to make the learning
enjoyable (Alessi, S.M. & Trollip, S.R., 2011).in edutainment, the students
will learn through exploration, interaction and through repetition of mistakes
without knowing that they are also learning at the same time (Okan, Z., 2003).
Figure 2.3 – The Concept of Edutainment FACEBOOK
Application
Edutainment
in FACEBOOK application is written in PHP and it uses FACEBOOK API. Edutainment
is designed in form of educational game. All students who are enrolled in a
course in MOODLE LMS can access the application in FACEBOOK. To use the game
application, the student must have the same email address in FACEBOOK and
MOODLE LMS. After choosing a course from MOODLE, the student can now start with
the game.
Development of Faboodle to Interact on MOODLE through FACEBOOK
by Abeywardena, I. last 2012
Faboodle is a web application named “faboodle” or FACEBOOK for MOODLE that is developed to bridge the
gap between MOODLE based Learning Management Systems (LMS) and the top-leading
social networking platform, which is FACEBOOK. Faboodle is first implemented to
the students of Wawasan Open University (WOU) on the first semester of
2012. This application was designed as
an independent web based ASP.NET application which resides in a Microsoft
Internet Information Service (IIS) enabled web server. By this, it allows the
application to be accessed and used not just in FACEBOOK platform but as well
to Wordpress , Joomla and other mobile device platforms. The algorithms that
process the information received from the MOODLE LMS are written in VB.NET.
The faboodle
FACEBOOK application accesses the faboodle web application by using the FBML
that ensures secure access. The application can be installed on their profiles
to directly access the MOODLE LMS. The student will have to authenticate
themselves by supplying their username and password like what they usually do
when logging in to MOODLE LMS.
Figure 2.4– Faboodle System
Architecture
Synthesis
The presentation of all related
literatures and studies are presented in this chapter. This is to prove that
the proposed application is feasible.
The tools that will use in the implementation of the
application were reviewed in the related literature. There, it was discussed
the capability of the technology and how it will work. Since the application
will be about MOODLE updates integration to FACEBOOK application, the
proponents discussed about what FACEBOOK application is and how to develop it.
The proponents found that the use of OAUTH is very helpful in the development
of the application. OAUTH, which stands for Open Standard Authentication, would
help the proponents to access user’s data without revealing the user’s
identity. Through the consumer key that was given upon creating the
application, and the user key that was given by the user when authorizing the
application, the user’s data can now be accessed and allows the application to
post on user’s behalf.
Many schools nowadays use MOODLE as a learning management
system. It helps educators to manage quizzes, periodical exams and other
school-related stuffs. To access the MOODLE database, the proponents will
include another file to MOODLE where queries are stored to be able to retrieve
and fetch data from the MOODLE database. These data will be analyzed to determine
if there is a new update available. If so, the user will be notify on its
FACEBOOK personal account.
The related studies talks about the different related
FACEBOOK applications that integrate MOODLE. These studies are almost similar
to the proposed application, which is to integrate MOODLE to FACEBOOK to make
learning much easier and fun for the students. This is due to the reason that
students spent more time often on social networking sites rather than elearning
sites.
The discussion of above related literature and studies
benefit the proponents a lot, for it gives them an idea on how to accomplish
the application at the given span of time.
CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
In this chapter, the used method in the development of the research will
be discussed. It will define the research local and the design procedure and
instrument to be used for the data gathering will be determine as well in this
phase as well as the financial plan and the timeline for the whole research.
Research Method
The proponents will be
implementing a FACEBOOK application for integrating MOODLE updates. This
research is an experimental type of research that would determine the effect of
integrating MOODLE updates to a FACEBOOK application. At the end of this research,
it would be determined if MOODLE updates integration to FACEBOOK application
would affect the performance of the students in school. To accomplish the said
research, there should be a process model that proponents should follow to
track the accomplished activities.
Figure 3.0 – Rapid Application Development
Model (RAD)
The
proponents have chosen Rapid Application Development Model as process model in
the development of the entire research. Since the remaining time for the
implementation is limited, RAD helps the proponents to accomplish the project
on the specific deadline.
The
following were the phases of the Rapid Application Development Model:
Requirements Planning
The
system planning and system analysis takes place on requirements planning phase.
It also defines the functions of the research and its data subjects that will
be supported by the system. It is also, where the scope of the research was
determined. This phase is also called as the Concept Definition Stage.
User Design
This phase is also known as the
Functional Design Phase. This is where working prototypes are made from the
model of system’s data for the components of the system.
Construction
This phase is also known as the
Development Phase. It completes the construction of the physical application
system but still the user can still suggest for any changes during this phase.
During this phase, the system will be presented to the users as well and for
that, the user can suggest for any changes that is needed.
Cutover
The
cutover phase is where all the changes from the user take place. This is also,
where the users are being trained on how to use the system. This is where a new
system was built after all the definition and changeover happens.
Research Locale
This
research will be implemented to the Bachelor of Science in Information
Technology 2A students of Data Structure.
Sampling
The proponents used quota sampling as
a method in selecting the respondents. With this method, proponents specified
the sample size of the respondents. The proponents will be using the students
of BSIT-2A students of the University of the Immaculate Conception as
respondents for this research.
Design Procedure
This research aims to
integrate MOODLE updates in a FACEBOOK application to help educators update the
students in their academics.
On the software process model used, some phases should be
specified in conducting this whole software development.
The first phase, which is the Requirements Planning phase, is where the proponents evaluate the
chosen research topic if it is achievable in a given span of time and if it is
realistic. The proponents divided each task to each member according to the
capacity and ability of each member. The proponents conducted an interview as
well to the educators who are currently using MOODLE and a survey to the
students. After the said interview and survey, the proponents had come up with
the scope and delimitation of the application. After the first phase, the
research will now proceed to the next phase.
The second phase, which is the User Design phase, is the most crucial part. The determined scope
and delimitation stated above will be the basis for the working prototypes. The
physical design must be carefully planned as well because it is what the users
will see and interact when using the application. To come up with a good
application, each module is assured to be working properly.
The Construction
phase which is the third phase is where the system coding takes place. The
proponents will make individual modules using the technologies presented and will
be later compile as one to make the entire system. It completes the
construction of the physical application system but still it is open for any
changes. During this phase, the user testing is also happens. It is where the
application will be presented to the users and let them evaluate it.
The fourth and final phase is the Cutover phase. In the cutover phase is where all the changes are
made. The suggestions came from the respondents will be entertained and applied
in this phase if necessary. During this phase, the users will be trained as
well on how to use the application. Right after all the changes and
modifications, a new system was built.
Design Instrument
To gather the data needed
during the implementation, the proponents conducted an interview to the
educator who uses MOODLE in teaching. They also conducted a survey to the
students who are currently using MOODLE CMS. The proponents prepared some
questions that would help them during the implementation.
The proponents used the Internet as well for the data
gathering. Internet today was considered as one of the widely used storage of
data. Because of the information provided by the internet, the proponents take
the opportunity to gather some resources that would be very helpful in conducting
this research.
Marketing Plan
Upon
making this research, the proponents came up with a marketing plan. Since the
application is an application to FACEBOOK, therefore, users can use the
application 100% free. MOODLE is an open-source software as well, therefore
there will be no payment as well for using and the University of the Immaculate
Conception are already using MOODLE CMS.
For the deployment of the application, there
should be a hosting where the application will be located before it becomes a
FACEBOOK Application. There are free hosting available today but if the
proponents wished to deploy it with a personal hosting, the proponents would
spend ₱6,
799.00 approximately per year (imap web solutions, n.d).
Projected Schedule
This section shows the complete
timeline of the project from the planning up to the development and completion
of the entire application. This is also to determine the time span for each
task.
Figure 3.1 – Project Timeline
Technology
In developing the
application, the proponents will be using the following tools and applications:
·
HyperText Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheet (CSS) and
Adobe Photoshop – For the base and physical design of the application.
·
MySQL – For the data storage
·
O-auth – Used to connect the application to FACEBOOK and user
·
PHP Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) – To access the MOODLE Database
and other functions.
