3 alternatives to replace Flash content in your Moodle-based product
Adobe will end support of Flash at the end of 2020. This is a big and expected move, but one that has many consequences as it is one of the most popular formats in which learning content was created. Specially, within SCORM packages.
In Open LMS 3.7 MP1 we introduced a plugin from the Moodle community that allow administrators to identify flash content across activities and resources in their sites. This is step one to prepare for this change. Once the content is identified, you can make the decision on which content pieces to update and which ones can be discarded. That could be step two.
This post (and video) helps you identify some possible alternatives to replace your content once you decide you want to update it.
Alternative #1: Use the lesson activity
Lesson activity is one of the coolest activity types in Moodle™. With it, you can create a series of HTML pages in which you can present your content. You can include images, text, audio, and video content as part of lesson activities. You can also add questions as part of a lesson so users can interact with it.
The most significant factor that differentiates Lesson activity from other activities is that navigation can be adapted based on the student's response to questions in the lesson. There's a concept called jumps for questions in which you can select to what page should a user be redirected based, for example, in responses to a question or some presented options.
This can allow you to create interactive content, scenario-based lessons, and more. Check out the videos below to learn how to create lessons.
Alternative #2: Use the H5P interactive content activity
H5P is like a lego-box to create interactive content. So much that the activity is called "interactive content" on the activity chooser.
With H5P, you can create things like slide presentations, interactive videos like the ones you pause, and get questions on it, branching scenarios, timelines, and so much more.
One of the most helpful aspects of H5P, is the ability to share content produced on this tool via files. This is, of course, is optional, but it can be an excellent way to connect with fellow instructors and share content practices.
Be sure to check out the links below to see some cool demos and see this tool in action. You can even download these and test them on your Moodle™ or Open LMS site.
https://moodle.org/plugins/mod_hvp
Alternative #3: Use pages, labels, and video!
There is a lot of flexibility in how you can use labels and pages in Open LMS. They support HTML so you can create rich content pieces and maybe organize them using different course sections or places in a single section.
If you want to add a video to your content, remember that you can do it directly from the editor by clicking on the Record RTC button. This would not only record the content piece but also directly embed it into it without downloads or uploads. It can't get any more convenient than that.
Pro-tip: Record RTC also works for students, for example, when they are submitting assignments.
Find out more information about Record-RTC here:
