Setting Up Moodle on Localhost

1. You need some kind of *AMP environment like MAMP for Macs, a LAMP stack for Linux, or WAMP for Windows.  For the purposes of this post, I am writing from the MAMP point of view.
2. You need to download Moodle from the Moodle site. 
3. Extract the Moodle archive and put it into your htdocs folder
4. Fire up MAMP and click on "Open Start Page"
5. You need to create a MySQL database next.  I use phpmyadmin.  Click on phpmyadmin in the menu bar at the top of the page
6. Click on the "databases" link in the main body of the page
7. At the bottom of this page is a text box that reads "create new database", type in a name for your new database and choose a "collation". Use utf8_bin
8. Create a user for the database--click on the sql tab up top and use the following command "grant all on database_name.* to user_name@localhost identified by 'password';" with no quotes and replacing database_name with the database, user_name with any name you care to put in, and password with an password you care to use
9. In your browser go to http://localhost:8888 and click on your Moodle directory.  You will be offered a page with language.  I chose English – click next
   
10. At this point it will test your environment.  Hopefully they all say “Pass”.  Click next
    
11. At this point it will ask you to verify the Web address, directory, and data directory.  For a local install you shouldn’t have to change anything listed here. Click Next
    
12. The next step is to connect the database you created earlier to Moodle.  You won’t need to change the Host Server, but you’ll want to make sure that the Database name, user, and password matches your setup.  Leave the Tables prefix alone. Click Next
    
13. The next step is simply a check of your environment again.  If everything looks ok, click Next
14. You will be given the option to download additional language packs.  If you leave it alone, the installation will continue in English.  Click Next
15. You will now be asked to accept the license.  Read the license and Click Yes
16. At this point you will come to a page with the following checkbox:
    
    If you check off the box, it will continue through the installation as far as it can go without your intervention. Check off the box and click Continue
17. The next page asks you to enter information for you admin account on the install.  Fill out the form.  For the purposes of this exercise, don’t worry about the advanced buttons on the page. It will ask you for contact information. When you’ve filled out the page click Update Profile
    
18. The next page will ask you to update your settings.  Go ahead and give your install a full name, a short name, and a description.  Click Save Changes

That’s it.  Your basic Moodle install is set up ready for you to start experimenting with.

What does Moodle do for you Matthew? - Would it be suitable for Telecentre training management, or for use by an NPO's training dept? 

Hi Don,

Moodle can be used in schools, universities, or pretty much any other structured teaching/learning environment.  It is designed for online teaching and is set up to be fairly structured.

It includes:

• Assignment Module
• Due date/evaluation
• Direct Messaging
• Chats
• Surveys/Polls
• Forums
• Glossaries
• Quizzes
• News
• Announcements
• Diaries
• Wikis
• plus more

Depending on your content I would say it could be very good as an addendum to Telecenter training or an NPO's training department.

Thanks Matthew - I'm not so interested in forums, news alerts, surveys and wiki's etc. however if it can do training management; set and manage a curriculum, record trainee achievements, schedule courses and exams, manage and monitor attendance and training content etc. etc. then it would certainly be worth a look!  

Hi Don,

I think you should take a look. It is a rather extensible tool. You could also look at Sakai - I wrote a blog post about it on dogstar.org and cross posted it on the forums here.  If you are looking for a Learning Management System, both ought to be contenders.

Best,
Matthew.

Thanks again Matthew - I will take a look at Moodle, and also at Sakai.

Cheers,
Don