MrCute is intended to be an optional add-on (or finally a standard function) for the Moodle Virtual Learning Environment. More specifically, it extends the functionality of the IMS Repository system originally developed by Alton College, UK.

MrCute will be compatible with Moodle 1.8.2 upwards but not with earlier 1.8 versions.

What is a repository

Simplistically, a repository is a storage area where materials – in this case elearning materials – can be held and from where they can easily be accessed by teachers and learners. IMS (Instructional Management Standards) Global Learning Consortium is an international body which aims to set standards for interoperability between learning systems. The specific standards involved in this case are the IMS Content Packaging Standards.

Before MrCute

The existing Moodle IMS repository system is as follows:

• Moodle Administrator creates a folder (usually in the Moodle webroot and named “ims_repository”). This folder is populated with (unzipped) ims-compliant packages. In the UK, these are normally the interactive elearning packages produced by the National Learning Network, but any IMS compliant package may be added, within a subdirectory structure which is aimed at browsing by category and title.
  
• Moodle Administrator “switches on” the repository system by making minor changes to a single configuration file.
  
• Teacher selects “Add an IMS content package” from Add Resources option, then uses the Browse Repository option to search for relevant materials, which can then be previewed and add to a course.

The problems

Although this functionality was a useful addition to Moodle, and has been widely adopted in the UK, especially in educational sectors where National Learning Materials are available, there are no easy ways of:

• Finding materials which are relevant to a number of disciplines but only filed under one (for example, material about accepting credit card payments may be applicable to a number of service and sales based vocations, but only filed under “beauty salons”).
  
• Adding more materials to the repository (for example, a teacher may feel that a particular handout or flash animation has relevance to other teachers; at present this would need to be passed to a technically competent person to create an imspackage, and that package then passed to an administrator to load into the ims_repository folder)
  
• Extending keywording (tagging) or amending title and descriptions. This functionality is required by librarians where validation or reclassification of materials is acceptable.

After MrCute

MrCute will address these three issues. It will add:

• A search and embed option (and a hidden automatic indexing option to support the search)
  
• An upload and ims package creation option
  
• A validation option for library and other staff

Why "MrCute"?

Acronyms are fun so we wanted a fun acronym! Nevertheless, it has a meaning too: Moodle Repository Create Upload Tag Embed (admittedly the letters are in the wrong order, and the Validate function is missing – but who would ever remember MrEutcv?