I'm currently an IT Specialist at Loughborough University. My primary role is the yearly migration, upgrade and support of the VLE (virtual learning environment). I've been working at Loughborough since 2006 to help deliver and sustain the open source software moodle via Learn; Loughborough University's virtual learning environment.

Daily I work in a LAMP solution stack environment to develop, maintain and administer Learn/moodle. I've developed various perl scripts to perform tasks such as; migrate resources from the original VLE, interface with Loughborough registration systems, organise and create staff and student assignments to modules, manage ancillary registrations to specialist modules within moodle. I am proficient in MySQL, Linux Administration, Apache Configuration and PHP/Perl development. I also have extensive experience in JavaScript, XML, and AJAX.

For the version control of our front-end moodle code we use Git. The development server is setup with a; clean, development, and play version of moodle. This gives our ELearning community an area to try things out and allows the testing of developments/upgrades before they're pulled through to the live system. This approach ensures we minimise errors at end user level. We have our own version of moodlecron which manages the extensive task of sending mails and backing up. We've also developed a nice system to quickly and efficiently compare tens of thousands of user records between Oracle and MySQL database systems.

Conferences to date

  • ALT-C Thriving in a colder and more challenging climate, Leeds University, September 2011
  • Echo 360 Community Conference Europe, London School of Economics, May 2011
  • UK Moodle Moot University of London Computer Centre, April 2011
  • iTunes U Conference Munich, October 2010
  • UK Moodle Moot University of London Computer Centre, April 2010
  • UK Moodle Moot Loughborough University, April 2009

Presentations to date

Qualifications to date

Career to date

  • 2006 - Present : Loughborough University, IT Services, IT Services Specialist
  • 2005 - 2006 : Ariam Media Design Agency, Lead Web Developer
  • 2004 - 2005 : InterAdvertising Website Company, Trainee Web Developer

Click here to see my portfolio.