Calling class methods from included module

Hi,

I have these two ActiveRecord models: UserEvent and CoordinateEvent.

The models are extended with the module MapEvent. MapEvent includes some class methods and some instance methods.

Now, I want both models to use ActiveRecord's serialize (ActiveRecord::Base).

My MapEvent looks something like the following. I simply can't figure where to put "serialize :column_name":

[code] module MapEvent   def self.included(base)     base.extend(ClassMethods)   end

  def a_method   end

  module ClassMethods     def another_method     end   end end [/code]

How do I call the serialize method from the above context?

An extra question: Also, it suddenly hit me, that instead of a module I could write MapEvent as a class that inherits from ActiveRecord instead of a module - and then let UserEvent and CoordinateEvent inherit from MapEvent? Would you recommend this? Generally speaking, when should you use mixins/module and when you use inheritance?

Hope my questions are clear. Thanks in advance!