Moodle: e-Learning for Your Class


  

Definition:

Moodle is an Open Source Course Management System (CMS), also known as a Learning Management System (LMS) or a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).  It has become very popular among educators around the world as a tool for creating online courses and adding online elements to traditional classes.  Brunswick's goal is to supplement existing classes.
 

Reasons for Use:

  • STORE CLASS  MATERIALS  ONLINE - Store any type of digital file on your Moodle class site.  Reveal materials to students as they are relevant to class activities.  

 

  • COMMUNICATE WITH  STUDENTS ONLINE - Choose how you would like to interact with students: course calendar, forums, chats, etc.  You choose how much and how often.

 

  • ENGAGE STUDENTS IN COLLABORATIVE GROUPS & ONLINE ACTIVITIES Set up collaborative activities for students.  Options include wikis, blogs, glossaries, forums, workshops, etc.  Many popular web applications can be embedded in Moodle (e.g., Google apps, Skype, etc.).

 

  • EVALUATE STUDENT LEARNING - Assess student learning and provide grades/feedback to students online.  Get summary evaluation data for the entire class.  

 

  • PASSWORD  PROTECTED, TEACHER  CONTROLLED ONLINE ENVIRONMENT -All Moodle courses exist on a server that is owned and administered by Brunswick City Schools.  Students must use individual passwords to access Moodle courses.  Once inside the course, students' access to course elements is controlled by the teacher.

 

  • PREP FOR COLLEGE & WORK ENVIRONMENTS - All students need to have experience and develop skills for learning in an online environment.  It has become a standard mode of learning in higher education and work settings. 
 

What Moodle Can Do for You (info starts at 40 sec.)

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How to Get Started Using Moodle

1.  Get acquainted

 

2.  Get a Moodle account (email request to Roger West). 

 

3.  Get started 

  • Take a Greenbook (2009)
  • Follow directions in 2-Minute Moodles.  This is a series of "how-to" videos developed by a teacher and posted on Teacher-Tube (may require free Teacher-Tube account).  Viewability isn't great but content is organized in order of importance for getting started.
  • Check out http://docs.moodle.org/en/Getting_started_for_teachers.  Requires moodle.org account (free).

 

4.  Start SMALL

  • structure you course:  recommend TOPICAL (rather than weekly)
  • pick a starting place:  recommend POSTING INFORMATION as a first step (e.g., calendar, news, assignments, resources)
  • experiment with FEATURES & MODULES one at a time

 

5.  Network with other BCS Moodle users

  • develop courses with other BCS teachers who teach the same classes

 

Understanding How Moodle Works (info starts at 1 min)

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Moodle is being offered to BCS students and faculty in the spirit of EXPERIMENTATION. 

Thank YOU for adding to our understanding of Moodle's potential for BCS students and teachers! 

 

Tutorials and Reference Links:

Atomic Learning - mini-videos for specific Moodle questions.  Username and password available from your building office.

Moodle Video Tutorials - YouTube style videos.  Like Atomic Learning but developed by end-users.

 

Tips & Tricks

Alternate way of adding QUIZZES:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asQgzzld9FE