1. Moodle Michael Nieckoski March 2008

2. What is Moodle?.  Constructionism asserts that learning is particularly effective when constructing something for others to experience. This can be anything from a spoken sentence or an internet posting, to more complex artifacts like a painting, a house or a software package.  The concept of social constructivism extends the above ideas into a social group constructing things for one another, collaboratively creating a small culture of shared artifacts with shared meanings. When one is immersed within a culture like this, one is learning all the time about how to be a part of that culture, on many levels.  Designed by an educator and computer scientist, with “social constructionist” principles in mind, and uses activities as the heart of the course management system. Martin Dougiamas Creator & Lead Developer Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment =

3. Moodle is… Open source software –Modular and expandable Will be moving to a test / production environment We are now at the newest version of Moodle 1.9

4. Features Interactivity Customizable –Themes -- use CSS/PHP –Look and feel is controlled by instructor –Multiple languages Open or closed enrollments for courses

5. LMC Moodle http://courses.landmark.edu –Linked from portal and public page Uses NOVELL username/password as login 17 courses using Moodle Spring ‘08 semester Groups/Departments (Advising, Ambassadors) Student Groups (Business, ΦΘΚ ) Emergency communication

6. The Teacher Experience The “Course” is the unit of currency Empty Vessel A living/breathing workspace –Online access to where the tools are Web-based –all work is done from the browser –can be accessed by mobile devices Tracks students’ usage

7. The Teacher Experience NOT an “all or nothing proposition” Start where you are comfortable Grow into it as is appropriate

8. The Moodle “Toolbox” Resources –Web pages –File storage –Web links –RSS feeds –Posted resources (handouts, readings, etc.) Activities –Discussion Forum –Wiki –Assignment –Journal –Polling (“Choice”) –Glossary –Quiz –Podcast –Blog

9. Learner Experience – 24/7/365 Anywhere! Learners can login any time, anywhere to interact with coursework, instructors and classmates, and can specify the Time Zone and Language they wish to use. Moodle has interface support for 34 languages. Can make learning a social experience.