OPEN SOURCE, OPEN MINDS Using Moodle™ to Become an Effective Educator By Tracy Magin and Allen M. Ford

What is Moodle?  Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment  Open-source course management system (CMS)  Designed by a teacher for teachers

Course Formats Social Most likely to be used for courses where social interaction happens through Forums, Wikis, Workshops, or Chats. Topics Best for courses with several topics or themes, as it allows separate sections for each topic being taught, and ability to add learning tools Weekly Good for courses that have a specific start and stop date. Learning tools can be added here as well. Like Topics, ideal for highly structured courses. Good for courses that have a specific start and stop date. Learning tools can be added here as well. Like Topics, ideal for highly structured courses.

Content/Resources used to organize the sections in the course; (ex. assignments, tests, quizzes) Insert a Label Ex: "Drop Boxes" Insert a Label Ex: "Drop Boxes" create plain text on a page using very basic formatting (ex. directions) Compose a Text Page Compose a Text Page create test on a page using a variety of formatting options using HTML editor (ex. directions). Allows for freedom to create "almost anything--including JavaScript" Compose a Web Page Compose a Web Page provide documents to students from Moodle™ resources that have been uploaded or linked to web sites Link to a File or Web Site Link to a File or Web Site creates one folder that students can click on to review or retrieve all documents instead of individual links to files. Instructors add content. Display a Directory Directory

Activities and Learning Tools  Assignments  Glossary  Forums  Quizzes  Wiki  Grade book Popular Learning Tools

Assignments  upload a single file  offline activity  online text  advanced uploading of files  Grade scale to be used  Student access  Assignment availability  Student comments on work submitted  Maximum size of the file uploads  Number of files allowed to be uploaded  permitting, deleting and resubmission of student homework files  notices when files are uploaded OptionsParameters that can be controlled

Glossary  Setup glossary specific to course needs  Students can add definitions as well (secondary glossary)  Encourages social interaction and critical thinking

Forums for general use useful for large discussions that will be monitored by the teacher useful to allow students to get to know one another in a social situation for general use useful for large discussions that will be monitored by the teacher useful to allow students to get to know one another in a social situation Standard Forum Limited to one discussion topic can create a new discussion for each topic in the course helps keep students focused Limited to one discussion topic can create a new discussion for each topic in the course helps keep students focused Single Simple Discussion middle ground between a large discussion and a single simple discussion no limit to student responses possible for peer rating after student posts middle ground between a large discussion and a single simple discussion no limit to student responses possible for peer rating after student posts Each person posts one discussion Ability to pose a question to the students Student responds and then will be able to see others responses Encourages independent thinking Ability to pose a question to the students Student responds and then will be able to see others responses Encourages independent thinking Question and Answer Forum

Quizzes  Evaluate student learning  Quiz options  Multiple choice  True/false  Short answer  Matching  Short answer matching  Essay  Import questions from book test banks  Ability to provide feedback and set parameters

Wiki  Allows students to work collaboratively on an assignment  Students can work in teams and create projects  Ideal for team proofreading/editing

Grade book  Easy to setup and use  Can be setup by  Weight  Points  Percents  Letters  Ability to create categories  Ability to curve and drop lowest grade  Ability to see statistics and print reports

Benefits of Moodle™ Moodle Benefits easy to use grade book ability to provide feedback and comments on assignments variety of learning tools collaboration among students FREE! friendly interface customizable ability to import and export data enhances teacher effectiveness enhances student learning

Moodle™ Resources  General Information:  For Teachers:  Books and Manuals:

Open source leads to Open Minds, effective teaching and enhanced student learning! Questions?

Recommended Readings Cooch, M. (2009). Moodle 1.9 for Teaching7 — 14 Year-olds: Beginner ’ s Guide. PackT Publishing, Birmingham, United Kingdom Stanford, J., (2009). Moodle 1.9 for Second Language Teaching. PackT Publishing, Birmingham, United Kingdom Wild, I. (2009). Moodle 1.9 Math. PackT Publishing, Birmingham, United Kingdom Wild, I. (2008). Moodle Course Conversion: Beginner ’ s Guide. PackT Publishing, Birmingham, United Kingdom

Bibliography Cole, J., & Foster, H. (2008). Using Moodle: Teaching with the popular open source course management system. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly Media. Elliott, D. G. (2010, April 8) We must learn to put the virtual world at the heart of our education system. Retrieved April 15, 2010, from walesonline.co.uk: news/2010/04/08/we-must-learn-to-put-the-virtual-world-at- the-heart-of-our-education-system / Moodle.org. (2010). Moodle statistics. Retrieved May 5, 2010, from Moodle.org: