Building Better Moodle Rooms Online Strategies and Best

Building Better Moodle Rooms: Online Strategies and Best Practices February 7, 2008

Before you get started. . what is Moodle again? Well…. . It’s the world’s leading open source learning management system (LMS) currently used by 15 million people…. Why is it so widely used (by universities, K-12 districts, and individual teachers)? – It works! –Built and supported by a global education community. – It’s open source. –It is fun to say “Moodle. ”

How does one build a better Moodle room? By leveraging Moodle’s underlying pedagogical foundation. What does that mean? • Think “constructivism” • Use scaffolding • Provide feedback

Step 1: Think Constructivism

Building a Better Moodle Room: Theory Matters! Theory matters in creating buildings…. Materials Design

Building a Better Moodle Room: Theory Matters! …theory also matters in developing Moodle courses. Materials Design

Think “constructivism” Moodle learning management software (LMS) is guided by a social-constructivist philosophy of learning. • In other words (literally)… “I pay the schoolmaster, but 'tis the schoolboys that educate my son. ” - Emerson

Step 2: Use Scaffolding

Use Scaffolding What is “scaffolding? ” “A communication process where presentation and demonstration by the instructor are contextualized for the learner; performance of the student is coached; and articulation is elicited on the part of the learner. ” Or, stated another way… “Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand. ” – Chinese Proverb

Scaffolding in Moodle By utilizing Moodle’s flexibility along with the best practices of Instructional Design (ID), contextualized, coached, and participative courses can be built. • “Scaffold” Moodle courses using “ADDIE” principles: – Analyze – Design – Develop – Implement – Evaluate “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. ” -A. Lincoln

ADDIE Analyze (understanding your students’ knowledge bases) Moodle functions: • Assignment • Chat • Choice • Quiz (diagnostic)

ADDIE 12 12

ADDIE Develop (defining units of learning) “Chunking” is the process of separating learning materials into brief sections in order to improve learner comprehension and retention and allow quick access, exits and entries to topics. Source: Executive Performance, LLC Moodle functions: • Book • Glossary • Lesson • Resources 13

Moodle’s Book module sequentially presents content in manageable chunks. Chapter 1 Chapter 2 14

ADDIE Design (creating a sequenced and organized space) • Moodle provides a flexible platform to present rich content that can be easily arranged to meet the needs of differentiated learners. • What content can be accessed via Moodle? (partial list) 15 • Documents • Podcasts • PDFs • Audio files • Power. Point/OE presentations • Video files • Flash files • SCORMS • Links to websites • HTML code

ADDIE Implement (staying involved with the course) • All of us are potential teachers as well as learners - in a true collaborative environment we are both. Moodle functions: • Blocks • Chat • Forum • Wiki 17

18

ADDIE Evaluate • Many Moodle activities provide an evaluative capability. • Activity logs provide insights into student activity. • Moodle’s grade book records student performance. 20

Step 3: Provide Feedback

Provide Feedback • Providing targeted feedback facilitates the removing of scaffolding. • Feedback from the learning community is equally valuable. Instructor Feedback Community Feedback • Assignment • Journal • Quiz • Choice • Feedback/Survey 22 • Chat • Glossary • Forum Discussions • Moodle Messaging • Wiki • Workshop

How does one build a better Moodle room? • Think “constructivism” • Use scaffolding • Provide feedback