Moodle Teacher Certificate (MTC)

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Moodle Teacher Certificate Moodle Teacher Certificate (MTC)(MTC)

5th. Intern. Austrian Moodle-Conference

Ralf HilgenstockPeter Sereinigg


OutlineOutline

● Development● Benefits● Guiding principles● Structure and process

– Certification elements● Curriculum

– Skill Sets● Support

– Mentor-assessors● Registration● Administration● Future developments


AudienceAudience

● Writing a certification scheme for Moodle is a difficult task because…

● It is an incredibly difficult audience to please!

● Every member of the Moodle Community has their own views on what certification should or could be - many have extensive experience in dealing with certification schemes.

● Moodle is ‘easy to learn’ – so does it even require certification?

● MTC is global… but what does that mean?


DevelopmentDevelopment

● Planning started in 2004

● Draft scheme in August 2005– Certification team working on MTC

● Stuart Mealor, Certification Manager● Frances Long, Canada● Alicia Wyatt, USA● Ralf Hilgenstock, Germany

● Pilot group started 1st April 2006

● Official low-key launch of MTC 1st May 2006


DevelopmentDevelopment

● Participants in Moodle Certification (on moodle.org) have been able to vote, using choice activities, on aspects of the scheme such as:

– Certification fees– Balance of scheme (project/exam)– Duration of MTC– Certificate lifetime– Balance of Moodle specific / generic knowledge


Benefits of the MTCBenefits of the MTC

● Recognition of individuals skills● Assists employers in hiring and promotion

decisions● 'Good for your CV'● Increases awareness of Moodle as a leading

global CMS● Enhances individuals expert use of the Moodle

application itself

● Demonstrates a level of ‘loyalty’ to Moodle● Certification fees contribute to the ongoing

development of Moodle


Guiding principlesGuiding principles

● MTC is not a 'course' in it's own right– It's purpose is not to 'teach candidates how to use

Moodle'

● MTC is not a technical certification– Candidate should have a working knowledge of

course set-up, management and support● The candidates ‘project course’ is a shell course

provided by a Moodle Partner

● This certification does not address server or application installation, site administration, set-up, maintenance, connectivity or other technical considerations.


Guiding principlesGuiding principles

● It is a benchmark demonstration of a specific level of competency and knowledge

● The amount of work required by candidates to gain certification will vary based on their prior knowledge and experience


Potential candidates?Potential candidates?

● Teachers● Trainers● Tutors● Lecturers● IT support staff● E-learning consultants● Educational designers● IT system administrators● HRD managers● In-house company trainers● Entrepreneurs● Private teachers


StructureStructure

● Three elements to certification– Project course– Narrative document (reflective analysis)– Objective exam

● 80% overall to achieve pass– 80% course project and narrative– 80% objective exam

● These three elements directly relate to the eight MTC Skill Sets...


MTC processMTC process

Registration with Moodle Partner(mentor-assessor assigned)

Registration with Moodle Partner(mentor-assessor assigned)

Course projectCourse project

NarrativeNarrative

ExamExam

Automated certificateAutomated certificate

80%8 weeks

PreparationPreparation

+4 weeks


Preparation for candidatesPreparation for candidates

● Read the Moodle Certification Guiding Principles● Browse through the MTC FAQ ● Review the MTC Candidate Guide and Skill Sets

– Explore each of the eight Skill Sets in more detail● Read the MTC exam weighting

– Try the MTC quiz (orientation to exam)● Explore the MTC course project Wiki

● Read the document Am I ready to register and start the Moodle Teacher Certificate?

● Read through posts in the Moodle Teacher Certification - news and community discussion forum

● Register votes in the Choices area

● Use the database to locate and register with a Moodle Partner


1.Environmental technologyBrowsers, cookies, plug-ins,

access speeds...

2.Generic Moodle skillsSettings, formats, editor,

themes...

3.Moodle blocksUse of all standard blocks...

4.Using ResourcesText, labels, links,

directories...

Skill SetsSkill Sets

5.Using ActivitiesAssignment, Chat, Forum,

etc.

6.Multimedia and resourcesImages, Audio, Movies,

Flash...

7.Participant managementEnrolment, Grades, Scales,

communication...

8.Course managementGroups, Logs, Files, etc.


Skill Sets assessmentSkill Sets assessment


Skill Set weighting in ExamSkill Set weighting in Exam

Using Resources

10%

Moodle Blocks30%

Course management

5%Participant management

5%

Environmental technology

5%

Multimedia and resources

5%

Generic Moodle skills

10%

Using Activities

30%


Competition or Compliment?Competition or Compliment?

● The MTC can form part of a wider programme– An academic qualification in e-learning can include

the MTC as a practical component part

● Very cost effective– MTC can be used as a standard within an

organisation for numerous staff

● ‘Short and sweet’– Typical candidate: 40-50 hours over eight weeks

● Certification Central Administration also assist with cross-credit mapping and articulation into other qualifications


Interest since launchInterest since launch

● MTC has been implemented in a very low-key way – no 'big bang' launch – allowing Partners time to gear-up and translate key information for local markets. Since the launch on 1st May we have candidates from:– New Zealand– Singapore– Croatia– UK– Spain– Italy– Colombia– Germany– USA


Participants in Certification areaParticipants in Certification area

Argentina Brazil Chile Colombia

Mexico Peru Venezuela Guam

USA Austria Bosnia Denmark

Finland France Germany Greece

I reland I taly Netherlands Norway

Poland Portugal Russian Fed Serbia

Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland

UK I ran Jordan Lebanon

Costa Rica Liberia Morocco RSA

Sudan UAE Australia China

Hong Kong India Indonesia Japan

Korea New Zealand Pakistan Philippines

Singapore Sri Lanka Taiwan Thailand

Vietnam


Participants in Certification areaParticipants in Certification area

Europe27%

UK18%

Australasia15%

N America25%

S America9%

Middle East6%


Support for candidatesSupport for candidates

● Various support mechanisms:

– Personal mentor-assessor

– The Moodle Certification area● Forums● Chat● Wikis● FAQ● Links to specific resources

– Orientation quiz – all participants– Practice exams – for registered candidates– Example projects – optional (in development)


Mentor-assessorsMentor-assessors

● The registering Moodle Partner assigns a mentor-assessor to the candidate. Mentor-assessors have:

– Completed the MTC– Completed an additional mentoring development

programme specifically devised for MTC– A teaching qualification and/or extensive

educational background– Supported Moodle users and e-learning previously


Mentor-assessorsMentor-assessors

● Moodle Partners select their mentor-assessors – Important with the global nature and so many

different languages

– All candidates complete a mentor-assessor evaluation at the end of their programme

– This feedback is used by central administration, and Moodle Partners, to review the performance of mentor-assessors


RegistrationRegistration

● Candidates can find the MTC contact for their local Moodle Partner in the database in Moodle Certification on moodle.org

● Where there is no Moodle Partner in a specific country, candidates may

– Register with a Moodle Partner in a neighbouring country

● Probably chosen because of language

– Register with Central Certification Administration● Support only available in English and only available if

no Moodle Partner exists in the candidates country


AdministrationAdministration

● Being managed through Moodle Partners in each country has several advantages:

– Ensures quality– Maintains consistent global standards– Can link with authorised training programmes– Translations to other languages possible– Local representation– Easier fee payment

● Partners are supported through a dedicated certification area on Moodle.com to aid coordination between all Partners


Future developmentFuture development

● Moodle 1.6– Existing documentation now being duplicated and

revised for 1.6– Blogs, Database, Reporting, etc.!– Exam versions will run side-by-side for 2006

● Translations– German– Spanish – European– Spanish – South American– Italian– Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian– Slovenian– Danish– Mandarin


Furture development - MACFurture development - MAC

● Moodle Administrator Certificate (MAC)– Technically orientated– For administrators and advanced teachers

● For people who set-up and manage Moodle installations– PHP– Networking– Operating Systems and environments– Optional Blocks and Modules– Server management and maintainence

● Will require candidates to set-up a server


Furture development - MUCFurture development - MUC

● Moodle User Certificate (MUC)

● Primary focus on the use of Moodle as a learner

● Audience– Non-editing teachers– Students

● Possibly used as a lead-in to MTC

● Will be relatively quick, low-admin, and cheap


Further detailsFurther details

● Moodle Partners in each country are a primary contact point.

● Moodle Certification course on Moodle.org provides general and up-to-date MTC information and materials.

– Public forums (where we DO answer questions!)– Orientation quiz– Candidate wikis– Frequently Asked Questions– General help– Contact details


EndEnd

● Thank you

Documents

Moodle Teacher Certificate (MTC)