Online Learning Course Moodle Overview

Introduction to Online and Hybrid Course Development and DeliveryGeorge Williams College

What is Moodle?•A Modular Object Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment

•About Moodle

•The Community

•K-12 Moodle Resources

•Moodle Introduction in Demo (username teacher password FunMood1ing!)

•Join the community and create a post!

•What resources are available?

http://moodle.org/about

http://moodle.org/login/index.php

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Teaching_Good_Practices_(K-12)


Moodle Basics

•Shell Overview•Setting up your profile•Administration•Roles•Blocks•Content Tools•Communication Tools•Assessment ToolsMoodle Teaching Do's


Want to just skip ahead to the content?Course Settings: http://docs.moodle.org/en/Course_settingsRoles: http://docs.moodle.org/en/RolesBlocks: http://docs.moodle.org/en/BlocksRSS Block: http://docs.moodle.org/en/RSS_feeds_blockLabels: http://docs.moodle.org/en/LabelCalendar: http://docs.moodle.org/en/Adding/editing_a_calendar_eventDocumentation:http://docs.moodle.org/en/Teacher_documentationCreate Your Own Moodle Course: http://docs.moodle.org/en/Create_your_own_courseMoodle Teaching Do's: http://docs.moodle.org/en/Teaching_Do%27s

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Course_settings

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Roles

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Blocks

http://docs.moodle.org/en/RSS_feeds_block

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Label

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Adding/editing_a_calendar_event

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Teacher_documentation

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Create_your_own_course

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Teaching_Do's


Shell Overview - Video

•Your Moodle Shell is the starting point for course creation. It is also where your students will go to access content!

•We will highlight and consider several of the components of your moodle shell.

•If you do not yet have a moodle shell, or just want to PLAY without fear of changing/deleting – visit the moodle site at http://demo.moodle.org

•Note that the site resets itself hourly!

•Chapter 1 in the Rice text provides an overview of the Moodle Shell

http://www.screencast.com/users/ValerieS/folders/Default/media/b0d9de3d-e7b6-4801-86c8-2410dc323b72

http://demo.moodle.org/


Your Profile – Video

•Your Moodle Profile contains many pieces of information including email address, preferences for receiving communication, and passwords. •Profiles can be changed by the user or by the administrator.

•Information on Profiles can be found at http://docs.moodle.org/en/Edit_profile

http://www.screencast.com/users/ValerieS/folders/Default/media/83e1fd11-314d-40e0-a044-feec9ae94f5b

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Edit_profile


Administration Block•The Administration Block is used by teachers to manage course settings, student and teacher enrollments and their groups, view the grade book, and create custom grading scales. For more information visit http://docs.moodle.org/en/Course_administration_block

•The settings tab is used to determine how things appear to the course participants. It is generally the first page viewed after creating a course. A detailed description of the settings tab can be found at http://docs.moodle.org/en/Course_settings.

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Course_administration_block


Settings to Consider:

•Format – Weeks or Topics?•Hidden Sections - Do you want everything available?•Activity Reports – May be useful for students to reflect on their participation.•Themes- Consider color and settings that are conducive to your environment.•Others?


Blocks:

Blocks can be added using the “Add Blocks” drop down menu. Popular blocks include the calendar and latest news. Consider adding RSS Feeds for site currency or messaging for community building. Spend some time moving/deleting/adding blocks in the moodle demo site (demo.moodle.org). More on blocks can be found at http://docs.moodle.org/en/Blocks.

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Blocks


Content Tools: Adding a ResourceMoodle supports a range of resource types that can be added to course sections.

Resources include:•Insert a label•Compose a text page•Compose a web page•Link to a file or web site•Display a directory•Add an IMS Content Package

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Label

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Text_page

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Web_page

http://docs.moodle.org/en/File_or_website_link

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Directory

http://docs.moodle.org/en/IMS_content_package


Text pageThis type of resource is a simple page written using plain text.A number of formatting types are available to help turn your plain text into nice-looking web pages.


HTML pageThis sort of resource makes it easy to develop a complete single web page within Moodle, especially when you are using Moodle's WYSIWYG HTML editor.The page is stored in the database, not as a file, and you have a lot of freedom to do almost anything you like using HTML, including Javascript.


Files and web pagesThis resource type allows you to link to any web page or other file on the public web. It also allows you to link to any web page or other file that you have uploaded into your course files area from your own desktop computer.Normal web pages are simply displayed as they are, while multimedia files are dealt with more intelligently and may be embedded within a web page. For example, MP3 files will be displayed using a built-in streaming player, as will movie files, flash animations and so on.There are many options for displaying your content in popup windows, framed windows and so on.In particular, if your resource is a web application or other type of content able to accept parameters, you can choose to send information to your resource such as the user's name, their email, the course they are currently in, and so on.


DirectoryThe directory resource can display a whole directory (and its subdirectories) from your course files area. Students can then browse and view all those files.


IMS Content PackagesIMS content packages can be created and edited using a variety of content-authoring software. Content is usually displayed over several pages, with navigation between the pages. The content-authoring software produces a zip file, which can then be uploaded to your course in Moodle.The zip file is unzipped automatically in Moodle, and the content of the package displayed.There are various options for displaying content in a popup window, with a navigation menu or buttons etc.


AssignmentsAssignments allow the teacher to specify a task that requires students to prepare digital content (any format) and submit it by uploading it to the server. Typical assignments include essays, projects, reports and so on. This module includes grading facilities.


LabelsLabels are a little different from other resources because they are text and images that are actually embedded directly among the other activity links in the course page.


Communication Tools: Adding an activityMoodle supports a range of activity types that can be added to course sections.

Activities Include:•Assignment•Chats•Choices•Database Activity•Forums•Lessons•Quizzes•SCORM•Surveys•Wikis

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Assignments

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Chats

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Choices

http://docs.moodle.org/en/Database_module


AssignmentsAssignments allow the teacher to specify a task that requires students to prepare digital content (any format) and submit it by uploading it to the server. Typical assignments include essays, projects, reports and so on. This module includes grading facilities.


ChatsThe Chat module allows participants to have a real-time synchronous discussion via the web. This is a useful way to get a different understanding of each other and the topic being discussed - the mode of using a chat room is quite different from the asynchronous forums. The Chat module contains a number of features for managing and reviewing chat discussions.


ChoicesA choice activity is very simple - the teacher asks a question and specifies a choice of multiple responses. It can be useful as a quick poll to stimulate thinking about a topic; to allow the class to vote on a direction for the course; or to gather research consent.


ForumsThis activity can be the most important - it is here that most discussion takes place. Forums can be structured in different ways, and can include peer rating of each posting. The postings can be viewed in a variety for formats, and can include attachments. By subscribing to a forum, participants will receive copies of each new posting in their email. A teacher can impose subscription on everyone if they want to.


GlossaryThis activity allows participants to create and maintain a list of definitions, like a dictionary.The entries can be searched or browsed in many different formats.The glossary also allows teachers to export entries from one glossary to another (the main one) within the same course.Finally, it is possible to automatically create links to these entries from throughout the course.


LessonA lesson delivers content in an interesting and flexible way. It consists of a number of pages. Each page normally ends with a question and a number of possible answers. Depending on the student's choice of answer they either progress to the next page or are taken back to a previous page. Navigation through the lesson can be straight forward or complex, depending largely on the structure of the material being presented.


QuizzesThis module allows the teacher to design and set quiz tests, consisting of multiple choice, true-false, and short answer questions. These questions are kept in a categorized database, and can be re-used within courses and even between courses. Quizzes can allow multiple attempts. Each attempt is automatically marked, and the teacher can choose whether to give feedback or to show correct answers. This module includes grading facilities.


SCORM/AICC PackagesA package is a bundle of web content packaged in a way that follows the SCORM (Sharable Content Object Reference Model) or the AICC standard for learning objects. These packages can include web pages, graphics, Javascript programs, Flash presentations and anything else that works in web browsers. The Package module allows you to easily upload any standard SCORM or AICC package and make it part of your course.


SurveysThe Survey module provides a number of verified survey instruments that have been found useful in assessing and stimulating learning in online environments. Teachers can use these to gather data from their students that will help them learn about their class and reflect on their own teaching.


WikisA Wiki enables documents to be authored collectively in a simple markup language using a web browser."Wiki wiki" means "super fast" in the Hawaiian language, and it is the speed of creating and updating pages that is one of the defining aspects of wiki technology. Generally, there is no prior review before modifications are accepted, and most wikis are open to the general public or at least to all persons who also have access to the wiki server.The Moodle Wiki module enables participants to work together on web pages to add, expand and change the content. Old versions are never deleted and can be restored.


More about quizzes:Video


Good Course Design:

Apply principles of good web design. Just because you CAN put something on a page, doesn't mean you SHOULD.


Good Course Design:

There are many tools on the HTML toolbar for adding colors, fonts, sizes, and styles. Use them judiciously. A good rule of thumb is no more than three fonts per page (including colors, sizes, and styles). Too many fonts, colors, styles, etc. actually increases the cognitive load of the learner. In other words, your learner will need to work harder to understand what you're presenting.


Good Course Design:

If you use color, make sure that you have high color contrast. Also, remember that your learners might be colorblind, in which case, red and green can be especially troublesome.


Good Course Design:

Be consistent. Use consistent alignment, formatting, colors, and page layout. If you plan to develop a series of courses, consider developing a style guide or template that you can use as you build others.


Good Course Design:

White space can be a good thing. Try to break up lots of text with white space. If you have a list of activities on your course page, see if there is a way to break them up or organize them. If the page is too dense, it can be overwhelming.


Good Course Design:

Don't use technology for technology's sake. Are those dancing monkeys really necessary? As you add cute graphics, images, or animations to your course, consider what benefit it really provides to your learners. Chances are that your learner finds all those animations and colors very annoying or very distracting.


Good Course Design:

KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetie). Moodle's model of course presentation is quite different from that of many other Learning Managements Systems. The course page is very flat and transparent, with everything presented right up front for learners, as opposed to other systems where activities and resources are hidden behind buttons and folders. With this unique course design, some struggle with how to best make use of the course page. Simplicity. Provide enough information on the course page to help the learner know where to go, but keep the meat of the instructions and content within the activities themselves. For example, avoid course pages filled with paragraphs of text or explanation, with activities nearly hidden in between. Not only does this model mean that the learner has to scroll past all of the text to access the content, but the learner may even miss the key activities, buried as they are by the text.


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Technology

Online Learning Course Moodle Overview