Thing 11: Whatsa Moodle?

Oodles of Moodles. Moodles of Noodles? Noodles of Oodles? Hm. I'm lost. Are we talking about Ramen, here?


Moodle is an open source (read: free) e-learning software. Here's a video from the Moodle people showing "what Moodle is all about". Schools across the world (from elementary to college) are using Moodle. The only thing one would need to run Moodle is a server that can hold the program. Our district (SWC833) has a Moodle server, so we are set to go!

Many of the things that you have already learned about (wikis, blogs) and things you will soon be learning about (online collaboration, surveys, and more) are integrated into Moodle. If you have ever wished for:
○ Online quizzes (scored automatically)
○ Online activities for students to access anywhere via the internet
○ Online notes/PowerPoint presentations for students to access as study resources
○ Forums for shared student thought/discussions
○ "Paperless" assignments (created online or uploaded by each student) with easy integrated grading

Then you might want to check out Moodle. Moodle is a simple, yet truly robust software that is available to increase web 2.0 usage and efficiency. (In the next "Thing" you'll have a chance to try out a Moodle demo course and also set up your own Moodle shell.)

Discovery Exercise
1. Watch the very short (about 2 minutes) video about "What is Moodle".
2. Watch the video about Moodle in the Classroom, featuring middle school teacher, Molly Tipton.
3. Blog about your thoughts about Moodle thus far. (If you're at a loss, check out some blog prompt ideas below.)

Discovery Resources
• One teacher talks about Moodle and the use in education, the use in his classroom and the "ups and downs".
• His example class of Moodle for you to check out.

Blog Prompts
• What do you think the strengths/weaknesses of using "hybrid" (online and classroom) courses are?
• What ideas do you have for the use of Moodle in your area?
• From what you know so far, If you could implement just one thing in Moodle, what would you be sure to do?

Challenge (optional) (these continue in the next "thing" as well)
• E-mail Gary Blok (if you're a member of district 833) and ask him to set you up with a class in Moodle for one of your classes. And then read this: Getting Started for Teachers
• If you already have a Moodle class, try one new thing that Molly Tipton talked about in the "Moodle in the Classroom" video. Or check out the "tips" in Getting Started for Teachers.
• Check out the "Teaching Do's" (like "encourage students to learn together") and "Teaching Don'ts" (like "Don't get overwhelmed by Moodle") .
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Discovery is so much fun!

Have you ever thought, ”Gosh, I wish I had time to learn more about blogs, wikis, or (enter your Web 2.0 tool here)?” Well, this is your chance to take the time to focus on your personal and professional development around Web 2.0 tools. It’s fun to explore these tools and figure out ways to use them in school, with your personal Web sites, or in other ways.

SWC's 23 Things is a twist on the Library Learning 2.0 program developed by Helene Blowers at the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County and adopted or adapted by many other libraries (including Minnesota Libraries with 23 Things on a Stick) and organizations since then.Learning 2.0 is online learning program that encourages staff to learn more about emerging technologies on the web that are changing the way people, society and schools access information and communicate with each other.

Over the course of the next nine weeks, this website will highlight “23 Things” and discovery exercises to help staff become familiar with blogging, RSS news feeds, tagging, wikis, podcasting, online applications, and video and image hosting sites.To familiarize yourself with this project, be sure to read the About page. The FAQs should answer most of your questions about this program. If not, then please add your question to the FAQ page as a comment.So fasten your seat belts, grab your mouse and get ready for a discovery adventure… and remember, it's OK to play with technology and have fun!