- exploring online learning platforms and comparing the features of each
- creating an ad for an online learning platform
- reading articles on the characteristics of a successful online facilitator
- responding to a scenario as an online discussion facilitator
- viewing a slideshow on Online Assessment and describe ways to maintain academic integrity in online courses
Wayne Wollaston
1/14/2011
Why Moodle?
Moodle is an open source, online, interactive, teaching and learning tool used by all levels of teachers. From my research, I have found that it might be easier on Moodle to manage web based content and for students to negotiate their way in this platform. Just like all the other platforms, it facilitates and delivers complete online courses 24/7 in an orderly way, but unlike the others it lets students communicate in real- time. I think one of the best things about Moodle is the Chat online. This lets the teacher continue classroom discussions outside the classroom and gives the teacher the ability to question that shy student who may never speak in an open classroom. It has integrated quizzes, and grade book.
Another great feature about Moodle is imbedding a PowerPoint. As the administrator converts your PowerPoint to SCORM 2004 or compliant Flash SCORM 1.2, your course will become "track-able", the implications, as an administrator, are that you can track the presentation on Moodle. The platform has progressive tracking features such as; accessed time, number of viewed slides, presentation time and whether or not the presentation was completed by the user – that are all available to you. It is ideal for instructional designers who are focused on creating better e-learning content.
Overall, whichever platform one may select, it is important to achieve the following; increase student participation, establish a 24/7 learning environment, engage all styles of learning, provide students with a multiplicity of ways to learn the same materials, decrease paperwork and engage digital natives where they work the best.
Moodle vs the Competition
Easy to install, suitable for 100% online classes, emphasis on strong security throughout. Forms are all checked, data validated, cookies encrypted etc.
See how Moodle leaves the competition behind
Features | Moodle | Blackboard | Tapestry |
Students are encouraged to build an online Edit profile including photos, description. Email addresses can be protected from display if required. | YES | NO | NO |
Each person needs only one account for the Moodle site. Each account can have access to different courses, and the courses resources and activities. | YES | YES | YES |
YES | NO | NO | |
YES | YES | NO | |
YES | NO | NO | |
The Choice module is like a single question poll. Can either be used to vote on something, or to get feedback from every student | YES | NO | NO |
Different types of forums are available, such as course news, open-to-all, one-thread-per-user and questions/answer types. | YES | YES | YES |
Students make choices by their answers to questions or by selecting a button with a description. Their choices are linked to other pages in the lesson. | YES | NO | NO |
Resources can display many types of media content files by a single link on the course page | YES | YES | NO |
Built –in-surveys(COLLES, ATTLS) have been proven as instruments for analyzing online classes | YES | NO | NO |
Wiki module is a series of wev pages that anyone can add to or edit | YES | NO | NO |
Workshop module allows peer assessment of documents, and the teacher can manage and grade the assessment. | YES | NO | NO |
Voice in an online environment-
In the face-to-face classroom verbal communication filled with tone and inflection facilitates learning with ease. An online facilitator must carefully articulate and sequence activities and discussion using wording that conveys a “voice and tone” that promotes learner-learner and learner-instructor interaction (more about those later). To illustrate how challenging this can be, practice saying, “Yeah, right”, out loud using several different inflections that express agreement, surprise, and sarcasm. You can see that our meaning isn’t always adequately communicated by the written word.
As emphasized in the articles, it’s important to develop your “tone and voice” as an effective online facilitator. To learn more about developing your style, read The Scenario. Post two discussion forum responses as described below.
The Scenario-
A teacher posts this writing prompt in the online discussion forum:
Choose an experience in which you helped others by serving as a volunteer, making a charitable donation, or stepping in to help make a situation better. In one paragraph describe the experience. In another paragraph explain why that experience is worth sharing with others. In the third paragraph describe how much information you would need to include to make sure your audience understands and appreciates the significance of your actions.
The student posts this response:
One Thanksgiving, my family and I decided to help out at the Salvation Army by helping to cook and serve dinner. We worked hard to help these people. Some of them were very nice to us and some seemed to be embarrassed because they were there. Even though I missed my mother’s home cooked meal that day, I still feel good because we helped.
The information I included to ensure that the audience understands and appreciates the significance of my actions is to tell them that we worked hard and gave up Thanksgiving Dinner at our house.
Your turn:
Reply to this student, using what you think is an appropriate voice and tone. Remember that you are addressing the whole class, not just this student so that everyone learns more about planning and drafting a paragraph, and that the online dialog is extended, focused, or redirected to promote your learning goals.
After you have posted your response to the student, reply to your posting identifying the type of voice and tone from the article, Learning Online Facilitation Online that best describes yours. Also include how your response furthered your learning goals. Be sure to read and respond to others postings as well
