MoodleMoodle

Moodle characteristicsMoodle characteristics Using moodleUsing moodle Moodle ProsMoodle Pros Moodle ConsMoodle Cons

Moodle characteristicsMoodle characteristics

moodle= modular object-oriented dynamic moodle= modular object-oriented dynamic learning environmentlearning environment

Moodle is based on the ideas of pedagogical Moodle is based on the ideas of pedagogical constructivism. “Knowledge is built in the constructivism. “Knowledge is built in the student’s mind instead of being transmitted student’s mind instead of being transmitted without changes from a book or a teacher”without changes from a book or a teacher”

The teacher “just” creates an environment The teacher “just” creates an environment focused on the student so the student can built focused on the student so the student can built his own knowledge.his own knowledge.

Moodle characteristicsMoodle characteristics

Moodle is a web application.Moodle is a web application. Runs under unix, GNU/linux, opensolaris, freebsd, Runs under unix, GNU/linux, opensolaris, freebsd,

windows, mac OS X, netWare and others.windows, mac OS X, netWare and others.

Data is stored in a SQL database.Data is stored in a SQL database. From 1.7 onwards it supports almost any database using From 1.7 onwards it supports almost any database using

total database abstration layertotal database abstration layer Up to 1.6 version only mysql and postgreSQL were Up to 1.6 version only mysql and postgreSQL were

supportedsupported

It requires PHPIt requires PHP So you need: So you need:

webserver+PHP+databasewebserver+PHP+database

Moodle characteristicsMoodle characteristics

It’s free. (GNU license)It’s free. (GNU license) It’s easy to install (ok, not so easy)It’s easy to install (ok, not so easy) Community technical support=No Community technical support=No

technical support?technical support? Customizable (open source, but you Customizable (open source, but you

need to be a very good programmer)need to be a very good programmer) Compatible with other formats: scorm, Compatible with other formats: scorm,

imsims

Using moodleUsing moodle

Course administration:Course administration: The teacher has total control about the The teacher has total control about the

options of a course, options of a course, Lessons: how many, when, how to do them.Lessons: how many, when, how to do them. Students: how many Students: how many , when they connected, in , when they connected, in

which lessons is each student, passed/failed testwhich lessons is each student, passed/failed test Activities: forums, chats, tests…..several statistics Activities: forums, chats, tests…..several statistics

about themabout them

ActivitiesActivities

Using moodleUsing moodle

ActivitiesActivities Communication: forums, chats, internal Communication: forums, chats, internal

messaging, calendar, surveysmessaging, calendar, surveys Formative: lessons, tasks, external links, Formative: lessons, tasks, external links,

databases, forums…databases, forums… Evaluation: questionnaires, tests…Evaluation: questionnaires, tests… Integratable contents: ANYTHING THAT Integratable contents: ANYTHING THAT

CAN BE PUT ON A WEB SITECAN BE PUT ON A WEB SITE

Using moodleUsing moodle

What is moodle useful for?What is moodle useful for? Complete curricular subjectsComplete curricular subjects Online formation (very debatable, not for Online formation (very debatable, not for

moodle itself but for online formation)moodle itself but for online formation) Meeting pointMeeting point Interactive information web page Interactive information web page

(wikipedia, although wikipedia is (wikipedia, although wikipedia is constructed with mediawiki not moodle)constructed with mediawiki not moodle)

Moodle advantagesMoodle advantages

Student participation: topics, Glossaries.Student participation: topics, Glossaries. Teachers: Teachers:

has total control over course (when and what)has total control over course (when and what) Monitorizing students progressMonitorizing students progress Feedback to studentsFeedback to students Create courses with other teachersCreate courses with other teachers

Students:Students: Motivating (debatable)Motivating (debatable) Timetable (24/7)Timetable (24/7) Inmediate feedback (predetermined feedback is very Inmediate feedback (predetermined feedback is very

difficult to see in advance all possibilities)difficult to see in advance all possibilities) Easy Teamwork: no need of physical or time coincidenceEasy Teamwork: no need of physical or time coincidence

Moodle disadvantagesMoodle disadvantages

Some activities can be very mechanical and Some activities can be very mechanical and with very few options.with very few options.

Moodle is online 24/7, teacher is not. (if the Moodle is online 24/7, teacher is not. (if the course is big enough could be several course is big enough could be several teachers to achieve the 24/7 teacher online teachers to achieve the 24/7 teacher online as in online games.as in online games.

Looks like PHP doesn´t mange very well a lot Looks like PHP doesn´t mange very well a lot of users at the same time (slow)of users at the same time (slow)

Support: there is no place to call a Support: there is no place to call a “technician” to came to fix the problems, “technician” to came to fix the problems, being an open source platform there is not being an open source platform there is not free support.free support.

Online formationOnline formation

Is online formation feasible?Is online formation feasible?

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