To Moodle or not to Moodle?

The term Moodle is an acronym for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. It is a program that uses a variety of net based projects to enhance the learning process.

Moodle is a free download and is used by a variety of institutes and individuals. Moodle is used in Whitfield County, Georgia elementary, middle and high schools.

Moodle entry can be controlled by the classroom teacher.
The teacher may give access to all sites the teacher has downloaded or the teacher may block access to only a sampling of the web-based instructional tools.

One of the pluses about Moodle is the ability to download YouTube which is normally blocked. There are many videos on YouTube that increase student learning. However, there are also many that are not appropriate for school use. The teacher can browse through the YouTube collection and download only those videos that are instructionally appropriate. By doing this, there is no chance of inadvertently playing an unsuitable video.

Teachers spend many hours searching and researching for tools that will increase their students’ learning and more importantly – their joy of learning. By downloading into Moodle the teacher has a lasting address of the projects that deem worthy of his/her students’ time.

From Pete’s Power Points, to YouTube and beyond, Moodle is the voice of the future.

Below are bulleted benefits of utilizing Moodle:

• keeps all educational/skills web sites together
• monitors students’ uses
• creates a forum to communicate between student/teacher and parent/teacher
• keeps teacher's tech skills up
• provides emergency long distant learning if child or teacher is ill
• enables teacher to see who is online if he/she is out
• can check in with substitutes (subs use student computer)
• can put substitute lesson plans on line without leaving home
• save on paper/worksheets
• selective video to enhance lessons
• http://moodleapp 4 Trew A, Hertz 5-29.doc