Comparisons and advocacy

You can use the demo site at
http://demo.moodle.org/

I'm also doing an MSc in Learning and Technology (in TCD) and recently did a paper on LMS usability.

Some references I found useful are:

Bremer, D., & Bryant, R. (2005). A Comparison of Two Learning management Systems: Moodle vs Blackboard. Paper presented at the 18th Annual Conference of the National Advisory Committee on Computing Qualifications, Tauranga, New Zealand.
Di Iorio, A., Feliziani, A. A., Mirri, S., Salomoni, P., & Vitali, F. (2006). Automatically Producing Accessible Learning Objects. Educational Technology & Society, 9(4), 3-16.
Graf, S., & List, B. (2005). An Evaluation of Open Source E-Learning Platforms Stressing Adaptation Issues. Paper presented at the Fifth IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT), Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Machado, M., & Tao, E. (2007, October 10 - 13, 2007). Blackboard vs. Moodle: Comparing User Experience of Learning Management Systems. Paper presented at the 37th ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference, Milwaukee, WI.
Martin, L., Martínez, D. R., Revilla, O., Aguilar, M. J., Santos, O. C., & Boticario, J. G. (2008, 6-7 November). Usability in e-Learning Platforms: heuristics comparison between Moodle, Sakai and dotLRN. Paper presented at the 7th European Conference on e-Learning (ECEL), Agia Napa, Cyprus.
Neilsen, J. (2003). Usability 101: Fundamentals and definitions-what, why, how? Retrieved 20/11/2008, from http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030825.html
Nielsen, J. (1994). Ten Usability Heuristics. Retrieved 16/11/2008, 2008, from http://www.useit.com/papers/heuristic/heuristic_list.html
Pierotti, D. (1995). Heuristic Evaluation -A System Checklist. from http://www.stcsig.org/usability/topics/articles/he-checklist.html
Rusama, M. (2006). Microsoft Word template for making Moodle questionnaires in GIFT format. from http://www.soberit.hut.fi/sprg/resources/moodle/GiftConverter.html
Yatskovsky, V. (2006). Microsoft Word template for making Moodle quizes. from http://www.finemetronome.com/moodle/

Hi Stella,

I have some courses running in apprenticeship training that I developed as part of my Masters research in Dublin City University (DCU). An older electrical module allows guest access. If you need more, or you were looking for some other sort of access, you can mail me, and if I can do anyting to help, we can arrange it.

Matt

Also, if you go to http://download.moodle.org/ and download one of the complete installation packages, you can very quickly have a fully working Moodle installation on your desktop computer, with yourself as administrator.

Hi Stella, Cisco Entrepreneur Institute has some very nice courses that build on Moodle's ability to be customized and extended - they have a guest access demo here:
http://ciscoinstitute.net/course/view.php?id=769&page=93133

The Flexpage course format used in the above demo is available for download here:
http://development.moodlerooms.com

A big benefit of Moodle not provided by commercial systems is that in addition to providing a standard, easy to learn, low tech requirements basic course management tool, Moodle provides an excellent platform for building a VLE tailored to the needs of your particular teachers and learners. And if you find you need to build new tools to best meet the needs of your users, you can contribute them back to the Moodle community to help others with similar needs teach and learn.

I aslo have a demo site you can check out if you wish that shows contrib code in action as well.

the site is called the Moodle Playpen.

Hi Stella,

Here's another demo site: Learning English on the CLA Platform

You can log in as a guest and see everything as a student would but you won't be able to participate in chats, wikis, forums, etc. If you wish to do so, contact me off the forum and I'll explain how you can.

Cheers,
Glenys