Hello Moodle Users,
My name is Mark, I am currently in my final year studying for a computer sciences degree. I have chosen to do my final year dissertation on VLE's (Virtual Learning Environments). To begin my project I want to critically analyse what is already out there (moodle being one of the main VLE's), so what I ask for is general feedback from Moodle users. This can be disadvantages you have stumbled across, advantages and even your views on how 'you' would make the system better as a whole. I would normally have done this as a questionnaire, however I do not know of any institutions round my area dealing with moodle.
It is important I can gather this information from users who have currently used this system day out and in and have had many experience with it. As it is also important to gather it from first time users, as they may have more critique to add.
So please add any feedback and views on moodle, I have already got a few views however lacking the real community voice. Remember this is just general feedback so just bullet point whatever you think is good, bad or what you think you could do to make it better. From this information I can further assess Moodle with reliable and honest information and not just my opinion.
Many thanks,
Mark
I suspect what you are doing is too big for what you need. There are a LOT of possible VLE's
Check out this forum: http://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?f=485
And the links in Moodle Buzz. http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?d=19
Do you know anything about learning theory and practice? (apart from being a consumer that is . .) You may like to check out the philosophy Moodle is based on.
http://php.opensourcecms.com/scripts/show.php?catid=6&category=Learning%20Management is a site that lets oyu try out a bunch of open source LMS's.
Googling Moodle review/comparison etc will get a lot of hits.
Not sure what you mean about the questionaire.
Your topic is probably 2 big. (Beware: personal hobbyhorse approaching) What I'd like to see is some research on Forums. "Enhancing forum design in an LMS. Balancing power and simplicity, simplifying interactions around communication, groupwork, individual work, filesharing and assessment" eg A good comparison between ForumNG and the standard forum, and how a decent forum could simplify the need for tons of add-ons like dialogue, journal, blog, tagging, annotating. e-portfolio and file sharing add-ons.
This will of course depend if you are doing a technical project or a useability project or a function <> form project. I have an idea if you want to do some coding.
Probably this social forum is not the best place to get responses, and I've gone way beyond socialising, but I guess we do talk business over coffee at the cafe.
Check out this forum: http://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?f=485
And the links in Moodle Buzz. http://moodle.org/mod/data/view.php?d=19
Do you know anything about learning theory and practice? (apart from being a consumer that is . .) You may like to check out the philosophy Moodle is based on.
http://php.opensourcecms.com/scripts/show.php?catid=6&category=Learning%20Management is a site that lets oyu try out a bunch of open source LMS's.
Googling Moodle review/comparison etc will get a lot of hits.
Not sure what you mean about the questionaire.
Your topic is probably 2 big. (Beware: personal hobbyhorse approaching) What I'd like to see is some research on Forums. "Enhancing forum design in an LMS. Balancing power and simplicity, simplifying interactions around communication, groupwork, individual work, filesharing and assessment" eg A good comparison between ForumNG and the standard forum, and how a decent forum could simplify the need for tons of add-ons like dialogue, journal, blog, tagging, annotating. e-portfolio and file sharing add-ons.
This will of course depend if you are doing a technical project or a useability project or a function <> form project. I have an idea if you want to do some coding.
Probably this social forum is not the best place to get responses, and I've gone way beyond socialising, but I guess we do talk business over coffee at the cafe.
Hello Derek,
To tell the truth all I want to do is focus on Moodle, gather peoples opinions and find out what is missing. I will then implement this missing part as my final year project... I am not going to implement a VLE itself but rather something that is missing from the chosen VLE (moodle) for example VOIP.
Please email me more information of this proposal you have: M.Wilkinson2@gmail.com
Thanks,
Mark
P.S. add-ons like dialogue, journal, blog, tagging, annotating. e-portfolio and file sharing add-ons. This is important information!
To tell the truth all I want to do is focus on Moodle, gather peoples opinions and find out what is missing. I will then implement this missing part as my final year project... I am not going to implement a VLE itself but rather something that is missing from the chosen VLE (moodle) for example VOIP.
Please email me more information of this proposal you have: M.Wilkinson2@gmail.com
Thanks,
Mark
P.S. add-ons like dialogue, journal, blog, tagging, annotating. e-portfolio and file sharing add-ons. This is important information!
Mark I applaud your very valiant effort to take a bite out of this very important topic, VLE. One feedback has already pointed out that this subject is big (huge in fact)-- how so? My own experience is as a client, creator, facilitator and server side developer (amateur with intermediate skills).
I have no computer science degree but a MBA, 23 years plus in the US Navy before retiring, 4 years as a lecturer after retirement at a Maritime Institution and various skills sets in computers, programming and such--most recently Adobe elearning and WAMP.
My main reason for mentioning the above is to help bring a "two sided" coin type look at his issue. For me, VLE, LMS, CMS or what have you-- in order to have the desired affect (attainment of competencies, real learning/synthesis (Bloom stuff), development of life learning skills, betterment of society, etc.) VLE must have a guiding hand that understands the requirements of both facilitators and ICT! THIS I FIND SORELY MISSING! What do I mean by that?;
- If the "correct" track/ ICT infrastructure is not in place for the facilitators/ course creators-- we get garbage in, garbage out!
- Problem is, many facilitators (generalizing) have little clue about ICT requirements with reference to (WRT), i.e., LMS, CMS, e-Learning Course building software, security, access, course creator skill sets and even proper learning, teaching style, course structure and development (competency and outcome development, etc.)
- My experience here is that for more than two years, administrators can't decide weather to adopt a VLE or not; Issues put forth include; privacy of data, concerns about allowing material on the net for others to see and copy, not understanding total cost/benefits, and stake holder req, etc.
- Facilitators will even expect you do their work for you-- load materials, convert files, etc.
- Protocols and standards for ICT often times are at odds with "educator progress". SMART classrooms, use of INTRANET, Exam clickers, interactive quizzes, live Internet access and camera feeds present real security issues for ICT but are a must collaborative learning to take place.
- We're also assuming everyone is enthusiastic about doing VLE. The "old guard" suggesting what's wrong with the way we're doing now syndrome?
- Even though there may be clear direction from a businesses Strategic Planning for these types of initiatives, the paralysis of analysis often prevails. They cannot implement or follow through.
- My recommendation here is the Six Sigma type approach; Assemble a "Black belt team of ICT, SME and Execs to quickly and decisively carve out the way; next a Green belt team to flush out and implement, and White belt for daily routines.
- One more note on the server side-- once the facilitators and course creators start creating-- watch out for file sizes and haphazard file storage directories with little organization-- policies, structure, training and coordination. Again, the facilitators will think you are supposed to guide them, but ICT themselves may be looking for guidance.
- In one organization I worked at, every day people from ICT came thru the spaces looking at what we were doing, asking about problems/ staying connected and going to some department meetings to get the jump on "unplanned initiatives" that would involve/impact ICT.
So, getting back to too big a topic-- something like VLE best practices and somehow theorizing it having positive(significant) effect on the bottom line, human capital development, etc., might be good?
How this helps-- look forward to more dialog!
Iman