Re: what are the advantages of using the moodle web site?
Dear Amsy
Ho ho...There are a million things that one could say in response to your question.
The obvious, cop-out answer is that it depends upon what you want. If you tell us what you want, what your objectives are, then we can tell you how Moodle can help. There are even times when Moodle cannot help, but if you are an educator then the chances are it can, in spades. And upon reflection, this is not a cop-out answer at all; please see my last sentence.
I use Moodle as an online testing machine, and I find that it works rather well (not perfectly) at this task. But my own use is not one for which Moodle was designed for.
Moodle was I think, particularly designed for allowing instructors to provide and display content, and allow users to access the content in a controlled, secure environment, and then above all communicate, and collaborate in learning tasks, and for this process to be managed: for cooperation to be enhanced, and gradeable. Moodle is often called an LCMS - Learning Content Management System, and sometimes (by people like me) an LMS - Learning Management System.
As I wrote I was struck by the fact that wiki functionality, the queen of collective collaboration perhaps, is one which was has progressed (to provide one of the best wiki environments available, anywhere) only fairly recently.
Almost as much as the functionality of the thing, Moodle, you may find that the advantages of using Moodle are in the collaboration and cooperation that you may receive from the community of users and developers. There are other similar systems, some very expensive, but one thing that really sets Moodle apart is perhaps the vigour of this community here at "Using Moodle."
So, if you tell us about your objectives, I think that the chances are that you will receive helpful advice on how to achieve them.
Tim
Re: what are the advantages of using the moodle web site?
I am very new to Moodle and I've spent three days trying to figure out if it is actually what I need. When I read your post to Amsy, you said "But my own use is not one for which Moodle was designed for." I think I also fall into that category.
Could you, if you have the time, sort of point me in the right direction? I'll let you know how I need to use Moodle.
I'm developing an online training course for Good Manufacturing Practices. It is basically it's own website right now. It's broken down into 10 modules with Flash quizzes at the end. We want them to use these Flash quizzes to find the answers to the questions. When they have the correct answers we then want them to use Moodle to submit those answers so we can see proof they took the quiz and know the information. I've even read somewhere where Moodle can automatically send out a pdf certificate.
The site design/template has already been agreed on. I need to move this site into the Moodle frame. I know that using a Resource allows me to see my GMP website within Moodles frame. That is cool, so far so good.
What I'm hoping Moodle can do is:
1. Enroll students (I know it can do this)
2. We need to see all the grades from all the students that have submitted the quizzes and if the pdf certificate works, we'll need to see who that has been sent to and when.
3. What I'd really like is for the user not to be able to see the quiz until they have gone through the last page of the module. I can link to the Moodle quiz from the last page of a module , but found out that the Moodle quiz has to be visible for the student to be able to see it after they clilck on that link. And since it has to be visible they will be able to see it before they go through the module.
4. And if it's possible, the user not seeing the next module until they have gone through the first one would be great but I doubt that is possible.
5. Putting a clickable site map (a graphic) in the middle column of the courses home page would be great also.
So it looks like I basically need Moodle to enroll students and allow us to monitor their grades, see where they are in the course, and whether or not they have been sent a certificate. I don't need it to build the training course pages.
Is this similar to what you are doing? Thanks for any time and advice you can give me. Steve
Re: what are the advantages of using the moodle web site?
Hi there,
For me it is above all a matter of control and influence over the pages. I'm responsible and I can do thing myself rather than waiting around for IT people or, worse, the big software company to get their act together. This community is amazing -- extremely friendly and helpful. Welcome!
cheers,