Teaching with Moodle

Dear Richard,

I spent a few minutes on your site (logged in as a guest) and thought it was a good, solid beginning.

I like how the site is content-rich, but also somehow friendly and funny. (I, too, find liver disgusting, and am always glad to learn that others agree.)

I hope that you will, indeed, continue to work on the course further and that you will make it available in the Moodle Exchange.

Best regards,
Art Lader

Richard T.,

This looks very interesting. Let's see if we can spruce things up a bit so that it will get peoples attention, leading to some enrollment.

• First, you are using an astronomy (sky) theme, when you may want to use a physical science (earth) theme. Attached is something I cooked up in a few minutes playing around, after reviewing your site and learning a little bit about the course.  Rename your standardlogo theme to something else, unzip this rascal and upload. After you have done this you can optionally replace the index_form.html page in your login folder with the one I've included.
• Next, lets jazz up the sites frontpage (people do judge a book by its cover).  I've included a file within the attached directory (siteconpic.jpg) that can be inserted into the right hand siteinfo block description. This LandSat picture should have a small caption below it (e.g. LandSat 5 picture of local fault lines or whatever).  Below this, add some news item links like they have at usgs.gov. You could even link to the generic stuff, and then add UK/EU specific items.
  

  Pacific Volcano Rumbling to Life Again
  Anatahan Volcano Activity Prompts Aircraft Warning

  Magnitude 6.6 Earthquake
  Hindu Kush Region, Afghanistan, April 05, 2004

  Magnitude 4.0 Earthquake
  Wyoming, April 07, 2004

  How much water does America use every day?

  125 Years of Science for America - Now Even More Accessible

  FY 2005 President's Budget Request for USGS

  03/23/04 - FY2005 NEHRP RFP Announcement - Proposals Due May 6, 2004
• Finally, for the site homepage put a nicely worded announcement for the course that will get the adult learners attention. Make sure you mention this course is an outcome of work you did with the USGS, and what learners can expect to get from the course (e.g. 10 CAT points, field trip experience etc.)

On to the course page itself:  Select one of the totally awesome pictures from the collection of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory at http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/dds/dds-80/album.html to include with the description of what the course will entail. If there are offline activities (e.g., local field trips, meetings etc.) include this information. 

As far as activity content goes, you are the expert in geology but I can help you structure some that will engage adult learners if you are interested. Presuming this course is elective and not actually connected with say a requirement, initial activities should allow each learner to define their interest in the subject, any particular area of curiousity and experience with geologic upheaveals etc.  Prediction is a big curiousity, you could find out what learners want to know in the initial stages.

Let me know how I might help you further,

Bryan  

Cool! Richard you did an awesome job. The site is friendly, informative and easy to use.

How did you get the pixs on the opening page?

A fellow newbie.