Moodle

Definition

Moodle – a free software/open source Course Management System (also known as a Learning Management System or Virtual Learning Environment).

Description

Moodle is designed to help educators, at all levels, create dynamic and proficient online learning communities. The Moodle learning environment also encourages student interaction that might otherwise be unavailable with other course management systems. Moodle is free to download with free software support. Donations welcome. ( www.moodle.org )

History

“Moodle was the creation of Martin Dougiamas, a former WebCT administrator at Curtin University, with postgraduate degrees in Computer Science and Education. Martin's later Ph.D. studies examined "The use of Open Source software to support a social constructionist epistemology of teaching and learning within Internet-based communities of reflective inquiry" and this research has strongly influenced some of the design of Moodle [by] providing pedagogical aspects missing from many other e-learning platforms. (Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moodle , February 15, 2007)”

Moodle’s open source license and modular design means that development is shouldered by a globally dispersed network of commercial and non-commercial users, lead by the Moodle company based in Perth, Western Australia (Moodle functions primarily in English, but international discussions are held in many other languages).

Moodle Modules & Plugins

• Assignments/Lessons
• Books/Literature
• Chats/Forums
• Glossaries
• Gradebook
• Journal
• Mail
• Question/Answer Choices Quizzes/Surveys
• Registraion
• Resources
• Slideshows
• Thesis Completion Tool
• Webquest
• Wiki
• Workshops…and many more

Additional Sources & Related Subjects

• http://www.edutools.info/static.jsp?pj=8&page=HOME (course management system)
• http://ferl.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?page=76 (virtual learning environment)
• http://www.e-learningconsulting.com/products/learning-management-system.html (learning management system)
• download.moodle.org (moodle 1.7 = stable branch, .tgz & .zip formats available)
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open-source_license (about open source licensing)
• http://www.webct.com/ (WebCT – used by WOU)

-- HildyWalkowiak - 16 Feb 2007

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