Johns Hopkins University
Center for Clinical Global Health Education
Moodle Basics: Building a Course in Moodle
Online
Instructor: Jane McKenzie-White,MAS, MSEd Email: jmw@jhmi.edu
Credit Hours: Non-credit; Students earn a Certificate of Achievement
Class Time: June 8 – July 13, 2013 (Enrollment closes EOD June 3)
Course Description:
Moodle, an acronym for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment, is an open-source learning management system (LMS), for producing Internet-based courses and web sites. This e-learning course (Moodle Basics) will provide participants with a basic understanding of the structure and functionality of Moodle. By the end of this course, students will understand the basic features of Moodle, demonstrate these skills in the creation of a basic course in Moodle, and explore the Moodle community of users.
Participants will learn Moodle by using Moodle.
Course Goal: At the end of this course, you will be able to build, deploy, and assess a basic online course using the key elements in the Moodle platform.
Course Objectives:
The course will provide the necessary basic skills to begin building and exploring in the Moodle LMS.
As a result of this course:
1.
Participants will be able to explain what Moodle is, its basic framework and overall capabilities.
2.
Participants will be able to discuss the three basic elements available in Moodle and their functionality.
3.
Participants will be able to apply their knowledge of the three Moodle elements to build an online course in Moodle to include adding resources, activities including community building and an assessment, and blocks to a course site.
4.
Participants will be able to generate basic course statistics and reports.
5.
Participants will be able to identify Moodle resources for further exploration and support for Moodle users.
Enduring Understandings:
 Moodle is a flexible learning management system that can provide an active and engaging learning experience for both instructor and students.
 The modular components of Moodle provide a wide range of functionality for an online learning experience.
 As an open-source learning management system, Moodle is a dynamic and ever-changing platform for online learning.
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Important to Know and Do:
 Students will know how to explain what Moodle is, its basic framework and overall capabilities.
 Students will know how the basic modular components available in Moodle and their functionality come together to create an online learning experience for students.
 Students will know how to build an online course in Moodle to include uploading and adding content/resources including calendar events, glossary, pdf files, and links to external websites.
 Students will know how to add activities to their Moodle course including discussion forums, assessments, assignments, live chat and an assessment.
 Students will know how to generate basic course statistics and reports.
 Students will know how to access Moodle resources for support.
Recommended Readings:
Buchner, A. (2011). Moodle 2.0 E-Learning Course Development. Birmingham, UK. Packt Publishing.
Assignments:
1.
Discussion Forum Posts
Throughout the course, there will be assignments that require you to post responses to questions and comments to a discussion forum.
 When posting your initial response to the Question, please start a new discussion topic and name it per the instructions noted for that assignment.
 To read a fellow students response to a question, click on the title for the post.
 When commenting to a post someone else created, hit the “reply” button underneath their comments.
There are 2 Discussion Forum posts due in the course. Please see the course site for the specific questions to address in your posts.
Due: Week 1-2 and Week 3
2.
Live Chat
This activity is designed to get you familiar with using the Live Chat feature in Moodle. Please enter the Live Chat at least one time to check-in by posting a comment. This will demonstrate to me that you knew how to enter the chat and post.
Due: Week 1-2
3.
Develop A Quiz
Each student individually will create 3-5 questions using at least 3 question type varieties and build a quiz in the Moodle Group Site. The rationale for this assessment is to give them hands-on
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experience to develop quiz-building skills, including addition of feedback. Complete instructions are on the course site.
Due: Week 4
4.
Grade Report Generation
Students will be required to generate basic report of student grades from a Mock Moodle Course
(instructor role) which must be uploaded for submission. The rationale for this activity is to provide students experience on generating basic reports from an online course in Moodle.
Due: Week 4
5.
Build a 2-topic/module Moodle Course
Students will be provided an individual course site and given the instructor role. Students will build an online course consisting of >2 topic/modules using >5 Moodle elements (resources & activities) and 4 Blocks discussed during this course. The content uploaded is not relevant. Focus on layout and use of elements. You may add any content or text you wish for the course. The rationale is to provide students experience in creating an online course in Moodle.
Due: By end of Week 5
6.
Course Engagement
It is hoped you will be actively engaged in the course and complete the activities and assignments.
Additionally, it is hoped you take advantage of the sites you have been provided the “Instructor-
Editing” role. This will provide you opportunity to try out the features in Moodle and explore.
EVALUATION AND GRADING
This is a non-credit course. No grades will be assigned. However, to earn a Certificate of Achievement, all activities, assignments and the final course evaluation must be completed.
Course Outline
Date:
Module   1
The   Moodle
Framework   &
Functionality–   the   student   role
June   8   –   21
Module   2
The   Moodle
Experience–
Topic:
 Introduction to the Moodle
Framework and basic elements in
Moodle
 Identify the various basic elements in a Moodle course and describe the functions each provides for the student
 Explore the instructor role in a course site
 Instruction on adding content
Assignment Due:
 Class Icebreaker
 Live Chat Check-in
 Search and Find Worksheet
 Quiz
 Discussion Forum Post
 Adding Elements in Moodle
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the   instructor   role
June   22 –   28
Module   3
The   Moodle
Experience   –
Building
Quizzes
June   29   –   July   5
Module   4
The   Moodle
Experience   –
Reporting   and
Support
July   6  ‐  13
 Building assessments/quizzes in Moodle
 Explore grade reporting
 Apply skills learned
 Explore Moodle support community and resources available
 Build a Quiz
 Grade Report
 Explore the Moodle Community
 Build a Course
Course Evaluation
At the end of this online course, a link to an evaluation will be provided. This is an important tool in improving instructional quality and strengthening of this course. The results of the course evaluation are kept anonymous—your instructor will only receive aggregated data and comments for the entire class.
Bibliography
Buchner, A. (2011). Moodle 2.0 E-Learning Course Development. Birmingham, UK. Packt Publishing.
Buchner, A. (2011). Moodle 2 Administration. Birmingham, UK. Packt Publishing.
Moodle Community. http://moodle.org/
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