jump start dynamic learning with moodle
DESCRIPTION
This PowerPoint was an accessory for a presentation about why dynamic learning with 21st century tools is important. Included is information on how to support Moodle within a school or district. Additional resources can be provided by hollyrae.TRANSCRIPT
New Mexico State University
Meeting in the MoodleJump Start Dynamic Learning
NM TIE PreConference October 3, 2007Regional Educational Technology Assistancehttp://reta.nmsu.edu
Holly Rae [email protected]
New Mexico State University
RETA Program• http://reta.nmsu.edu• Technology Innovation Challenge Grant• New Mexico State University’s
College of Extended Learning• K12 Professional Development
– NMTA Prep– Online Teaching and Learning– Professional Development Dossier
New Mexico State University
About Me
• Project Coordinator with RETA
• Former Middle School Teacher(Technology & Media)
• Graduate of Online Masters’ Program C & I – EDLT at NMSU
• Action Researcher
New Mexico State University
RETAMoodle
• http://reta.nmsu.edu/moodle
• NM eTeacher Prep
• Online Teaching and Learning Opportunities
• Open Space for Course Development– (No student hosting)– New Mexico educators– Includes Moofolios
New Mexico State University
Entering Moodle
• http://reta.nmsu.edu/moodle
• Please use account and passwordon index card
• Change account information to accurately represent you, or continue to use guest account
New Mexico State University
Learning Objectives
• Understand dynamic learning tools available through Moodle
• Identify challenges of dynamic learning tools• Consider the benefits and challenges of an
open source tool such as Moodle• Identify resources for Moodle support• Explain ideas for incorporating Dynamic
Learning
New Mexico State University
What is Dynamic Learning?
• Based on social constructionist pedagogy
• Active learning in a social context taking place in a learning environment with smart and interactive tools
Graphic from:http://eduspaces.net/terry/weblog/archive/2006/02/ (Terry Wassall)
21st Century Toolbox
New Mexico State University
Why implement Dynamic Learning?
• Accommodate new learning styles
• Teach 21st Century Skills– Collaboration– Critical Thinking– Literacy– Learning Skills– Manipulating 21st century tools
New Mexico State University
Digital Immigrants:“When I was growing up…”
• Lee Rainie (Pew Internet & American Life Project)
New Mexico State University
Digital Natives:“Born into Technology”
• Lee Rainie (Pew Internet & American Life Project)
New Mexico State University
All About Digital Natives
• Accelerated development as a result of interactive media– Cognitive intelligence– Reasoning– Personality– Autonomy– Sense of Self (Tapscott, 1998)
• Adolescents develop abstract thinking skills in middle school – as a result of acceleration this may be happening younger
• Ability to multitask and take in a variety of information streams (Rainie, 2006; McHugh, 2005)
• Lack of awareness of consequences associated with technological actions (Rainie, 2005)
New Mexico State University
Digital Natives & Neomillenials
• Think, learn and communicate differently than digital immigrants (Prensky, 2001, 2004)
• Have sophisticated learning styles and strengths – they expect individualized instruction (Dede, 2005)
• They need to “look under the hood of something to know how it works” and consider themselves the authority on technology, rather than their teachers (Tapscott, 1998)
New Mexico State University
Needs of Digital Native Students• Prepare for life in a time of drastic changes (Rainie,
2006)• Less need for basic skills in one particular area of
technology which could become obsolete• More need for learning skills to thrive in a
continually changing world• Ability to consider the ethics of technology research
and design
New Mexico State University
Neomillenial Learning Styles
• fluency in multiple media, valuing each for the types of communication ,activities, experiences, and expression it empowers;
• learning based on collectively seeking, sieving and synthesizing experiences,
• active learning based on experience (real and simulated) that includes frequent opportunities for reflection by communities of practice;
• expression through nonlinear associational webs of representations rather than linear “stories”, such as authoring a simulation and a Web page to express understanding, rather than a paper (Dede, 2005)
New Mexico State University
8 Shifts for Interactive Learning
• from linear to hypermedia• from instruction to construction and discovery• from teacher-centered to learner-centered
education• from absorbing material to learning how to
navigate and how to learn• from school to lifelong learning• from one-size-fits-all to customized learning• from learning as torture to learning as fun• from the teacher as transmitter to the teacher as
facilitator (Tapscott, 1998)
New Mexico State University
Spectrum of Digital ‘Nativeness’
• Evolving Understandings– NetGen - Tapscott (1998)– Digital Natives - Prensky (2001)
• Not a general standard of age cohort– Demographics play a significant role
• A trend which indicates how society is changing• Informs educators about student needs and
learning styles• Informs gap analysis
New Mexico State University
Challenges of Dynamic Learning• Digital Divide• Complex Literacies
– Technological Literacy– ICT Literacy– Computer Literacy– Information Literacy– Digital Literacy– Multimedia Literacy
• Access• Schools/Districts
New Mexico State University
What is Moodle?
What is MOODLE?
Online Resources, Polls, Forums, Chats, Wikis, Assignment Dropboxes, Blogs & much, much, more
LCPS TMT
May 9, 2007
New Mexico State University
Web 2.0 Course Management Software
• Flexible course design– Distance Learning– Blended Instruction– Social communities– Professional Learning Community– Evaluation/Data Collection Enviroments– Portfolios (MooFolios)– Resource Collections
New Mexico State University
Web 2.0 Course Management Software
• Lots of tools– Profiles– Blogs– Forums– Wikis– Assignment Dropboxes– Polls, Choices, Questionnaires– Quizzes and Surveys– Links to websites and files
New Mexico State University
Moodle supports active, social learning
Social Constructivism:http://www.citejournal.org/vol1/iss4/currentissues/socialstudies/doolittlefigure3a.gif
New Mexico State University
Easily Embed Dynamic Content
• Vokis• Flixn• Del.icio.us• RSS • Video/Audio/Podcasts• Meebo• Embed codes from popular widgets
New Mexico State University
Features of Moodle as an Open Source Tool
• Public license, open source and permission to develop code– GNU– Creative Commons
• Supported by user community• Extensible, malleable, adaptable• Examples
– Linux– GIMP– OpenOffice– Audacity– Moodle– Drupal
New Mexico State University
Open Source Challenges
• Your user community
• Knowledge based
• Active problem solving
• No tech support phone number
Participate in Community Solve Problems
New Mexico State University
Open Source Benefits• No license fee• Anyone can access software and code• Development of autonomy
– No per user or course fees– Limitations only imposed by infrastructure
• Reallocate funding– Professional development– Classroom technology
• Growth of internal knowledge base• Contract support available
New Mexico State University
Scoping out an Infrastructure• Administrative Support
– Identify learning outcomes, Connects resources and infrastructure
• Teachers who are willing– Internet comfort a major plus
• Professional Development for teachers– Time, Professional Learning Community, Philosophy
• Site Administrator(s)– Manages Users, Courses
• Server Administrator– PHP, mySQL, databases, installing modules, themes
New Mexico State University
Technical Infrastructure
• Linux, Windows, Mac OS X & others• Apache, PHP and database (ie:mySQL)• Approximately 50 concurrent users for every
1 GB of RAM (variable)– approx max concurrent users = RAM (GB) * 50 – approx max browsing users = Approx max
concurrent users * 5
• From http://docs.moodle.org
New Mexico State University
Install Overview
1. Download and copy files into place 2. Set up moodle directory 3. Set up your system
A. Check web server settings B. Configure PHP settings C. Create an empty database D. Create the data directory (moodledata)
4. Run the installer script to create config.php 5. Go to the admin page to continue configuration 6. Set up cron 7. Set up backups
From http://docs.moodle.org
New Mexico State University
What’s happening with Moodle so far?
“This has changed everything about the way I teach.” – Las Cruces Moodler
• Teachers feel comfortable using Moodle• Students feel comfortable using Moodle• Language learning students and emergent
readers need adaptations• Moodle is very extensible• Time Saving
New Mexico State University
Pedagogies of Engagement
Slide from Karl A. Smith (2006)
Lila M. Smith
Slide from Karl A. Smith (2006)
Lila M. Smith
Slide from Karl A. Smith (2006)
New Mexico State University
Imagine
…that you have a fully functional Moodle site within your hands..
Create a plan for dynamic learning…
New Mexico State University
Conclusions
• Sharing of ideas
• Comments
• Questions
• Webinars
• Next steps