1 Mira Vogel, 03/09/2015 Mira Vogel, Goldsmiths, University of London Using VLEs effectively Goldsmiths’ experience

Mira Vogel, 04/19/23 1

Mira Vogel, Goldsmiths, University of London

Using VLEs effectively Goldsmiths’ experience

Mira Abigail Vogel

These slides don't work so well without my spoken presentation - I haven't had time to include speakers' notes.


25 minutes of you choose what…

• VLEs from different perspectives • Distinctive Moodle features (15-20 min)

» Overview and specific examples

• Examples of how we use the VLE at Goldsmiths » General to specific

• Ideas for achieving most effective use of VLE» 5 mins ideas from me, for discussion

• Discuss and present your fantasy VLE» Listen to my presentation on Moodle features» In groups: your fantasy VLE – what features would it

include, and how would they help teaching and learning?» Jot your ideas on a Wiki and present them

• Anything else?


VLEs from different perspectives


VLEs – the student view

One-stop shop for different media, interactivity and

communication

Q&A


Student concerns

• VLE mustn’t threaten f2f time

• Access» Accessibility» Usability» Bandwidth

• Communication » Lack of non-verbal social

cues - unnerving or liberating?

» Typing – new communication difficulties / strengths?

» Longevity of a statement

• Feeling of being watched» Inhibiting / motivating?

• Expectations low and high» Multimedia not a priority» Demands for flexibility

• Many different platforms» Difficulties accessing

material

• Reliability» As advertised, when

promised.

• Any others?


VLEs – the tutor/author view

Managing learning

Designing learning

Producing learning

Q&A


Tutor concerns

• How to drive a VLE» Configuring, uploading,

different perspectives &tc

• Web design requires new skills and knowledge» Different platforms» Perception – eg line length,

placing elements &tc» Intuitive navigation» Orientation

• Learning design requires new skills» When and how to use the

tools

• Communication» E-moderating is very

different from f2f facilitation» Providing the medium does

not mean it will be well used

• Lack of time to prepare» Also remember to make

available

• Reservations about making stuff available online» theft

• VLE mustn’t threaten f2f time

• Any more?


A systems administrator view of moodle

• As the user group grows, stability, features » Eg LDAP authentication now built in» Burden of flagging bugs is widely spread – quickly fixed

• Light workload – last month only 1½ hours critical jobs» More if you take advantage of changing the source code» Installing a new release takes 2-3 hours – as and when

• “..don’t need a great deal of specialised knowledge”» Server administration an important skill – can be picked up

• Uh-oh – what’s going on…?» The forums are incredibly useful – OS ethos» Compare commercial systems which do not support access

to developers and other users Contents


Overview of Moodle

Mira Vogel, 04/19/23 10

What’s distinctive about Moodle?

Pedagogic aspects• Emphasis on activities and

interaction• Social constructivist

model emphasises connectedness as a stimulus for learning

• Flexible – we can change it• Straightforward for most

- cognitive load• Return to global

perspective of an institution – interdisciplinary insights

Open source aspects• Transparency• User-group - lively,

friendly, supportive, sharing• Support – timely but

requires initiative.• Ownership self-efficacy• Faith in the face of

inadequacies• Nimble responses to bugs,

wishlists & new approaches• Documentation – variable

currency, completeness & relevance.

Mira Abigail Vogel

define

Mira Vogel, 04/19/23 11

Features of Moodle

• Four roles in moodle» Administrator, course creator, lecturer, student» Those higher in the hierarchy can assume lower roles

• Three course types» Topic view, weekly view and social view

• Integration of different file types• Scheduling and organising• Strong on activities in groups or individually:

» Assignment, Chat, Choice, Dialogue, Forum, Glossary, Journals, Lesson, Wiki, Workshop

• Coming soon (among other things):» Blog tool; greater configurability of groups; full accessibility

Mira Vogel, 04/19/23 13

• Ideas for the future

At Goldsmiths

Mira Vogel, 04/19/23 14

Goldsmiths’ experience with Moodle

Worst use• Files, files and more files

» Information graveyard» Imbalance – no activities

• Fragmented course areas» Lack of context or

hierarchies of importance

• Empty forums and chat sessions» Missed opportunities for

communication

• Expectation that students can comfortably read from a screen

Best use• The vibrant PGCE forums

» Mutual support for remote students – meets a real need

• Self assessment - EFL » Embedded fill-in-the-blank

questions with feedback

• Wiki as a gallery space for Art & Design students

• Workshop for » Peer-reviewing journal

articles at a distance» Reviewing online Creole

language resources

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Our teaching and learning challenge

• Move on from naïve usage• Our teaching and learning challenge:

» Tutors preparing / gathering / pointing to content AND designing activities which promote the higher forms of learning

» Flexible design for diverse learners» Trustworthiness - currency, completeness,

accuracy, attribution, adherence to schedule, housekeeping

» Usability, accessibility, affective responses

• Our fellowship scheme - £££ for buying out time, buying equipment &tc

• Workshops – 2 hours on a variety of topics

We spent a while

watching our birdbox

Mira Vogel, 04/19/23 16


Distinctive Moodle Features

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Moodle - the less intuitive activities

• Choice• Glossary• Journal• Lesson• Quizzes• Wiki• (Scorm)• Workshop

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Moodle choice – polling tool

• Strengths» Promotes involvement» Allows consultation» Configurable - eg how

respondents see results

• Drawbacks» Once choice only – can’t

use it for eg rating or matching

» Single question only – not a questionnaire

• Applications» Icebreaking» Straw polls» Enticing learners into a

course space» Quick consultation in

advance of session» Specific feedback

• Examples in practice» Contact [email protected]

for access to light pollution legislation

Mira Vogel, 04/19/23 19

Moodle glossary – shared reference

• Strengths: » Can be activity or

resource» Useful for acquainting

learners with basic terms and concepts – a grounding

» Builds research and communication skills

• Drawbacks:» Needs a validation

method

• Application» Defining frequently used

jargon or difficult concepts

» Trigger for discussion and debate

• Use in practice» Contact [email protected]

for access to Astronomy 101

Mira Vogel, 04/19/23 20

Moodle journal – reflective dialogue

• Strengths» A self-contained record for

future reference» Can flag progress or

difficulties » Configurable – can be

shown to or hidden from other students

• Drawbacks» Tutor initiated – not a blog» Depends on the trigger

question» Tutor must check – or

motivation, and cynical checking boxes

» Can be a drag to complete

• Application» Personally keeping in touch

with students » Gauging and comparing

attitudes

• Examples in practice» PGCE students on

placements – confidential so unable to show.

Mira Vogel, 04/19/23 21

Moodle lessons – guided learning

• Strengths: » Gated progress» Branched navigation –

can be very responsive» Feedback

• Drawbacks:» Easy to swamp student

with information» A little too

“programmed” for some…

• Application» Good for grounding in

procedures, mechanisms &tc

» Good for clearing up frequent misunderstandings


for access to Renewable energy

Mira Vogel, 04/19/23 22

Moodle quiz – self-test and assessment

• Strengths» Feedback» Configurable

• Drawbacks» A bit clunky to set up» Some formats involve

(simple) hand-coding» Simple interface – eg no

drag-and-drop (SCORM a solution here)

• Application» Consolidate knowledge» Identify gaps in

knowledge » Benchmark knowledge» Revision


for access to Revise solar water heating and Astronomy quiz

Mira Vogel, 04/19/23 23

Moodle wikis – web sites edited by users

• Strengths» Quick and easy to

publish and revise» No need for expertise,

client software» Remote collaboration

on shared resource

• Drawbacks» Vulnerable to

inexperienced users, or even abuse

» Needs ground rules- Eg risk of conflict when

saving – lost work

• Application» Many – eg showcase,

regular website…» Planning, sharing

examples


for access to Our homes

Mira Vogel, 04/19/23 24

Moodle workshop – peer review

• Strengths» Supports complexity eg

criteria, weighting» Supports scales, yes/no,

numerical and free text» Various ways to

disseminate results

• Drawbacks» Designing good ones

takes time and thought» Requires manually

enabling the different stages

• Application» Peer review» Groups reviewing

external resources


for access to Metaphysics workshop

Contents

Mira Vogel, 04/19/23 25


Ideas for the future

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Ideas* for the future

• “Hypothecated” fellowships for use of specific tools, or adoption of specific criteria?» Eg use of a feature like

peer-review (Workshop) or Wiki

» Eg Integration of VLE and f2f

• Stop shielding tutors from the technicalities» Staff development

• Raising awareness» Opportunistic piggy-backing» Outreach work» Ratification in the strategy

• Develop guidelines or even protocols and request adherence by VLE users?» Eg Housekeeping» Eg Balance of information

and activities

• Embed e-learning into » Staff-development courses?» Student feedback criteria?

• More incentives for best use? » Value it – prizes with cred» Also support for poor use

*Mira’s, not necessarily Goldsmiths’. Contents

Mira Vogel, 04/19/23 27


Discussion / poll

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Discuss: the best thing about VLEs?

• A Virtual Learning Environment is a way to unite content creation and management, activities, communication, and organising students.

• Go to http://moodledev.gold.ac.uk (contact [email protected] for access if necessary) and take the poll there (Choice)

• Question» Out of the choices below, what do you think is the most

useful aspect of a Virtual Learning Environment? 1. Added communication channels.2. Monitoring how students use a course.3. Easy creation of content for online delivery.4. Availability of material any time, any place, anywhere.5. Coordinating activities at a distance.6. Freeing up face-to-face time.

Mira Vogel, 04/19/23 29

References / bibliography

• Course management systems comparison:http://www.edutools.info/course/compare/byproduct/http://www.cmsmatrix.org

• The story of Moodle at Dublin City Universityhttp://odtl.dcu.ie/wp/2004/odtl-2004-01.html

• Moodle forum: Comparisons and Advocacyhttp://moodle.org/mod/forum/view.php?id=2784

Documents

1 Mira Vogel, 03/09/2015 Mira Vogel, Goldsmiths, University of London Using VLEs effectively Goldsmiths’ experience