APEC ICT4E EXPO

Mactan HiltonCebu, Philippines

June 9, 2010

Muscovado on MoodleAsia  Pacific  College’s    Initiatives  and Experiences in Adopting Moodle as a LMS in Higher Education and an Introduction to the Muscovado Project

Dennis Reyes Academic Program DirectorSchool of Computer Science and Information TechnologyAsia Pacific College

Asia Pacific College

CHED Center For Excellence in IT Education

Reed Hundt,

Chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission,1993-1997

“There  are  thousands  of  buildings in this country with millions of people in them who have no telephones, no cable television and no reasonable prospect of broadband services. They are called schools.”

Asking the Right Questions

•Who are our learners?•How  are  today’s  learners  different  from  (or  the same as) faculty/administrators?•What learning activities are most engaging for learners?•Are there ways to use technology to make learning more successful?

Educating the Net Gen by Diana Oblinger and James Oblinger

•Understanding the Net Generation•Information technology is woven throughout their lives but they do not think of these as technology.•One generations technology is taken for granted by the next. It is simply how things are done.

Understanding the APC Student, a product of the Net Generation•20% were using computers when they were 5 to 8•Nearly 100% has used computers by High School•96% of students between 8 and 18 have gone online•74% have access at home•61% use the Internet on a daily basis•13 to 17 average age 3.1 hours watching TV and 3.5 hours with digital media.

NOTE: students may use more than one media at a time

Non-Traditional Learners

•Delayed enrollment•Attend part-time•Work full-time while enrolled•Financially independent•Have dependents•Single parent

Why Technology is Important?

•Part of our world•Tech is embedded in our society•Makes things faster•Abstract concepts are easier to grasp when technology is used•Technology allows us to learn as much as we want about virtually any topic•I usually connect with friends either to get help or to help ourselves

Which are You?

•Ask yourselfoAre you more comfortable composing docs online or longhand?oHave  you  turned  over  “remembering”  over  to  a  technology device?oDo you attend meetings with a laptop or PDA?oAre you constantly connected?oHow many different activities can you effectively engage in at one time?oDo you play computer or video games?

Implications

•Most stem from the dichotomy between a net gener and most faculty, staff, and administrators

oIts not about technologyoThey don't think in terms of technology, they think in activities that technology enablesoInternet as an access tooloDefinition of technology (ex a simple cell phone is not technology but a new featured phone is)oSMS, IM, Twitter is not a technology. It is an action, a verb

The APC Experience

•The New Academy•Moodle as a Learning Management System (LMS)•Introduction to the Muscovado Project

The New AcademyCarole Barone, EDUCAUSE

•A new academy is forming thatoAcknowledges the changes manifested in the Net GenerationoUses the power of technology to enable deeper learningoDemonstrates the interplay of culture and technologyoChanges the nature of interaction among the members

Confronting the Reality of Change

•Evident in Higher Education•Higher Education should assimilate the roles, rules, and relationships in a new academy•Talk, Text, Test does not work. Students become bored and restless•Student and faculty expectations are not met

New Context, New Academy

•Characteristics of a New Academy

– Interplay of Culture and Technology– A Multidimensional Framework for Action– New Cultural Values– A New Style of Leadership– The Relationship of Learning to Space

Socio-Technological Context

•Understanding  that  technology’s  major  impact has been social•The need for professionals and researchers to work collaboratively•Web-enhanced,  “blended”  courses  produce  higher learning outcomes

New Decision-Making Framework

•Decision making in higher education suffers from conventions and timetables•Faculty, students, administrators and campus leaders are the agents of change•Technologies, tools, and techniques are the instruments the agents have to enable change

Cultural Values

Traditional Socio-Technological•Linearity •Multidimensionality•Stability •Continuous Change•Fixed Structures •Flexible Structures•Individualism •Collaboration•Consistency •Dynamic Reconfiguration

A New Style of Leadership

•Active, enlightened and sensitive•Communication is critical

oAlignment of budgets and goalsoArticulated, understood and assimilated institutional goals

•Leadership makes alignment happen;oAlignment directs energy and resources toward agreed-upon goals

•Transformation requires alignment

Relationship with Space

•Space in the New Academy is designed to support learning and research goals, not to comply with artificial space utilization criteria•Learning Spaces should support learning activity•Learning activity is different from teaching activity•Not confined to class times or formal classrooms, whether that is a hallway, or in a virtual community

Characteristics of Learning Space

•Flexibility, design for the future•Ubiquitous wireless network access•Small group spaces•Social spaces•“Thought”  Spaces

Traditional Laboratories

•Physics•Chemistry•Electronics•English/Speech•Computer

Computer Laboratory

•Rearranged to form small group spaces

Project Laboratories

•Small and Intimate, enough for a group of 5•Projects are stored on servers (Appforge) •Reserved for the duration of the term

Social Spaces

•Wi-Fi Enabled Spaces•Student Lounges •Student Organization Lounges•Mini Conference Rooms•Cafeteria

“Thought  Spaces”

•English Resource Center•Library•Internet Café•Prayer Room

Institutional Resolve

•Confront the reality of the Net Generation•Decide that change is possible•Understand the dynamic interplay of culture and technology•Base decisions on values rather than on traditions•Develop a culture of evidence•Align expectations with goals and actions •Determine priorities, make decisions, execute, and measure outcomes

What is Moodle?

•Moodle is a Course Management System (CMS), also known as a Learning Management System (LMS) or a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It is a Free web application that educators can use to create effective online learning sites.

http://www.moodle.org

Moodle as our Learning Management System (LMS)

•Uses the power of technology to enable deeper learning•Technologies, tools, and techniques are the instruments of change•Web-enhanced,  “blended”  courses  produce  higher learning outcomes

APC Situation in 2004

•Concerned with low grades, even with the basic subjects•Learning expectations not met•Students bored with traditional lectures•Faculty teaching in the way they were taught•Lack of documentation (grades, content, teaching material)

IT Concepts Case Study

•IT Concepts - foundation subject for all APC freshmen

oTextbook - Discovering Computers, Shelley, Cashman series

Computer categories and componentsTheories and conceptsVocabulary

•Examine the root cause for the poor performance

oAverage Grade 70o1/5 failure/repeat rate

Discovering Computers

Chapter 1 The World of ComputersChapter 2 Internet and World Wide WebChapter 3 Application SoftwareChapter 4 The Components of the System UnitChapter 5 InputChapter 6 OutputChapter 7 StorageChapter 8 Operating Systems and Utility ProgramsChapter 9 Communications and NetworksChapter 10 Transmission Media and DatabasesChapter 11 Computer Security, Ethics and PrivacyChapter 12 Information System DevelopmentChapter 13 Careers and Certification in the Computer Industry

IT Concepts as Traditional Lecture•Lectures delivered using acetate•Traditional paper-based tests after each chapter

2004 Test Scores

•No LMS used•Passing 70, Average 70•108 Freshmen, 22 Fail/Repeat (20.37%)

6274 69 71 66

75 6975 71

64 6773 71

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SY 2004-2005

Improvements for IT Concepts in 2005•Content remained the same

oDiscovering Computers 2005•Test construction seminar improves tests

2005 Test Scores•No LMS used•Marginal improvement on student performance•Passing 70, Average 74•117 Freshmen, 22 Fail/Repeat (18.80%)

71 75 74 7869

62

7863

79 78 77 79 77

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SY 2005-2006

Moodle Introduced for IT Concepts in 2006•Content remained the same

oDiscovering Computers 2006•Material imported into Moodle•Infrastructure not ready so tests remained paper-based

2006 Test Scores•Moodle as LMS used•Surprised on marginal improvement on student performance•Passing 70, Average 73 (Worse than 2005)•126 Freshmen, 24 Fail/Repeat (19.04%)

66 71 7666

74 7366 68

8289

68 6982

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70

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90

100

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

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SY 2006-2007

Lessons from 2006

•Not enough to provide a platform and direct the students to the link to the courseware•Faculty not used to the new teaching paradigm•Students not checking site, seem lost, disinterested•Problem with inconsistent site access

Recommendations for 2007

•Faculty training in online course management

oAdministrationHow to use the LMS, It's features and tools (Text Pages, Web Pages, Links, Uploading files)How to construct and use the tests (Multiple Choice, True or False, Essays)How to handle online submission of assignments, reportsTalk With Your Administrator About Problems You Are FacingThey should be able to help you find solutions and lead you to veteran staff members who can really make a difference.

Recommendations for 2007

•Faculty training in online course managementoFacilitation

Establish Informed Expectations Require High Standards for Assignment CompletionBe FlexibleFront End Vigilance Establish a Human Presence Visible and Predicable Rhythms of CommunicationWrite a Mid-week and Friday PostOptimize Your MessagesGive Constructive Feedback

Moodle Better Used for IT Concepts in 2007•Content remained the same

oDiscovering Computers 2007•Faculty better trained for blended learning•Tests available online

2007 Test Scores•Moodle as LMS used with Faculty Training, online tests•Significant improvement on student performance•Passing 70, Average 81•171 Freshmen, 24 Fail/Repeat (14.03%)

79 7976

7975

78

88

7976

8184

8885

65

70

75

80

85

90

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Aver

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SY 2007-2008

Recommendations for 2008

•More subjects uploaded to MoodleoNot just IT Subjects but traditional subjects such as  Values  Education,  Rizal’s  Life,  etc

•Better faculty collaboration•Better Moodle administration•Student orientation on how to use the LMS and how to take tests online

2008 Test Scores•More subjects uploaded to Moodle, online tests•Additional improvement on student performance•Passing 70, Average 87•136 Freshmen, 15 Fail/Repeat (11.02%)

79 77 78 81 8294 93 90 89 92 94 91 94

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SY 2008-2009

Recommendations for 2009

•Institutionalize Moodle as LMS for all subjects in the School of Computer Science and Information Technology•Collaborate with the faculty from the other APC Schools (Business, Engineering, Multimedia Arts)•Train other Educational Institutions on Moodle and Blended Learning Techniques

2009 Test Scores•Highest test scores ever•Passing 70, Average 89•217 Freshmen, 19 Fail/Repeat (08.75%)

9380 80

87 8880

91 94 94 90 91 8797

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SY 2009-2010

2004 to 2009 Test Score Summary

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

62

7469

71

66

75

69

7571

6467

737171

75 7478

69

62

78

63

79 78 7779

77

66

71

76

66

74 73

66 68

82

89

68 69

8279 79

7679

7578

88

7976

8184

8885

7977 78

81 82

94 9390 89

92 9491

9493

80 80

87 88

80

9194 94

90 9187

97

Final Words on IT Concepts Case Study

•Test results improved when using Moodle properly

• From average of 70 to 89•Failure rate lower

• From 20.37% to 8.75%•Other Observations

• Improved participation in class discussions• Improved English in assignments

•Other factors• Cost of computer ownership has gone down• Cost of broadband access has gone down

Project Title Muscovado – Adopting the Sugar Learning Platform to Philippine Context•Muscovado is a type of unrefined brown sugar with a strong molasses flavorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscovado•The name was chosen because the project is based on the award-winning Sugar Learning Platform that promotes collaborative learning through Sugar Activities that encourage critical thinking, the heart of a quality education. Designed from the ground up especially for children, Sugar offers an alternative to traditional “office-desktop”  software  http://www.sugarlabs.org/

Project Title Muscovado – Adopting the Sugar Learning Platform to Philippine ContextSugar is the core component of a worldwide effort to provide every child with equal opportunity for a quality education. Available  in  25  languages,  Sugar’s Activities are used every school day by one-million children in more than 40 countries

Project Title Muscovado – Adopting the Sugar Learning Platform to Philippine Context

CHED Funding P1.5 M

Duration January to December 2010Goals • Fulfill  APC  SoCSIT’s  obligation  to  

provide assistance to aspiring Higher Education Institutions

• Espouse open source and e-learning methodologies to enhance learning landscape

• Assist APC in pooling and recruiting superior students for the in-coming SY

Project Title Muscovado – Adopting the Sugar Learning Platform to Philippine Context

Objectives • Enhance Language and Math learning environment and resources in secondary schools using e-learning methodologies

• Enable selected faculty members in developing technology-enabled learning resources using e-learning and open source technologies

• Engage selected secondary schools in development of technology-enabled learning resources

Methodology Muscovado Contest: A competition in developing learning resources suitable to Philippine elementary education

Target Beneficiaries

•Adopted 90 high school students from 4 selected private / public high schools

• Ramon Magsaysay High School (Partner of TIP-QC)• Dr. Josefina Perlado, Principal• Mrs. Sonia A. Carmen, English Coordinator

• Pasay City West High School (Partner of PLP)• Mrs. Lourdes Garrido, Principal

• National University High School (Partner of NU)• Rowena R. De Guzman, Principal• Alexis M. Santones, High School Coordinator

• Pasay City South High School (Partner of APC)• Dr. Myrna M. Sarmiento, Principal

•12 Faculty members from selected 4 Higher Education Institutions

• Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP-QC)• Pamantasan ng Lunsod ng Pasay (PLP)• National University (NU)• Asia Pacific College (APC)

Methodology Muscovado Contest: A competition in developing learning resources suitable to Philippine elementary education

• Three (3) schools will form ten (10) teams of three (3) students each for a total of ninety (90) students

• APC provides 1 laptop to each team (30) laptops

• Teams develop learning resources mentored by faculty members

• Teams to compete in five categories

Contest Awards Laptops for 1st and 2nd places of each of the five categories for a total of 30 laptops

Contest Categories

• Native Animated Fables• Interactive Games• Graphics• User Interface• Filipiñana flavor

Partnerships CHED SponsorSugar Labs - Caroline Meeks

eKindling – Cherry Withers, Ryan Letada, Sandeep Chandiramani, Jerome Gotangco, Tessa Yuvienco, Marife Mago, Joel Yuvienco

OLPC - Marife Mago

POSSE - Mel Chua

Humanitarian FOSS Project

Thank You

http://www.apc.edu.ph