E-learning and Joomla
Jen Kramer4Web, Inc.Joomla!Day GuatemalaMarch 2012
Agenda
• What is e-learning?• How has e-learning changed
teaching and learning?• What kinds of e-learning are in
use?• What e-learning works best for
Joomla?• Tips for training Joomla clients
What is e-learning?
• Learning with a technology enhancement.• Could be 100% online with no in-
person contact.• Could be 100% in-person with
computer enhancement between classes.
Why e-learning?
• Time• Course location• Instructor resources• Cost savings
But there are many disadvantages to e-learning as well.
Particularly if this is e-learning done poorly.
Four class formats integrating e-learning
1. Traditional with some E
• Class meets regularly, in person• Most instructor interaction
happens here• Students have small electronic
interaction
Traditional advantages
• Real-time interaction with instructor
• Students get to know each other• Easy to organize group activities
Traditional disadvantages
• Specific meeting times • Little interaction outside of class
• Does learning stop when students leave the classroom?
• Homework assignments only go so far
2. Hybrid
• Classroom meetings periodically• Traditional: 15 meetings• Hybrid: 7 meetings
• Large online component between classes
Hybrid advantages
• Face to face time helps resolve any issues
• Online time is scheduled by the student
• Minimal number of meeting times encourages participation of students from farther away
Hybrid disadvantages
• Some students still see face to face time as a problem
• Instructor must be skilled in online and in-person instruction
3. Wholly online, with instructor
• Students participate in an online learning environment
• May be some kind of time requirement• Instructor is available to answer
questions, post new material, provide feedback
• Requires rethinking presentation of course material for the environment
Wholly online advantages
• Students can fit learning into their lives when they wish
• Instructors are available as needed for help
• Students can participate from anywhere
Wholly online disadvantages
• Students may not get to know each other or the instructor
• Student experience can be poor without seasoned online instructor
• Group activities can be challenging
4. Online and self-paced
• Students may join the class at any time
• Students may finish the class at any time
• Evaluation of learning is generally automated (true/false, multiple choice, etc)
• codeacademy.com – example of this
Online/self-paced advantages
• Students join and learn at any time.
• New students can join anytime – no requirement by term
• Students finish anytime, moving on to other areas
• Evaluation is immediate, no waiting for feedback
Online/self-paced disadvantages
• Little to no student-student interaction
• No instructor to answer questions• Evaluation is limited, no simple
way to gather substantial feedback without instructor help
What is the best teaching approach for me?
Of course, It Depends.
Best practices
• Corporate training: online/self-paced (no instructor) • Certainly can have an instructor –
typically a more traditional environment
• Academic: need instructor present
Which method is best for learning software?
• I like hybrid best• Online with instructor is a close
second• Traditional does not work
well
Which learning styles does Joomla support?
• Online, self-paced• JoomLearn LMS,
joomlashowroom.com• Others listed on the JED
• Traditional• Joomla can make a great
resource area with login for teachers and students
What are Joomla’s weaknesses in e-learning?
• Extensions like surveys, wiki, discussion forum, etc are available – but nothing unified
• ACL can be an issue (teachers should see student work, but students should see their own only)
Joomla is not structured for student-teacher interaction.
Moodle is a better CMS (LMS) for e-learning
• User groups include student, teacher, administrator
• Native support for discussions, wiki, quizzes, etc.
• Can be configured for group work• Open source! Moodle.org
• PHP/MySQL• Can be integrated with Joomla
• Used by hundreds of colleges in US
I thought Joomla could do anything!
It takes a lot of work to make Joomla compatible with e-learning. There are better tools out there.
One possibility
• Use Joomla for the website advertising the courses
• Let Moodle run the courses.• Can integrate users between
Joomla and Moodle if required. • Joomdle
Training clients to use Joomla
1. Repeat, repeat, repeat
• Show how to complete a task at least once
• Watch the client perform the task while you sit there, at least twice
• If the client has lots to learn, then break training into several sessions, starting with basics
2. Reinforce
• Provide written instructions for tasks as well as in-person instruction
• Alternate: go slowly so client can take lots of notes
• Break training into shorter pieces and build on earlier steps
3. Provide alternatives
• Show how to get help on forums• Provide your phone number and
email so they can ask questions
4. Simplify!
• Use ACL to reduce unneeded back-end options
• Use JCE profiles to reduce unneeded editor buttons
• Keep choices for client to a minimum, which will make Joomla easier for them to use
• Where possible, have client edit from the front end
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