Moodle - How do you like it?

[Paula]

I have been asked to start working with this system to provide some e-learning to undergraduate students taking hospitality courses and I would like to know about other people's experience. Have you used it? Did you like it? Any suggestions?
Thank you

[Eduardo Peirano]

Paula, Lisa M Lane blogged her bad experiences with the Moodle 1.9 Gradebook

[Paula]

Thanks for the information. I'll have a look at her blog!
Paula

[Dave Hite]

Hi! I've been using Moodle for over 6 years and REALLY like it. You shouldn't have any trouble using it. Best thing I can recommend is try to get in early and do pretty much everything you would do in a semester and practice using all the features. From grading, communicating, doing assignments, try it all - so that you will be ready when the time comes. Feel free to ask me any specific questions if you would like.

[Paula]

Thanks for the encouraging suggestions! I will get down to work soon! Thanks for offering help as well! I'll be in touch.
Paula

[Viktorija Sulcic]

I use Moodle since 2003 and I like it very much. We use it to support undergraduate and postgraduate students. In the previous study year we've got something less that 5000 users in it and the Moodle worked without any problems. In this year I move to ver. 1.9. It is true that the Grade book might cause some difficulties but they can be overcome. I teach courses of informatics and I use Moodle to perform courses truly online - with only two F2F meetings.

[Paula]

It's good to know so many people use it without difficulty! Thank you!

[Lisa M Lane]

Hi! although Eduardo is right (I hate the gradebook!) overall I am still a Moodle fan.

So on my blog, see also Top 12 Things I Like About Moodle. Just ignore #7. :-)

[Paula]

Thanks for your participation Lisa. Very interesting blog!

[Cheri MacLeod]

Hello Paula

I have used Moodle as well as a few other systems and have to say Moodle is not fancy looking but is easy to use - for the course developers/instructors and students.

In practical terms I found setting up courses in units (not by date or week) best because then the next time through the course you do not have to modify all the dates as they constantly change and holidays etc mean changes too.

Also, it tracks students well (time on task, records of viewing, grades), and it is incredibly easy to manage course enrollment by setting a password for a course rather than for individual students (then change the password at the start of a new term). It's also easy to back up and to copy or share courses with others. I set up a sort of shell that I copied many times so all my courses had the same colors/fonts/look and feel.

If you are not familiar with Moodle, don't worry, there are many resources on the Internet.

The bigger issue is not the course management system, but how you will make the course interesting and useful and how students will interact with it, do tests and assignments and so on.

I recommend it over many of the expensive alternatives!

Good luck.

Cheri MacLeod

[Paula]

Thanks for your very complete and encouraging comment Cheri. I am now in the process of creating the "lessons" and as you said, I will divide it in topics or units rather in in number or date of lesson.
I think the beginning will be trial and error, but I got lots of positive comments on it so I am eager to start using it!
thanks a lot to everyone!

[Cheri MacLeod]

I'll be interested to know how it goes :)

[Harry C. Lord]

Hi Paula. I just became aware of this group, and this is my 1st posting. I have been using Moodle for my web-assisted classes and two hybrid classes for 4 years, and like it very much. In fact I also Use Blackboard and Etudes, depending upon the venue and class. Each has something to offer, but Moodle is an excellent compromise of easy to learn, lots of features and open source (no/low cost). Last Year I started another job where I assist faculty to use technology in their classrooms, and that includes using Moodle. I have a self-learning site to assist my instructors entitled "Using Moodle to Supplement your Classes" at http://moodle.elac.edu. You can access as a Guest. I have had excellent feedback from the instructors that use Moodle for their classes, and in fact I will invite them to participate in this site. Please feel free to ask me any questions that you might have. Good luck, and have fun!