The UK Government recently announced a five year strategy for implementing a programme of Online Learning for schools. They have also indicated their approval of Open Source Software Packages for delivering these aims. Open Source Software is freely available from designers who collaborate worldwide to produce high quality materials to rival some of the more commonly known commercial brands. Probably the most widely known and used Online Learning package is Moodle. We have experience of several other packages, but agree that Moodle is perhaps the most suitable for schools, and have therefore set about integrating it into our sites. Some schools have already started to experiment with using the package, but few have managed to achieve an integrated look with their own website - a situation which sometimes leaves the user feeling rather lost when using it. We design templates for both, with links between the two to give an integrated look and feel, and assign well defined roles for what the School Website and the Moodle site are trying to achieve.
Moodle stands for "Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment." It is an 'open source' course management system, orginally developed by Martin Dougiamas. It is used by thousands of educational institutions around the world to provide an organized interface for 'e-learning', or learning over the Internet. Moodle allows educators to create online courses, which students can access as a virtual classroom. A typical Moodle home page will include a list of participants (including the teacher and students) and a calendar with a course schedule and list of assignments. Other Moodle features include online quizzes, forums, where students can post comments and ask questions, glossaries of terms, and links to other Web resources. Teachers can control their course online, and view and export assignment results and data. Teachers can also create and store their course materials within the Moodle database, after which they become readily accessible (from any internet enabled terminal) for future classes. Because Moodle is 'open source', or freely distributed, it can be an attractive alternative to commercial e-learning options.
We can install the Moodle site on your server, and create a templating system to your own specifications which matches your Website front end. You will then be able to run your own online courses, and store curriculum materials. Students will be able to access these courses both at school and elsewhere. (Consider the advantages for students who, for whatever reason, are not able to attend school.). Teachers have described how Moodle is an extension of the classroom (not a substitute for it!), and that it provides excellent facilities for both remote and collaborative learning. A Moodle site is not a substitute for a well designed School Website. The two fulfill different, but complementary, functions. It is important that they are consistent in design and appearance, and that there is simple and conscise navigation between them. This will engender a feeling of continuity for your users.