Moodle for Teachers Beginners' Workshop (M4T-B)

Syllabus for M4T-B

Goal

The goal of the M4T-Beginner workshop is to help educators ensure the quality of online learning through systematic instructional design of online and blended online courses (BOL) and instructor training on online pedagogies.

Description

This intensive, four-week-long workshop is designed to engage you in theoretical and practical aspects of online learning and teaching with a Learning Management System called Moodle. You will be introduced to the Moodle philosophy and course development tools. By successfully completing the program you will have acquired the knowledge and skills needed to create basic Moodle resources and activities for blended online learning (BOL) or blended learning (BL) courses. As online learners, you will learn to understand online learning from the student's perspective so you can prepare your future courses with the learner in mind.

Workshop Context

In the workshop you will be randomly assigned to work in a team to collaboratively design, develop and facilitate a "Moodle Guidebook Course". Each person in the team will select 1 Moodle activity to learn, then develop a learning module with examples and resources to teach their team members how to create and use the activity. You will also be encouraged to reflect on the process of developing your course and to share your learning experiences with your peers.

Workload & Format

M4T-B requires participants to be active at least 5 hours a week on theoretical and practical aspects of online learning (individually and in teams). M4T-B will include asynchronous (via the Moodle) and synchronous (via WiZiQ) components.

Workshop Layout

This 4 week facilitated workshop will cover the following topics:

   * Week 1: Getting Started. Select a Moodle activity and join your team. Learn how to navigate, view & change course settings, profile options, work with files & folders, access and use editing tools.
   * Week 2: Moodle Resources. Learn how to add a label, compose a webpage, link to a web site and link to a file. Research and learn about your selected Moodle activity.
   * Week 3: Moodle Activities. Develop a learning module with example activities and resources to teach team members how to create and use your selected Moodle activity. The 10 Moodle activities are: assignments, chat, choice, forums, glossary, hot potatoes quiz, journal, survey, wiki, workshop.
   * Week 4: Learn & Share. Complete the other learning modules developed by your team to lLearn how to create and use other Moodle activities. Share your learning experience with all course participants.

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the workshop learners should be able to:

   * Change their password and edit their profile
   * Navigate around the Moodle site and course areas
   * Update course settings
   * View participant profiles, blogs and course activities log
   * Use Moodle editing tools
   * Add content, resources and activities to a blank Moodle course

Moodle for Teachers (M4T) Intermediate Workshop Syllabus

Workshop Context

You will collaborate in teams to design or redesign a course on your chosen topic. You will add content and resources, explore web 2.0 technologies, integrate synchronous and asynchronous learning activities into your course and develop assessments for online learning. You will also be encouraged to reflect on the process of developing your course and to share your learning experiences with your peers.

Workload & Format

M4T Intermediate requires participants to be active at least 8 hours a week on theoretical and practical aspects of online learning (individually and in teams). M4T will include asynchronous (via the Moodle) and synchronous (via WiZiQ) components.

Workshop Layout

This 4-week facilitated workshop will cover the following topics:

   * Week 1: Connect, Communicate & Collaborate
   * Week 2: Moodle Course Design
   * Week 3: Moodle Course Development
   * Week 4: Moodle Course Facilitation & Assessment

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the workshop you should be able to:

   * Use Moodle editing, communication and collaboration tools
   * Make informed decisions about suitable education pedagogies for online/blended learning
   * Design and develop a Moodle course in conjunction with team members based on a constructivist pedagogy
   * Add a variety of Moodle resources to your course
   * Select or create and use a diverse range of Moodle activities

   * Integrate web 2.0 technologies into your Moodle course to create an interactive environment and to collaborate and create team documents
   * Critically reflect on your own and others work and provide constructive feedback for improvement

Moodle 4 Teachers Advanced (M4T-A) Workshop Syllabus

Aim

The aim of the M4T-A online workshop is to help you learn and teach Moodle in an international multi-cultural learning environment. M4T-A requires participants to be active at least 10 hours a week exploring and reflecting on theoretical and practical aspects of online instruction (facilitation) and learning (individually and in teams).

Method

In the workshop you will collaborate in teams to design or redesign a course or a professional development program on your chosen topic. You will add content and resources, explore web 2.0 technologies, integrate synchronous and asynchronous learning activities into your course and develop assessments for online learning/teaching. You will also be encouraged to reflect on the process of developing your course/program and to share your learning experiences with your peers. The final learning outcome of the advanced workshop will be a "Moodle for Teachers" professional development program.

Layout & Topics

This 4-week facilitated workshop will potentially address the following topics:

   * Week 1: Read, Think, Discuss and Act
   * Week 2: Constructivist Nature of Moodle
   * Week 3: Beyond Moodle: Connecting Moodle to Mobile or Virtual Environments
   * Week 4: Reflect and Share

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the workshop you will be able to:

   * Examine the latest publications on the issues of distance, BOL education and teaching with LMS/Moodle and provide critical 

analysis of theoretical and practical aspects of the field research about course topics.

   * Make informed decisions about suitable education pedagogues for online/blended learning
   * Add a variety of Moodle resources to your program/course
   * Select/create and use a diverse arsenal of Moodle activities including plugin modules (eg: Sloodle, mobile and Webquests)
   * Use Moodle and Web 2.0 tools to create an interactive environment and to collaborate and create team documents
   * Critically reflect on your own and others work and provide constructive feedback for program/course improvement
   * Design and develop a Moodle Professional Development (PD) Program/Course in conjunction with team members/or individually 

based on a constructivist/connectivist pedagogy

   * Schedule and lead synchronous live WIZIQ sessions promoting your PD program