Jan 09 2010
Proposal
I would like to propose that the university consider using Moodle as our Learning Management server. I have based my decision on personal experience, recommendations from colleagues and current articles. Kehrer (2009) tells us that the Open University in England, which is one of the largest distance learning institutions in the world, “set itself to evaluating a few online learning platforms” and that it has changed over to Moodle. This decision was not based on cost and the Open University Director of Learning Innovation, Niall Sclater is quoted by Bierhals (2009) as explaining that “It’s the change management, the communications and the staff development” (P.4), which involve the greatest cost. The Open University received a two million pound grant, but as Bierhals (2009) explains “the OU not only had to introduce about 7,000 tutors and staff members to the system, but also had to ensure a smooth transition of the considerably high number of 200,000 students” (P.4), whereas our university has 520 tutors and 3300 students. We will need to invest money and time; however I think that as Martinez and Jagannathan (2008) explain “Moodle’s obvious appeal is that it has the potential of creating cost-effective online learning communities, in rich and poor countries alike.”
Our university has its own node and a computer department with technicians who have experience in running systems and who are capable of installing and maintaining a Learning Management Server. Martinez and Jagannathan (2008) state that “Moodle helps educators create an effective collaborative online-learning community using sound pedagogical principles for a very low cost.” This is important as our university is nonprofit making and relies solely on students fees and yet we have managed to build a reputation for offering quality, up to date education. In many other countries and Institutions training is one of the biggest expenses. I believe that we can reduce this expense considerably if we first of all train all of the full time and part time teachers in our schools and faculties, then they can train their teachers during the programmed end of semester courses. In this way we can use our established budget for in service training and each faculty and school can adapt the training to their specific needs. Martinez and Jagannathan (2008) also mention that Moodle can be used in different languages which would allow the majority of the university to work in Spanish and the Language school to offer courses in English, French, German and Italian at no extra cost.
I believe that Moodle can offer our university both the flexibility and the challenge our teachers require to initiate online courses. “It is an e-learning tool that can offer simple and safe solutions to any institution, no matter how large or small, be it an individual teacher or a huge university. Moodle facilitates online collaborations, which can be teacher-to-student, teacher-to-teacher or student-to-student.”(P.58). We have the technical resources and we have personnel capable of installing and maintaining Moodle, which will cut costs considerably. In Mexico and in our university we have learned to be creative and to make sacrifices for the common good and I think that Moodle is the best option for us to offer blended and distance learning in the future.
References:
Bierhals, G. The Open University UK: creating a win-win situation by sharing code and content. OSOR. EU. Published on Oct 27, 2009. Accessed the 3rd of March 2010 at:
http://www.osor.eu/case_studies/docs/IDABC%20OSOR%20casestudy%20OpenUniversity.pdf
Kehrer, A. Simply the Best: Case Study for Moodle at Open University. Linux Pro Magazine. Nov 16, 2009. Accessed the 3rd of March 2010 at:
http://www.linuxpromagazine.com/Online/News/Simply-the-Best-Case-Study-for-Moodle-at-Open-University
Martinez, M and Jagannathan, S. Moodle: A Low-Cost Solution for Successful e-Learning. Learning Solutions magazine. November 10, 2008. Accessed the 3rd of March 2010 at:
http://www.learningsolutionsmag.com/articles/71/moodle-a-low-cost-solution-for-successful-e-learning
Stanford, J. In the Mood for Moodle. Issue 54 January 2008. ENGLISH TEACHING professional. Accessed the 3rd of March 2010 at:
http://jswebdesign.co.uk/articles/ETp54_Stanford_article.pdf
Clare Roche