If Boris is already using Moodle to disseminate lecture notes, lab forms and to answer student questions outside of class time vis a discussion forum, then it makes sense for him to take advantage of Moodle’s quiz feature to help students with the Periodic Table.

Boris could take the areas he finds students are specifically having difficulty with, and create a quiz with questions that will help students understand the Periodic Table better, and could also provide them with feedback on whether or not they are on the right track.

I also feel like Boris should not be re-inventing the wheel on this, if he is finding his students are struggling with the Periodic Table, probably students in other Chemistry classes are also struggling, so perhaps he could get together with his colleagues and together they can come up with questions for a quiz to help students gain a better understanding. Boris should also check online, as the Periodic Table has been around forever, and I am sure there are teachers who have already created something like this that Boris can copy or learn from.

I like offering the possibility of asynchronous and synchronous discussions in an online and/or f2f course. I think it appeals to all types of learners, the quieter less inclined to raise their hand students, and those students who don’t have a problem voicing their ideas and opinions. I like that it allows time for students to reflect and learn from others, and I like that it allows for the flexibility for students to participate whenever it works for them.

What I found difficult about the Moodle site, was deciding on how much time I wanted to devote to making it “cool” or sophisticated, when I wasn’t sure if I was going to use it, or if that type of learning would work for my class. While I think online learning is a great option for high school and university students, I’m not sure about whether or not it belongs in an elementary school. I have found that because I teach every subject, the ability to have that asynchronous discussion is still there. I can teach a lesson Monday, students can think about what they have learned, and if they have any questions or comments, they can ask them at school on the Tuesday, or even later the same day. While it doesn’t allow students to add to the discussion at whatever time they feel from wherever they are, seeing the same students every day for every subject definitely allows for synchronous and asynchronous discussions to occur in a f2f environment.