Moodle Magic
This week I have spent hours working on an assignment for ETEC 565. I delayed beginning the assignment as softball tournaments, end of school year duties, and gardening demands made easy the decision to procrastinate. But, come last Sunday I could procrastinate no longer. Once started I enjoyed all opportunities to return to the task. Constructing the moodle quiz required was in itself a creative endeavor as well as an engaging problem solving activity.
The assignment was not without its challenges. I originally created a “Questionnaire” and spent an entire evening wondering why I could not adjust my questions to meet ANY of the criteria specified. After accidently clicking upon “Question” my mistake was realized. The second incident that caused me to break into a technology induced sweat was when for a good hour I lost and could not locate the ten questions already created. I am still not really sure how I located them again but locate them I did and somehow imported them back to the assignment Quiz.
I have completed the assignment but because the task is so engaging I will revisit the site several times again before the due date/time and continue to make subtle changes and enhancements. There is much still to learn. I am not completely satisfied with the product. I am unhappy with the short answer question workings. This is okay as I believe that this assignment was intended for myself and my cohort to get our foot in the door and have purpose to begin exploration. The full possibilities of this particular moodle application will develop in the months to come as I apply my learning to authentic education situations.
I am already beginning to envision the possibilities. I do not believe in assessment that is intended for students to regurgitate information. The Quiz feature in moodle could enable so much more. Reflection and review of instructor chosen “key” learnings are but two of the learning pieces that I will apply this tool to.
My learning in MET is twofold. I not only learn to use technology with purpose in my practice but I then begin to enable and require the use of technology into the demonstrations of understandings of my students (children, teacher candidates, and teacher colleagues). This assignment has left me excited to continue the work on my culminating moodle assignment but alas it will have to wait as the weeds in the garden are not yet in check, I begin planning for the new school year tomorrow, and . . . . the West Kootenay Rebels have qualified for the provincial championships.