LMS Proposal
Re: Call for Classroom Technology Enhancement proposals
June 7, 2009
I understand that proposals are currently being considered for the 2009/2010 school year to develop technology-based projects specifically to enhance learning in the face-to-face classroom. The following project proposes the development of a Moodle (Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) site to support classroom teachers and students using the new Mathematics 8 curriculum implemented this past school year.
The goals of Moodle Math 8 reflect several of the goals set forth by the International Society for Teachers in Education (2008) in their National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS). Moodle Math 8 uses technology to:
- facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation
- promote student reflection using collaborative tools
- provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments
- communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats (NETS, 2008).
What does Moodle Math 8 afford teachers, students and parents?
Once developed, Moodle Math 8 provides a low-risk starting point for teachers to integrate technology into their classroom. It is a stable learner management system with on-line as well as district support. This is a great benefit to teachers lacking sufficient time to learn new skill sets. This project also benefits the district as teachers are not committing their time to recreating similar resources yet are able to customize Moodle Math 8 to meet their particular needs. The chat functions enable a teacher to conduct impromptu tutoring sessions prior to major exams without facing the logistics of holding these sessions at the school after hours as is currently done.
As Chickering and Ehrmann (1996) summarized, students benefit from additional contact time with their teachers particularly when this occurs across multiple mediums. This contact time, in conjunction with the design principles employed in Moodle Math 8, allows students to express their learning in multiple ways encouraging active learning.
The design features of Moodle Math 8 presents parents the opportunity to follow up on class lessons by viewing assignments and to support their child from home by accessing varied resources from foundation skill development to enrichment. Furthermore, with the School District’s recent move away from assignment deadlines and away from academic penalties associated with missing those deadlines, it is hoped that this enables parents to help hold their child accountable for their learning.
Why Moodle?
Several learner management systems (LMS) were considered, by applying Bates and Poole’s (2003) SECTIONS model, before making the decision to pursue Moodle for this project. Over the past year, SD 73’s Information Technology department has created a Moodle site for each district secondary school and has in-serviced a vice-principal at each of these schools on topics such as how to create a teacher’s class, enroll students in classes, and control access. Thus, the infrastructure and IT training necessary for its successful operation is already in place.
As open source software, numerous sites exist to support teachers interested in furthering their professional development. With current budget constraints, the lack of licensing has been appealing to SD73 in the past and the current use of Moodle in the district has show it to be a reliable intuitive quality product without the hidden costs characteristic of some open source software.
Moodle affords pedagogically sound site design reflecting the Constructivist-based learning encouraged by current B.C. Ministry of Education curricula. Moodle Math 8 is able to incorporate numerous web 2.0 features necessary to create such a learning experience.
How will the project be developed?
To minimize anticipated anxieties associated with its use, Moodle Math 8 should be both pedagogically sound and reasonably complete before release to SD73’s Math 8 teachers. Release time of 0.14 FTE (approximately $10 000) allows one teacher to dedicate 5 hours per week for 20 weeks, a total of 100 hours, to work on this project. This time allotment should be sufficient considering that:
· the infrastructure is already in place
· a course site can be constructed by a vice-principal in one hour
· course materials already exist in digital format (outline, assignment guide, practice assessments, links to web resources for foundation skill development and enrichment)
These 100 hours could be allocated as follows:
|
Hours |
Task |
|
10 |
Design layout. Determine features to enable. |
|
15 |
Consult with district colleagues for the inclusion of their digital materials |
|
10 |
Upload pre-existing digital materials and links. |
|
30 |
Design and integration of meaningful collaborative learning opportunities throughout the course (discussion forums, assessments requiring posting and reflecting on peer posts) |
|
25 |
Research and create one technologically-relevant learning opportunity or assessment for each of the five months of the semester |
|
10 |
Creation of manual detailing integration of Moodle Math 8 for SD73 teachers |
|
Optional |
|
|
20 |
Reformatting digital assessments (quizzes, tests) to be administered through Moodle or as practice assessments from home |
|
10 |
Refinements necessary after implementation |
Moodle Math 8, as a work-in-progress, can be accessed but requires a password at this time.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this proposal.
Sincerely,
Katie Hay
References
Bates, A.W. & Poole, G. (2003). A framework for selecting and using technology. In Effective Teaching with Technology (pp. 75-108). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Chickering, A.W. & Ehrmann, S.C. (1996). Implementing the seven principles: Technology as level, American Association for Higher Education Bulletin, 49(2), p. 3-6. Retrived May 19, 2009 from: http://www.aahea.org/bulletins/articles/sevenprinciples.htm
Moodle. (2009). [computer software]. Retrieved June 4, 2009 from http://demo.moodle.org/ .
The International Society for Technology in Education. (2008). National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers. Retrieved May 4, 2009 from http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final.pdf .