Moodle Proposal to Palliser Regional Schools
Palliser Regional School Division prides itself on providing excellent educational services based on the best professional knowledge and educational research. Current learning theories such as social constructivism and situated activity include collaboration as a key component of an effective learning environment (Barab & Duffy, 1998, Chickering & Ehrman, 1997). The ability to collaborate across networks is considered by many to be an essential 21st century skill. (Wagner, 2008).
Currently the ability for students attending Palliser’s schools to collaborate is limited primarily to their respective classrooms. I propose that Palliser provide access to a content management system (CMS) that will allow for collaborations amongst students throughout the division, teachers, parents, and invited experts.
After evaluating various CMS using Bates and Poole’s (2003) SECTIONS model, I would recommend that Palliser consider Moodle. Moodle is a very fluid platform that does far more than provide a space for asynchronous and synchronous collaborations. It is an open source CMS that is being utilized in learning institutions world-wide allowing them to provide online learning support designed to fit the individual needs of their learners. Some of the benefits of Moodle are:
- Safe secure environment for students to interact in.
- Synchronous and asynchronous discussion including forums and chat rooms.
- Student access to missed assignments and homework anytime, anywhere.
- Constant contact between teachers, students, and parents.
- Parent access to student work, assignments and assessments.
- Ease of use for students.
- Developed to support a social constructivist approach to learning.
- Differentiation can be done with very little difficulty.
- Provides a site for instructors providing course delivery via video-conferencing.
- Content creation and changes to current content can be made at various levels including individual teachers, administration and site administrators.
- Changes can be made in a timely manner.
- Functionality supports the current Assessment for Learning goals through in-time assessment and feedback.
- Software is free and open source so IT department can configure to meet our needs.
- Technical support can be provided by our IT department.
- Todd Diakow, our integration specialist is very familiar with Moodle and can provide training for all staff interested in developing their own sites as part of his regular duties.
- Ubiquitous technical support available through http://moodle.org/ as well as user created Youtube videos, and the annual provincial Moodle Conference.
- Variety of plug-ins that can be added by site administrators.
- Open source platform means it is continuous improvement.
By making Moodle available to our teachers, students and parents, Palliser will be providing them with a very powerful tool that will allow for continued excellence in educational services.
References:
Barab, S. & Duffy, T. (1998). From practice fields to communities of practice. In
Theoretical Foundations of Learning Environments. Jonassen,D. & Land, S.
Eds. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Ltd.
Bates, A.W. & Poole, G. (2003). Chapter 4: A Framework for Selecting and Using
Technology. In Effective teaching with technology in higher education:
Foundations for success. (pp. 77-105). San Francisco: Jossey Bass Publishers.
Chickering, A. &. Ehrmann, S. (1996). Implementing the Seven Principles Technology as a lever. AAHE Bulletin. 1-8
Wagner, T. (2008). The Global Achievement Gap. New York: Basic Books.