Learning Management System Platform<\/p>\n
Evaluation and Proposal for Pacific High School<\/p>\n
Prepared by: \u00a0Craig Brumwell, Shafali Hamir, Jason Harbor, Lorn Kennedy, Sylvain Menard<\/p>\n
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Introduction<\/b><\/p>\n
Pacific High School is a small public school in British Columbia facing cutbacks and challenges similar to other school across the province and across the country. \u00a0This school\u2019s enrollment has declined over the past five years and is projected to continue to decrease over the next decade. \u00a0Not only is their already small budget shrinking, but declining enrollment is making it difficult to hire trained staff to teach specialized upper level subjects such as math, science, and languages. \u00a0Because of these realities, more flexible learning models need to be utilized to maintain the viability of the school and to maintain a variety of courses for its students. \u00a0The school is seeking to maintain and enhance its viability by offering courses using online tools. \u00a0It is not only seeking to survive but it is also hoping to thrive with these new models. \u00a0The school\u2019s mission includes providing diverse and enriching experiences for the student community through both accessible and flexible learning environments. The school\u2019s goals include the following: create online learning spaces to facilitate a shift to more Constructivist models and 21st century learning pedagogies; increase enrollment by providing viable, quality online and blended course options to maximize student options; and to develop engaging e-learning spaces that provide a range of interactive functionalities well positioned for future integrations, interoperability and migration potentials that improve ease of use, convenience, and usefulness.<\/p>\n
The school in question has reliable access to high speed internet, a sufficient number and variety of in-house devices for student use, and approximately 50% of the students have an adequate personal device to use. \u00a0As with all other schools in the district, there are IT support personnel in place (based out of central office, but deployed to schools as needed) and the school already has an always-on data server for existing and future technological needs.<\/p>\n
Moodle proposal<\/b><\/p>\n
As part of the desire to maintain high quality education in the face of declining resources, Pacific High School must maintain and enhance its already quality instructional practices and pedagogical techniques. \u00a0The school is actively seeking authentic ways to engage and retain its students through Constructivist methods and the use of 21st century learning tools. \u00a0\u00a0Moodle is an excellent tool to do this as both Martinez & Jagannathan (2008) and Muljadi (2011) found that Moodle was built on not just a Constructivist philosophy but a Social- Constructionist philosophy as well. As Denton (2012) observed, \u201cthe features of Constructivism and cooperative learning are enhanced with cloud-based technologies\u201d (p. 35). \u00a0Moodle can emphasizes \u201cthat learners (and not just teachers) can contribute to the educational experience\u201d (\u201cMoodle\u201d, 2015). \u00a0As well, choosing Moodle allows efficient use of resources as it can be hosted using the school\u2019s existing data server and maintained by current IT personnel. \u00a0Moodle is open source software; that is, Moodle\u2019s full source code is made available for all users for modification or enhancement (\u201cWhat Is Open Source Software\u201d, n.d.). \u00a0As such, it can be managed by local IT personnel and is available at no cost to all schools, a huge advantage when facing shrinking budgets. \u00a0Being open source, add-on modules can be incorporated into the base distribution of Moodle for specialized needs of individual instructors. \u00a0We believe that based on these goals and needs that Moodle is the best choice for Pacific High School.<\/p>\n
Evaluation<\/b><\/p>\n
Learning Management Systems have developed by leaps and bounds in the last few years (Sharma, 2015). \u00a0In fact, the term \u201cManagement\u201d can be misleading because today\u2019s LMS can do a lot more than just organize the delivery of content and the administration of students\u2019 records. \u00a0Some LMS can now afford us the ability to create new online learning spaces and activities. \u00a0Most LMS offer a common range of tools with similar affordances (Pappas, 2013). \u00a0The sheer number of technical features and the speed at which new products hit the market make it practically impossible to evaluate LMS solely on the basis of their technical features, especially considering their commonality between the main LMS. \u00a0Also, as Coates, James, & Baldwin (2005) observed \u201cA recurrent message arising from the study of educational technologies, however, is that it is not the provision of features but their uptake and use that really determines their educational value\u201d (p.27).<\/p>\n
While technical features are important, there are more global\/basic attributes to consider: the cost, the overall functionality, the adaptability, and the support available, among others. \u00a0Our approach in selecting a LMS for Pacific High School is to give more importance to the global\/basic attributes while ensuring that it offers a good variety and quality of learning tools.<\/p>\n
The goals embedded in Pacific High School\u2019s mission statement focus on developing diverse learning experiences and environments. \u00a0Achieving these goals entails a gradual shift from a single traditional objectivist delivery model in the face-to-face classrooms to an assortment of more flexible models which includes blended and fully online learning spaces. \u00a0These learning spaces need to accommodate the design and delivery of Constructivist learning strategies which are supporting the goals of 21st century learning. \u00a0The school has identified the most important elements of 21st century learning as the ability to collaborate, communicate, think critically, solve problems, and navigate the digital world.<\/p>\n
Technical Features<\/p>\n
With its discussion forums, wikis, blog spaces, text based chat rooms, integrated email system, video conferencing and screen sharing applications, Moodle can afford its users a great variety of synchronous and asynchronous forms of communication. \u00a0These collaborative tools facilitate the construction of meaning and artifacts between classmates and group members. \u00a0Konstantinidis et al., (2011) also observed that the automated mailing list functions in Moodle enhanced communication between instructors and students, particularly through automated emailing lists (p. 27). \u00a0While some other LMS\u2019 may offer more intuitive interface for some specific tools, we believe that Moodle is still the best choice because its community of developers continually work toward improving existing applications and developing new ones (Gartner, 2015). \u00a0Also important is the fact that the main philosophy behind the Moodle movement aligns with the school goals in shifting towards a Constructivist model. Moodle has been a major player in the development of innovative online learning resources since version 1.0 was released in 2002. (\u201cMoodle\u201d, 2015).<\/p>\n
The Open Source Factor<\/p>\n
The implications of choosing an open source product have some advantages and disadvantages. \u00a0One of the main disadvantages is the level of expertise required to make it work. \u00a0Given that the school has access to the district\u2019s IT team, this disadvantage is not an issue. \u00a0On the other hand, Moodle\u2019s free and open source philosophy makes it accessible, flexible and adaptable. \u00a0For example, servers, thirds party installers and front end content management systems, like Joomla and Mahara, integrate with Moodle to meet the specific needs of teachers (\u201cIntegrations,\u201d n.d.). \u00a0Both Microsoft and Google have developed plugins that integrate with Moodle directly (Delinger & Boora, 2010). \u00a0Its interoperability optimizes it for migration to future LMS options. \u00a0Eliademy is an example of a recent cloud-based LMS start-up organization that contributes to the Moodle code base to facilitate migration. \u00a0This affordance and addition to its quickly evolving product upgrades, positions institutions and instructors using Moodle to take advantage new flexible and developing educational technology initiatives.<\/p>\n
The Support Factor<\/p>\n
The ease with which students interact with an LMS and access support will have an impact on the success of e-learning courses. \u00a0Hsu and Chang (2013) studied the impacts of convenience on acceptance and use of Moodle as an extension of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). \u00a0They identified perceived ease of use as the most significant determinant of attitude for students working with Moodle, and perceived convenience as having a strong bearing on how useful students assessed it (p. 215). \u00a0Mobile access to activities and resources may be important factors to LMS acceptance. \u00a0Access ranges from the official App (My Moodle available for iOS devices from the Apple App Store), which requires version 2.1 or later, to native Apps like MBot, Droodle (Android client for version 2.1) or browser access to the Moodle site (\u201cMobile Moodle FAQ,\u201d n.d.). \u00a0The availability of timely support is related to convenience and user satisfaction. \u00a0Moodle has a wide and growing online support system. \u00a0Delinger and Boora (2010) identify it as having \u201cimpressively high support:user ratio\u201d (p.7). \u00a0They concluded that this affordance was equally important to other factors ranging from interface to pedagogy among users (p.8).<\/p>\n
Sustainability<\/b><\/p>\n
As mentioned above, Moodle is an Open-source software (OSS) which can be downloaded for free (https:\/\/docs.moodle.org\/29\/en\/About_Moodle). \u00a0As there are no licensing costs to set up a Moodle server, the only requirement would be to have a web server, which Pacific High already has. \u00a0The biggest requirement will be time from teachers to upload their courses online. \u00a0This is a time consuming process; however, once the initial setup is done, their time commitment will only be to facilitate their class and update their site as needed. \u00a0Teachers will need to be aware that the initial setup will likely take approximately 4 months to develop. \u00a0We estimate 2-4 weeks to learn the Moodle basics from school professional development sessions as well as personal experimentation, 4-6 weeks uploading content, 2-4 weeks to ensure their site running with no issues, and 2-4 weeks to make final changes. \u00a0Some teachers may be more proficient than others so this time will vary extensively and we feel a maximum of 4 months is required for those teachers who need extra time to feel comfortable in using the software.<\/p>\n
Even with these time consuming components, there are some efficiencies built into Moodle to make the teacher\u2019s work easier. \u00a0For example, Moodle can import question banks from a multitude of sources including Blackboard, Examview, Hot Potatoes, WebCT, and others (moodle.org). \u00a0Many teacher resources come with Examview test banks which many teachers already use. \u00a0By importing the questions directly into Moodle much time can be saved in creating assessments. \u00a0Creating users in Moodle is also made easier by integration with Microsoft\u2019s Active Directory. Active Directory is an integrated component of Windows Server, which commands a 75% market share. (\u201cMicrosoft by the Numbers\u201d, 2014) \u00a0Active Directory contains all the information about objects on the network, including users. (\u201cActive Directory\u201d, 2015). \u00a0As such, this list of users can be uploaded into Moodle. (Macartney, 2012). \u00a0Though this requires a certain level of technical expertise, district IT personnel should be well equipped to handle this process. \u00a0Not only does the integration of Active Directory make user creation in Moodle easier, it allows users to have the same login credentials for both their computer and for Moodle. \u00a0Users will not have to remember multiple sets of usernames and passwords, as Active Directory will automatically make these updates to Moodle.<\/p>\n
For teachers wishing to add Moodle to their practice mid-course, Moodle also contains a built in importer for grades contained in an Excel spreadsheet. \u00a0Teachers must simply format the spreadsheet and then upload it into Moodle. (\u201cImporting Grades into Moodle from Excel\u201d, n.d.) \u00a0The time that has already been spent entering grades can be conserved when migrating to Moodle.<\/p>\n
As Pacific High wants to shift towards a more constructivist approach, collaborative learning and knowledge building are both critical components of constructivism (Scardamalia & Bereiter, 1994), and Moodle\u2019s design around the belief that people learn best when they are together (Dougiamas, 2014) fits in perfectly with this approach. \u00a0Once teachers become more confident in using Moodle, they have more opportunity to innovate over time. \u00a0Paynter (2012), observed that Moodle was used initially as a repository of course information for students and shifted towards a more collaborative space where students shared their learning through forums.<\/p>\n
In terms of professional development, Moodle has an excellent community support on their website as well as self-help video tutorials and documentation in the Resources section (https:\/\/docs.moodle.org\/23\/en\/Resources). \u00a0Moodle offers online help services where teachers can connect with experts for specific issues and will respond within a given timeframe. \u00a0There are also numerous tutorial videos online through YouTube for teachers to access and troubleshoot as issues arise.<\/p>\n
As Coates, et al. (2005) note: \u201cinstitutional leaders need to develop support for the staff who use LMS by, for example, developing best practice models and setting up fora in which staff can share ideas and discuss their experience with the systems\u201d (p. 33), it is important a team is set up to ensure this happens. \u00a0We recognize that Pacific High has a core technology team consisting of school administration, technology lead teachers, and a local IT support person who can all be instrumental in providing this support. \u00a0This team will be critical in the implementation of Moodle from start to finish, as well as help with customizing the site to meet specific needs of the school, especially in terms of assessment and reporting. Eventually, we see a future possibility of marketing courses to out of district students to create more revenue for your school.<\/p>\n
Future Directions<\/p>\n
Moodle\u2019s open source philosophy not only encourages developers to design integrations like plugins, but stimulates creative innovation in its own field. \u00a0The case of the upstart Edison-award winning LMS, Eliademy, from Finland is a good example. Its parent company, CBTec contributes to Moodle’s code base, from which they have removed the non-core functionalities to create a simpler, modular design. \u00a0Their mission is to democratize education with technology; as such they offer this service free for everybody. \u00a0One of their goals is to make migration from Moodle to Eliademy easy. \u00a0This is an attractive option in the future for the school, especially because the budget is unpredictable. \u00a0Currently, Moodle is the only platform that does not contravene British Columbia\u2019s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA), which states that public bodies like schools must ensure that private information is not stored or accessed from servers outside of Canada (British Columbia Government, 2015), Eliademy\u2019s servers are based in Europe, making it an ineligible choice for the school. \u00a0The legislation is scheduled for review in 2016. Moodle is the best LMS for the present, and offers the flexibility for migration to cloud-based options like Eliademy in the future.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/b><\/p>\n
The school\u2019s goals of implementing constructivist techniques and 21st century pedagogies align well with the choice of Moodle as LMS. \u00a0Moodle not only provides robust features that align with these goals, but it does so with an uncomplicated user interface. \u00a0Its open source approach also creates third party functionalities possible going forward. \u00a0Through these features, quality course options can be created and the e-learning spaces developed will have interactivity and community at their forefront. \u00a0The school staff, administrators and IT technicians must also invest in a realistic program of teacher training, support for expansion, infrastructure and resources support to achieve the goals of introducing Moodle as the school LMS (Gagnon, 2012).<\/p>\n
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