Proposal for a Moodle course for ADEC teachers to improve ICT skills

Course Title: Integrating ICT

Proposed LMS Platform: Modular Object Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment (Moodle) which is an Open Source Software (OSS) Learning Management System (LMS)

Objectives:

1. To implement an online course in Moodle to help teachers in the Abu Dhabi Emirate integrate IT in their classrooms
2. Enrol an initial cohort of 50 teachers from Primary, Preparatory and High School in the first 3 month course ‘Integrating ICT’

Course Structure:

In order to open access to world-wide information the teachers will experience differentiated learning and collaborative, knowledge-building through a Moodle course.  The course will focus on nine modules:

1. Using Word Processors educationally
2. Paint for diagrams
3. ComicLife for visual language
4. Excelling in Excel
5. Powerful Powerpoint- multimedia
6. Moviemaker for digital storytelling
7. Webquests as a research tool
8. The internet age
9. Online games

These modules will teach educators simple and effective strategies for incorporating these programs and their associated skills into their teaching practice using the diverse tools within the Moodle platform.  These include:

• Intuitive course design, structure, delivery and editing functions
• File exchange and internal email
• Discussion forums, wikis and real time chat
• Group work- collaboration and peer review functions
• Assessment, homework posting, announcements and online assignment submission

The course will be designed and customized using the provided templates and the participation of each learner will be tracked (EDUtools 2010).

Evaluation:

The SECTIONS model outlined by Bates and Poole (2003) assesses technology using nine criteria (Students, Ease of Use, Costs, Teaching and Learning, Interactivity, Organizational Issues, Novelty; Speed).  This model was utilized to compare the available open source LMSs and Moodle was selected as the most effective LMS for this online course (p.78-79).

Moodle is a free, effective and adjustable environment for learning communities that utilizes a constructivist framework and supports a variety of teaching and learning styles through its functionality.  It is easily installed on Windows, Mac and Linux, it’s highly compatible and simply customized. The built in assessment functions will enable the course manager to monitor progress of individuals and provide feedback to ensure success. It is easily accessible and there is readily available online support (EDUtools 2010).

Moodle will enable the teachers to learn through synchronous and asynchronous communication providing them with flexibility to facilitate course completion.  Moodle as an online learning environment caters to those learners who are confident and extroverted as well as providing those who are shy ‘think time’ enabling them to participate when they have prepared their responses.  Perkins and Pfaffman affirm that Moodle reduces distractions and roadblocks to learning and can improve communication with colleagues and instructors (2006).

In 1984 Seymour Papert wrote “The computer is going to be a catalyst for a very deep and radical change in the educational system” (p.422).  LMS platforms are the new catalysts in education which is why this Moodle course is needed.

Budget:

Perkins and Pfaffman indicate that Moodle has two ostensible advantages over the propriety LMS competition: no need for a license and the negligible cost associated with its’ implementation (2006).  ADEC has a powerful existing server which can host the Moodle LMS.  This web server capacity, combined with the large bandwidth package, equates to minimal cost for ADEC.

Timetable:

Once approved, it will take 2 months to develop the online course and 3 months to deliver:

Phase 1: July 2010

Develop the course material and match it to current teacher needs and the cultural context.

Phase 2: August 2010

Create the online course within Moodle, trial and trouble-shoot.

Phase 3:  September to November 2010

Moodle course begins.

References

Abu Dhabi Education Council. (2008).  What is ADEC? Retrieved June 6, 2010 from

http://www.adec.ac.ae/en/about-  us-en/what-is-adec.html June9

Bates, A.W. & Poole, G. (2003). Chapter 4: a Framework for Selecting and Using Technology. In Effective Teaching Technology in Higher Education: Foundation for Success. (pp. 77-105). San Francisco: Jossey Bass Publishers.

EduTools. (2010). CMS: Product List. Retrieved June 9, 2010 from http://www.edutools.info/item_list.jsp?pj=4

Makrakis, Vasilios.  (2009). Strategic Planning for Information and Communication Technologies in Education: The Case of the United Arab Emirates. University of Crete and Ministry of Education, United Arab Emirates. Retrieved on June 7, 2010 from http://www.etpe.gr/files/proceedings/uploads/p181.pdf

Papert, S. (1984). New theories for new learning. School Psychology Review, 13(4), 422-428.

Perkins, M. & Pfaffman, J. (2006). Using a Course Management System to Improve Classroom Communication. Science Teacher, 73(7), 33-37