Best Practices of Moodle @

the

University of the South Pacific

Dhiraj Bhartu, Rajneel Totaram,

Vilimaka Foliaki

USP

Our students

• Born around and after 1985, PC computer

increasingly available.

• Born in the internet age - Net Generation

Our students

• Rarely enter a library

• Rarely use the traditional encyclopedia; Use Wikipedia instead

• Use SEARCH engines (Google, Yahoo, etc).

• Communicate using:

– SMS – text messaging

– Social networking - Facebook, MySpace, Twitter etc.

• Short Attention span

• They are CONNECTED 24/7!

Our students

• Impacted by digital technology Digital Natives – e.g. PC, DVDs, Internet, mobile phones, computer games,

portable media players – mp3s, Ipods.

• Existing education system was NOT designed for this new generation!

• Short attention span? – Yes, to Digital immigrants (i.e. us), “Short Attention Span” or

ADD.

– Attention NOT short when they play games. etc.

– They need INTERACTIVITY – immediate response (from teacher, friends, from network.)

– They choose NOT to be attentive. They are not interested.

– Traditional lesson IS NOT stimulating enough!

Web 2.0 in Moodle

Twitter

YouTube: Video hosting

Box.net

Offer assistance: basics

SNAPP network

Countdown timers

Assist and guide: time management and

self-disipline

Page Layout – IS221

• Stack layout

– New items added to the top

• Minimises “Scroll of death”

• Quicker Access

Study Room

• Online “study” area

• Very focused content

• Removes content overload

Online Avatar

• Online Buddy

• Provides a student perspective on the course

• Reinforce/Recap learning materials

Graphical Menus

• Appealing look

• Simple Animation adds Interactivity

• Textual Links look boring

Future Plans

• Moodle Gradebook access via SMS

• Moodle for Mobiles

• SMS Notifications

• Moodle/Banner Gradebook integration