What is MOODLE?

MOODLE Academy
February 7-8, 2011
TCEA 2011 Conference

You have probably heard about MOODLE, especially if you are involved in the technology industry. If not, you might be wondering if MOODLE is a form or type of Chinese noodle (*grin*), or maybe something totally out of this world! Who would name a system such as MOODLE in the first place? (*laughs*). I recall my first encounter with MOODLE. It was during a technology training when I heard and learned about MOODLE's capabilities and potential features. It was quite challenging to grasp at first, particularly for a system that was new and uncommon to the eyes and ears of an educator.

MOODLE is a Learning Management System (LMS) that is open sourced, which means...free! (*applause!*). It is a system that facilitates and supports an online or a virtual learning environment. Likewise, this web based system is usually installed and deployed through a server. The MOODLE database and structure resides in a server, and this system is published through the web using a URL address (web domain). Online content in MOODLE is created and developed using different activities and resources. Some of these activities include: web page creation, establishment of links with other web sites, etc. While some of MOODLE's resources include: discussion forums, chat, quizzes (i.e. multiple choice, essay, choice, true or false), wikis, online assignments and uploads, interactive glossary, to name a few.

MOODLE also provides online course developers and online teachers with different course creation tools and teaching tools. For example, online course developers uses blocks within MOODLE to segregate course sections, units, and categories. When a course developer logs into MOODLE, one sees three columns which are often referred to as blocks. You have the right blocks and the left blocks that consist of the online course menu, categories, administrative tools, RSS feeds, and other creative and useful information. On the other hand, the middle block (or section, as I would refer to at times) is where the majority of the course content resides. It is where you identify, select, and apply the course activities and resources for every unit of an online course.