Using Moodle: Teaching with the Popular Open Source Course Management System

Developed by an extremely active open source community, Moodle is a sophisticated course management system that's ideal for creating dynamic online learning communities and for supplementing face-to-face learning. Used in more than 115 countries and supporting over 60 languages, Moodle can scale from a single-teacher site to a 40,000-student university. Teachers who use Moodle have access to an array of powerful tools such as assignments, forums, journals, quizzes, surveys, chat rooms, and workshops. "Using Moodle" is a comprehensive, hands-on guide that explains how the system works, with plenty of examples and best practices for its many features and plug-in modules. Authored by a member of the Moodle community, this authoritative book also exposes little-known but powerful hacks for more technically savvy users. For anyone who is using-or thinking of using-this CMS, "Using Moodle" is required reading.

Table of Contents:
Preface 1 Introduction What is a Course Management System? Why Should You Use a CMS? What Makes Moodle Special? Free and Open Source Educational Philosophy Community Feature Comparison 2 Moodle Basics Getting Started The Moodle Interface Languages Moodle's Help System Creating an Account Editing Your User Profile A First Look at a Course Course Formats Editing Mode Adding Content to a Course Summary 3 Creating and Managing Content Adding Content to Moodle Compose a Text Page Adding a Web Page Window Options Create Link to File or Web Site Uploading Other Documents Adding a Directory Creating Links to Other Web Sites Parameters Managing and Updating Your Content File Area Tools Tracking Versions Effective Content Practices File Formats Reducing File Sizes Creative Content Summary 4 Using Forums, Chats and Dialogues Forums Forum Options Managing Forums Effective Forum Practices Creative Forum Uses Chats Creating Chats Using Chats Effective Chat Practices Creative Chat Practices Dialogues Creating Dialogues Using Dialogues Effective Dialogue Practices Summary 5 Quizzes How to Create a Quiz Creating the Quiz Body Creating Questions for a Quiz Importing Questions Adding Questions to a Quiz Managing Quizzes Effective Quiz Practices Quiz Strategies Creative Quiz Uses Quiz Security and Cheating 6 Workshops How to Create a Workshop Adding a Workshop Creating Scoring Guides Uploading Example Assignments Managing Workshops Workshop Phases Effective Workshop Practices Creative Workshop Practices 7 Assignments and Exercises Assignments How to Create an Assignment Managing Assignment Submissions Effective Assignment Practices Exercises How to Create an Exercise Managing Exercises Effective Exercise Practices Summary 8 Journals Creating Journals Managing Journals Effective Journal Practices Journal Basics Creative Journal Practices Summary 9 Glossaries Creating Glossaries Using the Glossaries Adding Entries Glossary Categories Autolinking Importing and Exporting Glossaries Commenting on Entries Printing a Glossary Effective Glossary Practices Glossary Basics Creative Glossary Strategies Summary 10 Lessons Creating a Lesson Managing Lessons Effective Lesson Practices Branching Quizzes Flash Cards Creative Lesson Uses 11 Wikis Creating Wikis Managing Wikis Creating Wiki Pages Administering a Wiki Effective Wiki Practices Wiki Basics Creative Wiki Practices 12 Grades and Scales Using Grades Adding Manual Assignments Downloading Grades to a Spreadsheet Creating Scales Effective Grade and Scale Practices Grade Practices Scale Practices 13 Managing Your Class Managing Users Adding Students and Teachers Removing Students Managing Enrollment Student Groups Backups Restoring and Copying Courses Logs 14 Surveys and Choices Creating Surveys Administering Surveys Creating Choices Administering Choices Using Surveys and Choices 15 Putting It All Together What is a Learning Environment? Course Design Patterns Introductory Survey Courses Skills Development Course Theory / Discussion Course Capstone Course 16 Moodle Administration Configuration Site Variables Site Settings Themes Module Settings Blocks Filters Backup Editor Settings Users Authentication Add and Edit User Accounts User Roles Courses Creating Course Categories Creating Courses Logs Index