I have entered the new age of teaching and I am proud to announce that I have a Moodle. Yes, a Moodle. What, you might ask, is a moodle? Well, in simple terms it is a program that allows me to have a discussion forum with my students. It is very similar to the Blackboard system we use in this class.
I have long wanted to integrate more technology into my curriculum, but the issue has always been how to do that and maintain authenticity with my classroom goals. Technology is wonderful and I think all teachers should utilize it, but I have always had a concern with using technology just to say we use it. Technology should always enhance student learning, and if it doesn't we should ask ourselves if it is truly of value.
For some time now I have been wanting to have my students read a book outside of class that we could discuss without spending class time on it. Enter technology! The Moodle program provided just the opportunity to do this. Thanks to the technology goddess at my school, I got my kids set up on the program and we (read I) decided to tackle Ernest Gaines beautiful and poignant novel, A Lesson Before Dying.
Before we even began reading the book, I asked students to research information about Ernest Gaines and post it on our Moodle. This was a great way to prepare for the reading of the novel. The students found some great info on Gaines and one clever student even posted a video of Gaines. Yay! We were off and running!
Several days later, I asked kids to write about what they perceived to be the value of education (one of the themes of the novel). Great posts! My students were thoughtful and their posts created quite a lively discussion online. Then, we began reading the novel and my discussion questions became more focused on the text itself.
The other day my students taught me a few things about Moodle. We pulled the program up on our Smartboard and one of my students came up and taught us all how to access all posts at once, how to see when people have posted, how to read all the posts by one individual. Ah, students teaching teachers and their peers! Does learning get any better? I am so very excited to see how our journey with Moodle progresses!
I have to admit, I have long thought I was technologically inadequate and could not imagine trying my hand at such a task as Moodle. But taking this class and being willing to jump into the swimming pool of technology has proven to be a great success. Granted, I am by no means a great swimmer as of yet, but I am proud to discover that not only can I float, I am beginning to feel courageous enough to dog paddle to the middle of the pool!
Faith -- What a great idea! I am going to check it out and see if I can use Moodle and class online discussions. This might work as we are reading The Stranger later in the year. Kids love to talk about all the existential stuff. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI had to read your post when I saw the title. (How clever) With a title like that I knew it would be a great post and it was. Moodle? I have never heard of this program before. What age do you teach? What age do you think that Moodle would be suitable for? From the sound of it is seems like a great program and even better than a wiki. Oh and is this a free program or does your school have to buy it. Wow, I guess I could Google all this. I am just excited to learn about it. I am also excited to tell other about it and appear one step ahead of the game. Happy swimming!
ReplyDeleteYes, your title caught my attention as well. I never thought, though, that it would actually be something real. Isn't it amazing how "things" just keep getting invented to further our knowledge and connectivity with each other. I am assuming you teach HS. This is a great way to introduce them to more online activities to help prepare them for college. Although it sounds as if they are already ahead of us on that.
ReplyDeleteI love how you developed background of the author through the research. Anything is better than a teacher lecturing about someone who isn't relative to their lives. Great interaction!! I also love how your students shared how to use more of the Moodle. Gotta love those students who are tech savvy......
I think that this is a great idea for junior high and high school. I am going to tell our junior high lit teacher about how you are using Moodle. I am wondering if you like it so far. I actually use it in one of my other classes, we are guinea pigs for Moodle. There are some things I like and dislike the same with anything else I suppose. I am glad to hear you are doing pre-reading writing activities. I just read about them in another class and I have begun to incorporate writing before reading the selection.
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