Moodle For Dummies

The fun and friendly guide to the world's most popular online learning management system

Modular Object Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment, also known as Moodle, is an online learning management system that creates opportunities for rich interaction between educators and their audience. However, the market has been lacking a simple, easy-to-understand guide that covers all the essentials of Moodle?until now. Using straightforward language and an entertaining tone to decipher the intricate world of Moodle, this book provides you with the resources you need to take advantage of all the eLearning and eTraining possibilities that Moodle offers.

• Offers a hands-on approach to learning Moodle, the revolutionary online learning management system
• Uses simple language peppered with good humor to break down the complexities of Moodle into easily digested pieces of information
• Caters to the specific needs of teachers and business trainers by providing the resources they need

Moodle For Dummies provides you with the tools you need to acquire a solid understanding of Moodle and start implementing it in your courses.

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting Started with Moodle 9

Chapter 1: Discovering Moodle and What You Can Do 11

Chapter 2: Designing Great Moodle Courses 23

Chapter 3: Building Your Course Front Page 41

Chapter 4: Creating Your Course 67

Part II: Creating and Managing Course Content 99

Chapter 5: Adding Content to Your Course: Resources 101

Chapter 6: Adding Audio and Video to Your Course by Using Free Software 123

Chapter 7: Grading Learners’ Progress and Knowledge 135

Part III: Adding Activities to Your Moodle Course 157

Chapter 8: Adding Communication Modules 159

Chapter 9: Adding Collaborative Modules 187

Chapter 10: Creating Assignments 223

Chapter 11: Quizzing and Testing in Moodle 231

Chapter 12: Using Databases to Share Resources and Adding the Latest News via RSS 275

Part IV: Moodle Management 303

Chapter 13: Administering Moodle Courses 305

Chapter 14: Managing Course Data, Reports, Logs, and Statistics 339

Part V: The Parts of Tens 361

Chapter 15: Ten Questions to Ask before Building and Launching Your Course 363

Chapter 16: Ten Creative Ways to Keep Your Learners Involved in Your Course 369

Index 375

Radana Dvorak has been involved in computer-based training since 1989. As an adjunct professor at PSU Graduate School of Education, she teaches trainers and educators how to use Moodle. She also heads a company that designs software tools. Stop noodling, start Moodling!

This guide helps you get your course online with Moodle

You've heard about the learning content management system with the funny name — Moodle. You've been wondering if it's right for your students. This book explains Moodle and what you can do with it. Then it helps you create your front page, add content and resources, incorporate chats and blogs, build and score quizzes, and become a true Moodler!

• Make sense of Moodle — learn what Moodle does, how to navigate it, what goes into a great Moodle course, and how to understand your learners

• Class act — develop and manage class content, incorporate audio and video, and evaluate student progress

• Interact — generate interest by adding forums and chats and let students collaborate using wikis

• Make the grade — create assignments, manage submissions, and develop and score quizzes

• Manage Moodle — use Moodle tools to manage your courses and users, track and report class data, keep logs, and reuse courses

Visit the companion Web site at www.dummies.com/go/moodlefd for bonus chapters, source code, and additional information about Moodle

Open the book and find:

• Moodle terms, conventions, and roles

• How to use the Web-based editor

• Different eLearning methods

• Things to consider when creating a Moodle course

• How the grade book works

• Effective ways to use blogs and chats

• Tips on using databases and RSS feeds

• Creative ways to keep your students engaged and encourage participation

Learn to:

• Set up Moodle, add learners, and manage your online courses

• Develop your own custom courses and use Moodle's collaboration features

• Create assessment tools and add media

• Add forums and wikis for group projects