Learning does not have to be pretty, say 'Moodle maestros'
Published on 12 October, 2010
CQUniversity has paused to recognise its 'Top Ten' academics who are giving students the best learning experiences in an on-line environment via the Moodle system
The consensus is to go for an engaging site rather than a 'pretty' one, although debate still rages about 'death by scroll-down' versus multiple page links.
Professor Rob Reed from the Office of Learning and Teaching congratulated the 'Moodle maestros' and introduced presentations about their sites.
Some academics favoured text and simple navigation while others embedded vodcasts, podcasts and even cartoon avatars.
Site presentations featured week-by-week formats, discussion forums, resources rooms, chat rooms, assignment boxes, 'mouse-overs' to reveal hidden content, messaging, a recent-activity update and 'organically-added' features. Some sites even used Camtasia software to show step-by-step 'how to' videos of computer desktop activity required to achieve a task.
Professor Reed said the ongoing Moodle 'consistency project' would encourage academics to be creative while still having core elements such as assessment guides available in recommended parts of each site.
The Top 10 Moodle sites for Term 1, 2010 selected by a panel from across the University:
ACCT19064 Auditing and Professional Practical (Jenny Kofoed)
BIOH12008 Human Pathophysiology (Steve McKillup)
COMM12022 Technology, Communication and Culture (Errol Vieth)
COMM12030 Desktop Publishing (Kate Ames)
EDED20491 ICTs for Learning Design (Scot Aldred)
ENVH11001 Health and the Environment (Lisa Bricknell)
NURS11146 Establishment of Professional Nursing (Wendy Madsen)
MRKT11029 Marketing (Kylie Radel)
SCIE11021 Science Concepts (Fiona Coulson)
SOWK13012 Professional Practice and Mental Health (Paloma Cesare)