Introduction



I love technology! I see a new Web 2.0 application, software program or website and I think //"How Can I use that in my classroom"//. I always am looking forward to trying new //technology stuff// to see how I can use it with my students to try to get them excited about what it is that I am trying to teach them. So far, I, and I think my students, enjoy when I bring something new into the classroom.
 * 5 Days To Building Your Moodle Course (Introduction)**

Keeping up with all of the applications that are on the market today for use in the classroom is a daunting task. How do decide on which ones you will use? An even more important questions should be, //Which website, application or software program am I willing to devote my time and effort into learning so that I may be comfortable enough to bring it into my classroom?// Because let's face it, your time is valuable. You have papers to grade, lessons plans to make, after school activities to either plan or attend, and oh yeah you have to find time to have some semblance of a family life in there as well.

Now, I consider myself an unabashed //**Computer Geek**//. I love my Apple Macbook Pro laptop and would feel lost without it. I hate to think how many hours a week I actually use it from grading student assignments, posting interesting things on Twitter and reading colleagues suggestions for interesting and worthwhile professional development [|webinars]. Trying to find the time to actually devote to learning a new Web 2.0 application to the point that I feel comfortable enough to bring it into the classroom, now that is difficult.

The purpose of this course is to try to get you excited about Moodle. Notice that I didn't say I was going to teach you how to use Moodle. I think that probably the best way to learn is to present certain highlights of any application and then allow you, the end user, the opportunity and sufficient time in order to see how it will be most beneficial to you and help you get past those first awkward hours before you can get into your //comfort zone// with Moodle.

Having used Moodle for about 4 years now in the classroom I have learned a few things. Probably number one on the list of the things that I have learned is that //my students will always show me something that I didn't know before//, a feature or a way of doing things that I had not previously known. Don't worry about that. Don't be afraid of learning along with your students. There are so many things to learn, its difficult to be the consummate expert with anything technological. I'm not saying that you can't become very good at technology but it's been my experience that there is always something new to learn. That's part of the enjoyment that I receive by teaching an online course and I think that is part of the whole [|social constructivism] learning process.

I thoroughly enjoy the opportunity to attend professional development conferences such as [|ISTE 2010],[| TCEA] conventions or just a Saturday morning [|Classroom 2.0 live] [|Elluminate] professional development session. This is what I do for enjoyment. I know that this may sound crazy but I love the opportunity the power of the internet allows me to connect with other educators and to collaborate and learn from other teachers from all over the United States and the world about exciting ways they are using technology in their classrooms and schools.

There are a tremendous amount of very fantastic educators out there who have a tremendous amount of knowledge and they are willing to share what they know with other teachers who are interested in learning.

Moodle is a [|Course Management System](CMS), [|Learning Management System] (LMS) or a [|Virtual Learning Environment] (VLE) that will allow you to to bring a very powerful tool to your students by providing a place where you can put all of your course //"stuff"//. I have told people before to think of Moodle as your briefcase. Take a look at a typical briefcase and you may find file folders with tests, worksheets, reading lists. You might also find an iPod an MP-3 player or even a book. All of these things, once they are in a digital format can be placed in your Moodle course and shared with your students in a very logical and systematic manner. How you do that however is up to you.

So this is the purpose of this **5 Days To Building Your Moodle Course** Training Program. I hope that you will enjoy it. I hope that you will have the opportunity to learn what it is you are wanting to learn. But probably the most important is this, I hope that you will develop a great Moodle course to share with your students.

If you have any comments, suggestions or ideas for future HISD Quick Tips, please let me know. You may send me an email, skype me or send me a tweet on twitter. Here is my contact information and please, feel free to let me know you what you think.
 * Comments, Suggestions, Ideas**

101 Web 2.0 Tutorials Wikispace (Companion Website) [|101 Web 2.0 Tutorials Blog] [|Mr. Peters' Teacher Tube Video Page]

MD Anderson Summer Science Institute 2010 Conference Notes NECC 2008 Pictures

John Peters, EMT-LP Hereford High School 703 Grand Avenue 612 CT&E Building Hereford, TX 79045 (806) 363-7704 office email: johnpeters@herefordisd.net Twitter: [|johnpeters] [|Skype:] johnpeters1959 ClaimID: [|John Peters]