The learning management system is an environment for online learning that contains various tools for teaching and learning activities: for creating and editing documents, distributing learning tasks or leading discussions and group exchanges (Kerres 2018: 518). Just a few years ago, there were several products on the market, but a number of solutions with widespread use and similar functionality have become established. Of particular importance are the open source platforms, the use of which does not incur any licence costs. Examples of common learning platforms are Moodle, ILIAS and OLAT. 

The Moodle learning platform is one of the most widespread learning platforms in the world, and is used both in schools and universities. The initiator and main developer of Moodle is Martin Dougiamas, who launched the learning platform project at the end of the 1990s. He spent his childhood in a remote place in Australia. The nearest school was 1000 kilometres away from his home. His parents enrolled him in the School of the Air, where he learnt about shortwave radio, the best technology available at the time. The idea of enabling people to receive a good education at a distance inspired him and was realised years later in the form of the Moodle learning platform.

Nowadays, the Moodle learning platform is not only used for distance learning. With the help of the environment, the implementation of different blended learning concepts is guaranteed. The platform supports the creation and communication of learning content, the organisation and supervision of (cooperative) learning processes, and provides tools for communication, as well as document and file management (Hoeksema, Kuhn 2011: 14).

The name Moodle is an acronym for "Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment" (Hoeksema, Kuhn 2011: 14). The Moodle learning platform is open source and can be used free of charge.

The use of the learning platform brings added value in many areas:

  • The platform enables access to learning materials at any time and from any location. If materials such as presentations, handouts, worksheets or IWB slides are prepared for lessons, these can be saved on the learning platform and thus made available for retrieval. It is particularly helpful in the event of learner absence, e.g. due to illness. This gives pupils the opportunity to work independently with the materials from the lessons at a time that suits them. In addition, the content can be called up as required during the attendance phase, e.g. to repeat what has been learnt. The teaching material is thus retained for the entire learning process.
  • The online course rooms or learning modules created can be exported and can continue to be used in a new context (e.g. for a new group or a new year). This helps the teacher to reduce the effort involved in creating the learning materials. The materials can also be exchanged within the teaching staff.
  • The platform offers many opportunities for collaborative working. Numerous activities such as the wiki, database and forum, provide a safe environment in which learners can create a product together. The comment function and/or forum and chat activities ensure communication within the group.
  • The platform offers extensive testing, coordination and survey options that promote autonomous, self-directed learning. The teacher takes on an accompanying and supporting role.
  • The platform can also be used for communication within the college. The activity forum offers the opportunity to exchange information: e.g. as a kind of notice board on which current questions/technical problems/tips are collected so that everyone can obtain information as required. The coordination options support the formation of groups and the selection from several possible choices. 

 In order for the use of a learning management system such as Moodle to bring added value, the didactic embedding is of great importance.

 


Last modified: Friday, 5 July 2024, 10:24 AM