My Online Teaching

Past/Present
For the second year, I am using Moodle to help me teach some of my classes. Last year, I started using it for the second semester, so this is my first full year with it. I have noticed that Moodle can often take a lot of time to get set up (uploading files, making quizzes, etc.). However, now that I am using some material/classes for the second time, it is saving me a lot of time.
I use Moodle the most in my computer classes. I teach computers to 7th graders, 8th graders and a Web Design class. I set up each class by week. I post lessons for each day and attach assignments, links, etc. I also use forums, wikis and quizzes to assess. Another part of Moodle that I utilize often is the file uploading. This saves me from dealing with stacks of papers and eliminates all no-name papers (a big problem in junior high).

Future
I hope to continue to use Moodle in my classes. There are many features which I have not tried yet (lessons, surveys, etc.). I also want to use it more in my Math classes. Currently, I just post the week’s lessons with the accompanying homework assignments. Occasionally, I will post a study guide or cool link, but that is about it. I think I can use Moodle more.
At the junior high/high school level, most of my classes will never be fully online. Thus, the best I can do is get my classes to be some sort of hybrid. I also have to be careful because not all students in my school have access to the Internet at home. Our school has recently looked at an online class about careers. This would be a fully online class which (if it gets approved) would fall under my jurisdiction. It is pretty sketchy right now, but I would probably incorporate Moodle to make this class happen. I am not sure what all it would entail, but it sounds fun. The class would be an independent study class that I would be the facilitator.

Moodle – Pros/Cons
I use Moodle the most for the online portions of my class because it helps me to get organized. I lay everything out day by day, yet am also able to adapt and move things as needed. Moodle is easy enough to use so that kids have no issues. I can figure out how to set most things up. If I have troubles, the help at Moodle.org is great (and speedy). I also like how I can set up a class and then use it again the next time I teach the class. This (and the grading features) saves me a ton of time. I also think Moodle helps me make my class more interesting. I can use different ways to present information and assess. The students like Moodle because it is a lot like the Internet they know and mess with at home (chats, forums, etc.). Today’s kids are the digital generation and Moodle pleases them better than pencil and paper (especially in a computer class). Finally, Moodle has allowed me to make my computer classes almost completely paper free. I hope this makes the administration happy. ☺
Moodle does have its shortcomings. I have not learned how to make weeks disappear for teachers. Thus, as the end of the year rolls around, I have to scroll through a mile of weeks to get to the right one (I just discovered the section links block and it helps a little). Moodle also does not allow me or my students to upload files larger than 2MB. I get around this a little bit by using sites like MediaFire.com to store and share large files with students. Overall, I have been quite pleased with Moodle and I hope to keep using it for years to come.

Barriers
The biggest barriers I face in teaching online at my school are:
1. All students don’t have internet access at home.
2. Our school’s Internet is so filtered, many sites are not available for use.
3. Our school is shifting from Macs to Windows (no idea why…). Thus, tech issues abound. Some computers are Windows only with no access to the server. Some are dual boots with Mac and Windows where the Macs have server access.
4. Kids have a Mac password, Windows password, Moodle password, PowerSchool password and several more and can’t keep track of them.
5. Other teachers are using computers more and more also (which is good). However, we only have one lab and it is in high demand. A small netbook lab which we recently received has helped a little.