Moodle HQ’s popular twice-yearly MOOC, Learn Moodle Basics has just finished its latest run, using version 3.6 of Moodle to introduce new Moodlers to the exciting features of this open-source learning platform.
But what happens once the virtual doors are closed and the participants wave goodbye with their certificates and completion badge? How will doing the Learn Moodle Basics MOOC affect their future moodling?
We caught up with Rick Pagels, a Middle school teacher in Germany. Rick teaches 8th graders and also works as an Educational technologist. Here’s what he had to say:
Moodle HQ: What did you enjoy most about the Learn Moodle Basics MOOC?
Rick: When I joined I was expecting a few videos, and maybe some Q & A posts, but what I got was so much more! The class was extremely organized, thorough and engaging. As students, we got to use every activity and resource in ways that not only showed us the “how,” but the “why” and how we could use the many parts of Moodle for our teaching. Interacting with other MOOC classmates was great too, as we could see how others were working with Moodle. One huge advantage was the availability of the instructors and classmates, as there are not time-zone restraints since the people taking the MOOC class were from everywhere in the world.
Moodle HQ: Was there anything that surprised you – that you weren’t expecting?
Rick: I hadn’t used Moodle since 2007, so I wanted a refresher course and wanted to see if Moodle had changed. I was in for two big surprises: One was how much more beautiful and more comfortable using Moodle had become in the past 12 years, and the other was just how much I was able to learn about using Moodle in only a single 4-week class!
Moodle HQ: How do you plan to use what you’ve learned? What’s your ‘takeaway’?
Rick: I was hoping Moodle would help me both with Staff Training, and for the new Computer Apps Course, I would be starting at the end of January. I can honestly say that this class made all the difference! The way the MOOC course was laid out, I was able to do the exercises and assignments, and immediately use the same course setup and activities to create Courses and Assignments for both the teachers I teach and the students in my new class. I hope to get other teachers at my school using Moodle, and will highly recommend they take the MOOC course in June
Moodle HQ: The next MOOC starts on June 10th. What would you say to anyone thinking about joining but not decided yet?
Rick: I would recommend this course to anyone who is at all interested in knowing how a Learning Management System works, as it is a great way to learn by immersion. The instructors are incredibly patient and helpful, and because of the way the course is set up, you live it, while you learn it. I’m so grateful I took the MOOC course, and I know that others will be amazed at how much they will learn!
Thanks for taking the time to talk to us Rick. Our Learn Moodle 3.7 Basics MOOC starts on June 10th and we’ll be opening up for sign up in April.
In the meantime, learn more about the power of Moodle for teaching with our Learn Moodle videos.
