Moodle

**Moodle? What kind of name is that?** Moodle stands for **M**odular **O**bject **O**riented **D**ynamic **L**earning **E**nvironment. It has been in existence since 1999 but in a version of its current form since 2001. Moodle is easy to remember because it rhymes with "noodle" and "poodle".

Well, no. But you can watch a demonstration of Moodle. Like to see/hear it? Here it go. media type="youtube" key="3Vrhr5jxA_w" height="385" width="480"
 * Can I smell or touch a Moodle?**

Moodle is a free, open-source course management software (CMS). Open-source means that there are no license fees and no limit to growth. Additionally, anyone with programming knowledge can add on functions for other users. Institutions can use as many Moodle installations as they like. In addition to being known as a CMS, Moodle is also known as a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Moodle is an inexpensive alternative to Blackboard and other CMSs. 
 * So what? Why is Moodle in the news now?**

 **Blackboard vs. Moodle** Blackboard is the platform used by NVS. Educators who responded to a posting on a blog sponsored by the International Society of Technology in Education (ISTE) had this to say about Blackboard and Moodle:  To read the entire ISTE blog yourself, visit http://www.iste-community.org/forum/topics/blackboard-vs-moodle?id=2280708%3ATopic%3A12183&page=1#comments
 * Moodle is more intuitive than Blackboard
 * Blackboard had tried to become all things to everyone, thereby losing the "intuitiveness" of some of its features
 * Blackboard has become expensive
 * The Moodle support network could be better
 * If you need additional functionality installed, you'll have to rely on others in the Moodle community to add it for you or do it yourself. That's not the case with Blackboard.
 * When you log into Moodle, you are automatically signed into Google Apps so there's no needs for tons of different sign-ins. That's not the case with Blackboard.

For you scholarly types, here's an article that gives more detail on the differences between Blackboard and Moodle. It also paints a picture of how Moodle is used in classrooms. **Professional Development-- ** **How do I learn to moodle? I've heard you can use the word as a verb.**  <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">This new technology requires a new way of looking at professional development. Providing time for teachers to "tinker with" such technology collaboratively is often more effective than conferences and after-school workshops. Teachers are more likely to learn and change (Bjørke, 2004). <span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> You may be wondering how on earth Google Apps, Moodle, Wikis and blogs can support student learning. How in the world can teachers use all of these new-fangled tech tools without going mad? Goomoodleikiog is the answer. Click the play button on the video window to find out more. media type="youtube" key="FOKJk-7K9gY" height="385" width="480"
 * Google + Moodle + Wiki+ Blog**

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"><span style="color: #808080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 84%;">Sources of commentary: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moodle accessed on line May 6, 2010 Bjørke, S. Å. (2004). The concepts of Communities of Practice, Activity Theory and implications for Distributed Learning <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="color: #404040; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">