Moodle is an Open Source Course Management System (CMS), also known as a Learning Management System (LMS) or a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It has become very popular among educators around the world as a tool for creating online dynamic web sites for their students. To work, it needs to be installed on a web server somewhere, either on one of your own computers or one at a web hosting company.
While there are commercial CMS/LMS/VLE services out there, I will use Moodle in this post to represent them since it is rather popular among TESOL teachers who embrace technology. The popularity of Moodle is not difficult to understand. It is an open-source project, so enthusiasts around the world contribute to improving the system as well as developing add-ons and plug-ins that enhance the capabilities of Moodle. It includes components for blogging, content management, calendars, chats, quizzes, and more. And, the cost for operating Moodle is low (the software itself is free, but a server is needed). For institutions that wish to have an institution-wide system, and/or wish or require protection of students' privacy, Moodle seems like a fine solution.But it's on the area of privacy that I have trouble with. Our students are already using Web 2.0 tools. The are already participating in the read/write web using sites like Facebook, Twitter, Mixi (a popular social networking site in Japan), YouTube, etc... The concern over privacy is moot, in my opinion. The problem is, there is no supervision for them regarding appropriate and inappropriate behavior. Not only are students prone to posting compromising photographs, telephone numbers, and addresses, but they are also prone to vent and rant on public sites. Recently, there was a news story about an employee who was fired for venting on Facebook. This goes to show that our students need to learn that there are consequences to their online behavior.
This is one of the reasons I believe it is not only acceptable, but even responsible and moral for teachers to adopt these tools for the classroom so that appropriate behavior can be addressed and learned. Information becomes more and more open and available. When possible, I believe we should move toward openness with appropriate caution.
This is one the reasons I began this blog. I want to encourage TESOL professionals to learn to use Web 2.0 tools and then to adopt and adapt these tools for classroom and extra-classroom use. My reason for using Blogger in the title of this post is that it is one of the easiest and useful web 2.0 tools to use. Of course other blogging platforms (WordPress, TypePad, etc...) have advantages over Blogger, but Blogger may be the best for novices, whether teacher or student. And, if you have a Google account, your ID and password can be used with Blogger (as well as YouTube and Picassa as well).
Regardless of the blogging platform, I recommend using blogs with students. In addition, in future posts, I'll also suggest microblogging (Twitter, Buzz), social networks (Facebook, Ning), podcasting, video sharing, and more. With each tool, where ones institution allows, I hope you will consider more of an open approach. I will address concerns about privacy and appropriate behavior as well.I hope you'll post your comments including questions, suggestions, and feedback of any kind. And, if you are interested in reading a good book that covers this issue, I suggest Will Richardson's
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