NZ MoodleSchool and HomeSchool

Defining characteristics of Moodle

• Moodle is best described as a Course Management System (CMS) often referred to as Learning Management System (LMS) or Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
• It is Open Source software, meaning programmers and developers are able to tailor how it works, and create add-ins and extend it's functionality.
• It is designed around sound pedagogical principles, encouraging collaboration and constructivist learning, and allows educators to create online communities.
• It can be used effectively with small groups, but is capable of supporting a 50,000 group or larger.
• It is easy to learn and use for teachers and students.

Technical information

• Moodle is generally run in a LAMP environment (using a Linux operating system, Apache web-server, MySQL database, and PHP code), although it can also be installed on Microsoft Windows or Apple Mac OS.
• Courses are built using a variety of Blocks, Resources, and Activities, including:
• HTML, documents such as Word, PowerPoint and .pdf's, as well as Flash and other multimedia
• Activities can include
• Quizzes, Assignments, RSS feeds, Glossaries (that can be auto-linked), SCORM packages (a standard international format for sharing and re-using 'learning objects'), Choices, Surveys, Wiki, Instant Messaging, Journals, Blogs, Database, and much more!

Community

• There are over 400,000 officially registered users of Moodle on www.moodle.org and it is now available in 75 languages and used in more than 160 countries.
• Support is available through a world-wide network of around 30 Moodle Partners, in New Zealand this is ourselves and Wellington based Catalyst IT Limited.
• In New Zealand Moodle is used by leading organisations such as The Open Polytechnic, Otago Polytechnic, Eastern Institute of Technology, Western Institute of Technology, NorthTec, Nelson and Marlborough Institute of Technology, New Zealand Institute of Sport, Massey University, Christchurch Polytechnic, UCOL... and many more.