Kristianstill

I have started to source, tag and share my Moodle investigations, help yourself, Moodle tag @ Delicious. In addition to the Moodle site, there is a demo site, a Moodle blogger, a strategic deployment interview and some book references. I have joined Gideon Williams (Perins School) Moodle group for Hampshire, chatted with the ICT advisor for Bucks, now they are moving and shaking, spoke with Ian Ushers and a few other fellow teachers who have a professional interest in Moodle – at the same time slowly adding these names to my Twitter PLN. AT Hamble we have appointed a ‘Moodler’ 3 out of 5 days a week and continue to work with CTS on the deployment. Now I want to make sure we get the right install with the right plugins, thats means I have to develop my knowledge to be a lead practictioner for our College…… its about developing my Moodle Noodle.

Today I read and learnt about Conditional Activities. Now this a very motivating tool for students. Unlocking is something young people often experience in their gaming worlds. Complete XYZ and get a bonus level, the mystery room, new character, new move/power or end level boss. Exciting.

Other Learning Platform issues being discussed;

Integration with College MIS.

Visual appearance and skinning, this links with rebranding and renaming Moodle. Probably through student voice.

Accessing Moodle Moot.

Staff Training and wholeschool deployment and how this integrates with a Netbook progect and development on Sims.

In November, Microsoft released a major update to its Windows Live online services. The Windows Live suite included updates for mail, messenger, photo gallery and more, I was particular interested in how Movie Maker would work. I blogged about the  Windows Live Family Safety features although I am not sure our students won’t find numerous ways around these features. There are also a two new additions: Windows Live Sync and the Office Live Add-In. Silverlight is now also part of the Live Essentials suite.

We now also have Live Sync which allows you to sync any kind of file to the 25GB of space that Microsoft’s SkyDrive online storage service now offers. Now this has potential. I had read somewhere that the LIVE OFFICE would include OneNote? I have not seen evidence of this yet? Anyone?

Regardless we move forward. I am considering to use a folder and group to develop a group of Moodle ICT teachers. A place to share information and documents. I let you know how we get on – my only reservation with this option is that the Moodle group will set up a Moodle LP for this purpose.

Following a conversation with a colleague, I was asked about how they as parents could support/monitor their children’s online time, what the government refers to an e-Safety. So I posted a short answer on the Colleges blog. Here it is, can we add to it?

In reflection, I realised that this information may be welcomed by our students parents, guardians and carers. A full review is far beyond this forum, however I thought that I could share some links and tools with you.

Within College we have an infrastructure of whole-college awareness, designated responsibilities, acceptable use policies and procedures. We also have a range of tools to help us filter and monitor students online activity. What is readily available for you to use in the home?

Information: Parent Centre is a government support advisory service covering a wide range of topics. Simarily Child-net offers a host of projects, presentations and interactive materials designed to support the role of parent, guardian or carer.

During my conversation, the focus quickly turned to ‘Messenger.’ the hugely popular chat service. Interesting Microsoft have responded to parents call for assistance and recently launch their FREE Family Safety module offering safer browsing with Web site management for parents, including monitoring of MSN Messenger.

Now there are many more technology topics we could discuss, Thinkuknow outline the most widely used online tools. Should you have any further topics you think we should be discussing then emailThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it me.

This ties in nicely with my investigation of the WINDOWS LIVE options.

The question appears simple the answer is far from it. Which VLE?

Before I go on to explain our journey at Hamble College, let me summarise the variable I have encountered that influence the decision making process. Its a lengthy list and each variable could be expanded, so to spare you, excuse the brevity.

1. Budget.

2. Previous experiences of the school, of governors, of the teachers and of the potential users – the students.

3. County decision making, decision makers, IT agreements and partnerships with VLE providers.

4. Onsite expertise, or lack of expertise.

5. What are the Jone’s using?

6. National deadlines.

7. MIS data interoperability.

8. Who is going to implement the training, drive the VLE and support the teachers. This should include the students but it is generally accepted that the students will be more easily included.

9. What are your local education Consortium using?

10. Additional impact on current IT infrastructure?

11. IT infrastructure maturity with the College?

12. How the VLE impacts on other strategies in the College, eg Netbooks, website, MIS.

For the past 12 months I have been trying to find the answer (really its a solution) to this question. Within 3 months I had looked at a number of VLEs and concluded that either Moodle or Studywiz were right for our College. Then the process become more complicated as more variables were uncovered. A further 7 months on and we have gone for Moodle. I have learnt that regardless of the final decision, right or wrong, make a decision. I have consulted with a range of schools with various VLE solutions and what is clear, it is the nect 6 months that is important. We are not looking to go for the ‘big bang’ approach to the VLE but for a slow, organic deployment with significant departmental support.

What institutional changes have left us in a position to use Moodle? An opening in the office staff to share Sims integration with Moodle deployment permitting more personal support. A partnership with an IT firm with the expertise to integrate Sims and cosmetic branding. As this experience unfolds, I will update the blog.

I am still in SSAT conference mode. We have hit the ground running since our return and today we finally got the VLE decided. Yet something has been eating away at me, something that makes me feel that decision we have made is not future proof. Is a VLE essential? Most would say its hugely beneficial but essential? So that debate goes on, but whats bothering me is the restrictive nature of Moodle? Reliant on a desktop, laptop or netbook, is Moodle future proof?  Something to be mindful of in the coming years. As yet I don’t think Moodle is portable, not 4th screen compatible and there are few teenagers that would be without their 4th screen now is there.

The 4th Screen