Moodle® For Dummies®

The Philosophy and Evolution of Moodle

Like with anything new you undertake in your profession that may require a new way of working and/or thinking, having knowledge about that new thing can ease your anxiety. To help you understand how to use Moodle successfully, I encourage you to understand its origins and the principles on which it was built. In addition, you can benefit from becoming familiar with the new terminology, eLearning methodologies, and the role in education that Moodle occupies.

eLearning defined

Before shedding a light on the educational philosophy of Moodle, I need to briefly define eLearning in case you're new to the concept. eLearning is a vast area in education and training that has gained much attention in the last ten years. eLearning is an umbrella term representing learning and training carried out using computers connected to the Internet, interacting with Web-based software. The basic tenet is to be able to learn anytime and anywhere. In this book, you may find I use the terms eLearning, online learning, and distance learning interchangeably. Other terms you may have heard or be familiar with include

• Distance learning and distance education
• eTraining, computer-based training, and technology-based training
• Online learning and online education
• Web-based training
• Technology-enhanced learning

The birth of Moodle

The brain child behind Moodle is Martin Dougiamas. In his past, Martin had to use CMS (content management system) in education, and he found it ...