Moodle — 1990′s LMS Technology in 2010?
Moodle should make my life easier, not harder. I do appreciate what it allows me to do—post course content without having to fashion an entire course web page on my own, include RSS feeds from other sources, have one central location for grades and hand-ins and such—but I feel that sometimes it is more lacking for power users than for beginners. Good software should accomodate beginners, advanced beginners, power users, and experts equally well, and in this sense Moodle fails.
Source: http://acdalal.wordpress.com/2010/01/11/my-moodle-wish-list/
A very good summary. Moodle is good for beginners who really only need a place to upload some docs, have an online gradebook–if they can figure out how to use it–, and allow students to upload assignments. It does have those features and a few others–essentially the same features it had 5/6-years ago. Hard to believe? Download and install Moodle version 1.5 and look at what it had in 2004/2005 vs what it has today.
http://download.moodle.org/stable15
All the core features are pretty much the same…could explain a lot of the frustrations felt by power users. Yea, Moodle is cheaper than Blackboard, like a Mule is cheaper than a Mercedes. Until, of course, the vet bills (1, 2, 3, etc…) start coming in…then the cost of the Mercedes doesn’t seem so high and it’s a heck of a lot nicer ride without leaving a trail of manure behind it 
Of course, Moodle 2.0 has been in the works for about 2 years now and promises to deliver a revolution to the LMS world once released. Moodle.com has opted out of the Google summer of code this year because 2.0 development demands all their time/energy. So, who knows, maybe 2.0 is what power users like the one quoted above have been waiting for…we’ll see.
Related posts:
- Moodle 2.0 — Vaporware?? Tweet I haven’t been reading the threads over in Moodleland...
Pretty funny.
Well, since I started using Moodle 4 years ago they have introduced “MyMoodle”, “Workshops”, and “Advanced Uploading of files” (can’t remember if glossaries were there, so I won’t add that). Also, I don’t know if you have checked out the beta 2.0, but it is another leap forward. I think for the last few years their energies have been divided, but I’m sure once 2.0 is fully released in late July/August we will see a tighter Moodle ship.
As for how you can use Moodle as an educator, your blurb only shows how little you know the tool. It is a poor workman who blames his tools.
I think kinda the same way about Blackboard, but I admit two things: I don’t know Blackboard very well, and since I am not systems administrator for my schools system, I can’t see why the site is set up the way it it, so it is harder for me to navigate. But I do know that my install of moodle is a WAY better tool for teaching than other LMSs I have seen out there to date.
Final word: Moodles grade book is so easy to use … maybe you are thinking of the grade book from 2-3 years ago, but the current one is pretty easy.
“…your blurb only shows how little you know the tool.”
If you think I don’t know Moodle, that only shows how uninformed you are and how limited your research skills are…
“…Moodle is good for beginners who really only need a place to upload some docs, have an online gradebook–if they can figure out how to use it–, and allow students to upload assignments. ”
Just reading your article, don’t have time to research you.
@Rob: Then maybe you should restrict your comments to agreeing/disagreeing and sharing what you know (or think you know) instead of judging my competency…just a thought
I did quite a bit of that, you decided to respond to my criticism of you. If you are going to publish your opinions on the net you should either:
a) keep your research current, and attempt to be truly objective, or
b) grow a thicker skin.
BTW, it isn’t to late for you to respond to what I wrote in terms of sharing.
@Rob
I supposed the following isn’t “current research” or “objective”…it only resulted in forcing the devs of your favorite LMS to address some very serious security and privacy issues with every Moodle site in existence…including your KA**T site
http://educhalk.org/blog/a-critical-moodle-lms-security-vulnerability-all-versions/
My skin in plenty thick…but if you want to come here and throw rocks, understand I will pick them up and throw them back…if what I post here is too uncomfortable for you, then you may be more comfortable posting over in Moodleland…no one is forcing you to read this site or post here.
I’m really not throwing rocks, just responding to what you wrote. I do appreciate the link you posted; however, it doesn’t reflect all of what you wrote. You were saying that they haven’t evolved the tool, which just isn’t true (particularly if you look at 2.0). Every site on the internet has security issues, including Blackboard, the only difference is that Blackboard doesn’t announce theirs publicly.
Security and privacy is an issue that all website owners have to contend with, unfortunately, and the security holes in open-source are more accessible, but a smart owner will subscribe to the appropriate email list that will keep them appraised of updates and security holes, and they should then update their site immediately.
But, what you wrote about its value as a learning too just isn’t true. I use Blackboard as well, and for CALL is simply can’t compete with Moodle. And then if you look at support for instructors, their is simply no help, or it is difficult to come by.
Every LMS has strengths and weaknesses: Moodle is a stronger educational tool than Blackboard, it is more flexible, and students learn more. Blackboard is theoretically more secure because it is proprietary, and the true backend is locked out from administrators, but this comes at the cost of its educational value.
What I do like about Moodle is that it is a tool for instructors, developed by instructors; whereas Blackboard is a money making scheme that feeds on security fears at a high price, and doesn’t respond to actual pedagogical needs.
Also, there are many companies out there that “host” Moodle sites for instructors/institutions that will do the backend work for you, and make sure your security is up to date. It comes at a cost, but it is no where near what Blackboard charges. This whole security issue has become a red herring, and people seem to forget that the primary purpose of an LMS is to promote better learning, and not to make sure that your security is tight. People seem to miss this, and throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water.
@Rob
I disagree with a lot of what you wrote, but don’t feel compelled to comment on all of it. I do, however, think the following is pretty revealing and speaks for itself…it seems your views and those of the Moodle devs are pretty well aligned. Thanks for posting.
In the end people have to admit, the like the tool they like. Slagging one system because they know another one better is useless. I watched your video, and it is very nice to know that this exploit existed and was dealt with. In the end it re-affirms my belief. Micro teaching sites where the educator is in control of their own sites in superior to massive shared sites. I know many people disagree with me on this, which is fine, because as the old adage goes, “different strokes for different folks”.
I will watch this site because it does seem that you are very technically aware of what is possible as an admin, and how holes can be exploited, but in terms of teaching development, I will look elsewhere.
Thanks to your vigilance of security issues, as well as other web-side savvy people, hopefully Moodle will continue to be safe from these minor exploits.
And rest assured, I am not throwing rocks, just stating my opinion with regards to an erroneous statement.
Cheers.
@Rob: I “know” Moodle, Angel, and BB better than most having taught with and administered all of them. Go where you want for what you want, but you are wise to keep an eye on this site…you haven’t seen the last of these “minor” Moodle exploits that you won’t read about over in moodleland.
One last piece of free advice…if you are running your own “Micro teaching site”, i.e., you’re hosting your own micro teaching Moodle site, then chances are you’re running an insecure site and your head is buried so far in the sand you will never know it until someone like me comes along and points it out to you–or worse yet, a spammer or hacker finds your site. Take this advice seriously or not–mox nix to me. Best of luck.