NITLE > Information Services > Moodle Services

Moodle Services

Institutions interested in open-source collaboration and learning management systems can enroll in our managed Moodle services--designed for smaller colleges and universities and the non-profit organizations that serve them--at a level appropriate to their needs. Campuses can use our services to test-drive Moodle, provide integrated support for campus courses, or foster inter-institutional collaboration with off-campus partners. See details and pricing for available services: Moodle Campus Service, Moodle Premium Service, Moodle Authentication Services, Moodle Consulting Services.

How can my campus use NITLE Moodle Services?

Moodle offers users a rich interface, context-specific help buttons, and a wide variety of tools (such as discussion forums, wikis, chat, surveys, quizzes, glossaries, journals, gradebooks, and more) that allow them to learn and collaborate in a truly interactive space. Moodle allows faculty members to create flexible online learning environments quickly and easily and to encourage and nurture on-going learning and interaction with and between students. Faculty can use Moodle to

• foster and guide peer-to-peer discussion on defined topics;
• support and monitor collaborative group projects or peer-review activities;
• accommodate their students' different learning styles and preferences--or challenge students to step out of their learning-based comfort zones;
• promote reflection on the learning process;
• safely and accessibly distribute course content to supplement face-to-face learning;
• gather and review assignments, conduct surveys, and give quizzes;
• make more effective use of limited face-to-face time with students by moving selected course elements online.

Likewise, students can

• retrieve and review course materials such as syllabi, articles, images, and lecture notes while studying at home, in the library, or any other place with online access;
• participate in discussions with fellow students;
• ask questions of the professor in a shared environment that allows everyone to learn from both question and response;
• review grades and feedback from the faculty member on assignments and tests.

What training and community opportunities are available?

NITLE offers several Moodle-related professional development programs and networking opportunities. Any participating institution, regardless of its enrollment status in NITLE's Sakai Services, may elect to participate in the following programs and networks. (See our list of events for scheduled instances.)

• Our online workshop, "Explore Moodle," which is delivered online via Multipoint Interactive Videoconferencing (MIV). 
• An annual Moodle User Community Meeting, which faculty and staff members from participating institutions use to share knowledge and experiences, learn from one another, and identify areas for on-going collaboration. This peer-support network enables campuses to share best practices in pedagogy; exchange information about technical and support issues; avoid duplication of effort; and collaborate to develop better solutions.
• Moodle Virtual User Community Meetings, delivered online via MIV, that bring Moodle users from across the Network together between face-to-face user meetings.
  
• "Teaching with Learning Management Systems: Moodle," available upon request. (Find out more about our Workshops To Go.)
• The Moodle Exchange, a web-based collaboration site that allows Moodlers to engage in peer-to-peer exchange about Moodle and work together to build a user community particularly focused on the common needs and interests of smaller colleges and universities. The site supports active peer-to-peer collaboration on coding, modules and functionality, documentation and training, and forums for technical support and best practices.

Questions?  To enroll in or ask questions about NITLE Moodle Services or to share your ideas for other similar services that would be useful to your campus, please contact Eric Jansson.