Activity 3: Using Moodle for Projects

I have always wanted to create Information Literacy classes for my students complete with badges support and for the low cost of FREE.  With Gnomio, this is possible! By simply creating a profile, I was able to create a class and if I want, join a class.  I can invite users/students to the site and even give out codes to allow guests to view my content.

infocommoner.gnomio.com > Click on Museum Walk - Podcast Workshop > Log in as Guest > Password: carmelcorn

Process
First, I had to find a suitable project for the Module. I just got finished working with a few teachers on a museum walk project that I created a website for.  This website contained presentations, examples, and helpful tips for students to complete the project. This project would be perfect for
Moodle because it offers skills that can be carried over to other projects and purposes - mainly searching the internet more effectively with Google and Source Evaluation and Citation.
Next, I selected the types of information I wanted to post from the project.  Since a lot of the information was already in the website, I chose to link to the site when I could.
Next, I created a quiz for students to complete upon looking through the information.
Finally, I created a badge for them to earn when they complete the quiz.

Activity:
Basically, I would want students to go through the modules and look at the website to complete the project.  Coupled with workshops in class will provide students the skills they need to be successful on the project.  Finally, I want students to complete the attached quiz in hopes of getting a badge!

What I like about Gnomio:

• I love the badge system.  I envision having a badge system for all of my students.  That way, I know what levels they are all at based on what they have done.  Some students have to sit through presentations that I give to classes numerous times because of the nature of their classes.  Teachers want me to go over Source Evaluation and others don't.  Having badges would make it so everyone knows what the students have done.
• I love the modules that I created.  Since I had most of the materials already done, it was easier, but the modules make it easy for me to flip the class.  Students can be responsible for going through the module and entering class with questions and ready to work.  Students that have missed can easily catch up by going through the modules.

• The quiz function is really nice, too.  There are so many different question types that teachers would be hard-pressed not to find something of their liking, but I just chose the essays for the most part.  I did do a short answer question that was able to be scored by Moodle for me.  I even gave alternate answers that students could earn partial credit on.  Really cool!
• Finally, MoodleDocs - basically, the manual - are linked all over, so users should not get stuck.

What I didn't like about Gnomio:

• The time it takes is kind of nuts.  I would estimate 4 hours to create the modules and I had most of the information done already!  I think future modules will be easier to create and probably less time consuming, but Moodle is by no means "quick".
• I think it took me so long because I really wanted to think about how to present the materials to the students.  This is a good thing, but it was a little more time consuming that I wanted.
• Having stand-alone classes is one thing, but this would REALLY be effective if it were something the entire school invested in.  The badges are a really nice representation of what students know and have gone through.  Many of the same features on Moodle are in Canvas or Blackboard and those are used as LMS.  

Bottom line:
Gnomio offers users a really nice platform for Moodle and will house unlimited classes for free.  Students will like the modules (I think) and might get into earning badges for skills learned and demonstrated.  Teachers might see this as a HUGE investment in time, but will appreciate the results.