 | How about transferring MoodleFN to elementary schools ? |
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Hi, We, a group of french moodlers, investigating how to enlarge France Moodle sites among secondary colleges/lycees (11 to 18) and primary schools elementary level (8 to 10), have created a MoodleFN instance to evaluate if it would fit elementary schools pedagogic organization and pupils needs. There are some early interrogations among evaluators : If a Primary Moodle should be built, it would probably be based upon following : - Complexity of Moodle and course organization. Storing enough accessible functionality while cleaning up the interface considerably. - Specific primary, how pay for them? Are there devices for teaching engineering specific to the situation of primary school who are not covered by the Moodle activities, or who currently require ergonomic or semantics workaround? - Ergonomics and presentation: how to make available the informational complexity to young children? Iconifying, building avatars? A Mascot to welcome and deliver help ? The observation of the current MoodleFN model must still show how functional or ergonomic changes provide answers to specific primary (Not to mention the pleasure and self-experience to discover new forms in Moodle). What's appealing in MoodleFN for First Nations people wouldn't result more from content and themes, than from functional tips ? I myself remain both vigilant to hear from my fellows and from you, teachers, school managers, developers. By heart, I would love to contribute to establish a link between our own endeavour to promote on line collaborative pratices at school with Moodle, and you own. I would love to localize MoodleFN but change its name, because to french people, FN acronym symbolizes a political party which values are at the exact opposite side than the one we both defend as educators. I think about MoodlePrem -as primary, or premier (first) , or child "prem !" shout when first to goal- and allegeance to your constant and productive contribution to Moodle if we would succeed in localizing. I alone can not answer any questions my fellows ask. Did you publish argumented advocacy documents to promote your MoodleFN initiative and implementation, on techno-pedagogic side more than content one ? It would be a decisive step to contribute to our collective reflexion. This week-end, I've just installed a discrete MoodlePrem model site to show and study. Simple two weeks FN format course with a mere standard forum in FN My Menu, Side Bar, Random Photo Gallery, Admin Locale blocs, etc... Maybe did I miss (how) to install drop-down menus ? I hope our initiative will be relevant and in accordance with you values. Let us know, here ore there. English is not (such) a problem to most of us  /Fred |
 | Re: How about transferring MoodleFN to elementary schools ? |
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Hi Fred, Not sure I understood some of you questions, but here's some comments: The “FN” extension is only used for naming the various plug-ins. As such, this extension is only seen by the admin when installing and activating plug-ins. Moodle can work very well at the primary school level if the environment is set up properly. We use Moodle for grade 7 and 8 students (ages 12-14). We start them off with a simple Introduction course that demonstrates some of the basic skills (how to navigate, submit assignments, send messages, etc.). They learn very quickly. Our Moodle site for this program is www.ned.knet.ca – unfortunately I can’t give you access to the courses due to issues of privacy/security. Here’s some of the MoodleFN plug-ins that we use in this program:
We also have a “social” room (another Moodle course) which students can use to discuss non-academic topics (jokes, music, movies, etc.) Regarding your question about dropdown menus… do you mean the menu above the breadcrumb? If so, this is part of a theme that we purchased some time ago, but I think the Moodle site contains themes with similar menus. Thanks, Fernando |