Using Moodle in Primary Schools

Paul GarrattStockport LEA E-Learning

Manager

Content

• Stockport E-Learning Platform SELP• Theme design• ‘Main menu’ and using icons• Initial Setup• Training and Support• Central Resource Area• Use by Students and Parents

• Setup in March 2009• Commissioned by ‘Synergy Learning’• Hosts– 101 Primary School, Special and PRU Moodles– Central resource area– 14-19 Moodle, (Diplomas)

Stockport E-Learning Platform (SELP)

Theme Design

Basic Moodle Theme and Layout

Theme Design

• 6 Moodle theme templates purchased from ‘Synergy Learning’

• The schools then decide on their theme and choose the icons for the ‘main menu’

• The theme is then designed, incorporating the schools logo, images, colours and preferred icons

‘Main menu’ and using icons

• Classes• Pupils• Years• Parents• Staff• Staffroom• Governors• News

• Gallery• Videos• Video and

podcasting• Events• Clubs

Each of the sections is a course page

Icons

Classes Course

Technical Design• Main Classes page is enrollable• Each class page i.e. Reception, is not enrollable.

Students and teachers are assigned access here (assign roles)

• New course pages under the class i.e. Fairtales, uses meta data from the class page i.e. Reception, to assign roles.

• Same principle is applied to Parents, Governors and Staffroom but without the need for a Main Classes page.

• Shared courses use meta data from each of the classes

Using icons for menus

• MAIN Child friendly• Customisable• Not restricted to the

Moodle architecture• A simple design can

be easy to create

Pros Cons• Breadcrumb trail can

be ineffective• Extras steps required

to create new course pages

• Can display incorrectly in some browsers

• To many courses may cause finding issues

• Copyright issues

Initial Setup

Initial Setup

• Staff list• Theme• Main menu layout• Student section layout• Student logon format and password policy

Meeting with our VLE advisor• Use BECTA guidelines ‘ Learning Platforms:

Steps to adoption’ and ‘21st century teacher’• How they can use the Moodle to improve

Teaching and Learning

Training and support

Training and support• User guide given to each member of staff• Training begins with a ‘Getting started’ ½ day session and

then a ‘Building a class’ session• On going workshop includes training, best practice,

presentations and ‘Playtime’.• 2 members of staff attend ‘Admin training’• Staff inset focusing on basics of adding– Websites– Files– Images

Central Resource Area

Use by Students and Parents

Students

• Additional resources for learning• Forums for discussions, both on and off topic• Chatrooms are secure and only accessible by

the class or school• Secure galleries to view events and

achievements and trips

Parents

• School information• Calendar and upcoming events• Access letters and forms• E-Safety information and videos• Forums used for feedback and views on the

school

“The introduction of the VLE has been fantastic in our school. Parents and children are both excited about using it. Parents have told us

they just love to see what their children have been getting up to in school.”

“Children love to use the chat, blogs and forum facilities and are using it to access resources from their topics and links to websites that

extend their learning and knowledge of their topics.”

“Parents have much closer links with their children's education via our VLE, Our VLE will help improve communications with parents Our VLE prompts independent learning from

home.”

Summary

• Make Moodle Bold and Colourful• Use icons linking to courses and resources• Design the site prior to creation• Keep the Moodle Categories and Courses

structure• A simple structure can be easily managed• A training and support are key• A central resource area

Future Developments

• E-Portfolio – ‘Mahara’• Document Storage area – ‘Alfresco’• School Websites ‘Joomla’

*ALL CAN BE INTEGRATED WITH MOODLE*

• MIS Integration• Project to create resources and courses to be

put on the Central Resource Area

Any questions?

Useful Information

• Paul Garratt – paul.garratt@stockport.gov.uk• Alex Findlay – alex.findlay@stockport.gov.uk• SELP – elearning.stockport.gov.uk