Activity Modules
Moodle contains a wide range of activity modules that can be used to
build up any type of course.
Chats
The Chat module allows participants to have a real-time synchronous
discussion via the web. This is a useful way to get a different
understanding of each other and the topic being discussed - the mode
of using a chat room is quite different from the asynchronous forums.
The Chat module contains a number of features for managing and
reviewing chat discussions.
Choices
A choice activity is very simple - the teacher asks a question and specifies a
choice of multiple responses. It can be useful as a quick poll to
stimulate thinking about a topic; to allow the class to vote on
a direction for the course; or to gather research consent.
Quizzes
This module allows the teacher to design and set quiz tests, consisting of
multiple choice, true-false, and short answer questions. These
questions are kept in a categorised database, and can be re-used
within courses and even between courses. Quizzes can allow
multiple attempts. Each attempt is automatically marked, and the
teacher can choose whether to give feedback or to show correct answers.
This module includes grading facilities.
Database Activity
The Database module allows the teacher and/or students to build, display and search a bank of record entries about any conceivable topic. The format and structure of these entries can be almost unlimited, including images, files, URLs, numbers and text amongst other things. You may be familiar with similar technology from building Microsoft Access or Filemaker databases.
Journals
This module is a very important reflective activity. The teacher
asks the student to reflect on a particular topic, and the student can
edit and refine their answer over time. This answer is private and
can only be seen by the teacher, who can offer feedback and a grade
on each journal entry. It's usually a good idea to have about one
Journal activity per week.
Surveys
The Survey module provides a number of verified survey instruments that
have been found useful in assessing and stimulating learning in
online environments. Teachers can use these to gather data from their
students that will help them learn about their class and reflect
on their own teaching.
Labels
This is a not a true activity - it is a "dummy" activity that allows you
to insert text and graphics among the other activities on the course page.
Forums
This activity can be the most important - it is here that most discussion takes place.
Forums can be structured in different ways, and can include peer rating of each posting.
The postings can be viewed in a variety for formats, and can include attachments.
By subscribing to a forum, participants will receive copies of each new posting
in their email. A teacher can impose subscription on everyone if they want to.
Glossary
This activity allows participants to create and maintain a list of definitions, like a dictionary.
The entries can be searched or browsed in many different formats.
The glossary also allows teachers to export entries from one glossary to another (the main one) within the same course.
Finally, it is possible to automatically create links to these entries from throughout the course.
Lesson
A lesson delivers content in an interesting and flexible way. It consists of a
number of pages. Each page normally ends with a question and a number of
possible answers. Depending on the student's choice of answer they either
progress to the next page or are taken back to a previous page. Navigation
through the lesson can be straight forward or complex, depending largely
on the structure of the material being presented.
Resources
Resources are content: information the teacher wants to bring into the
course. These can be prepared files uploaded to the course
server; pages edited directly in Moodle; or external web pages
made to appear part of this course.
SCORM/AICC Packages
A package is a bundle of web content packaged in a way that follows
the SCORM or the AICC standard for learning objects.
These packages can include web pages, graphics, Javascript programs,
Flash presentations and anything else that works in web browsers.
The Package module allows you to easily upload any standard SCORM or AICC
package and make it part of your course.
Assignments
Assignments allow the teacher to specify a task that requires students
to prepare digital content (any format) and submit it by uploading it
to the server. Typical assignments include essays, projects, reports
and so on. This module includes grading facilities.
Wikis
A Wiki enables documents to be authored collectively in a simple markup language using a web browser.
"Wiki wiki" means "super fast" in the Hawaiian language, and it is the speed of creating and
updating pages that is one of the defining aspects of wiki technology. Generally, there is no
prior review before modifications are accepted, and most wikis are open to the general
public or at least to all persons who also have access to the wiki server.
The Moodle Wiki module enables participants to work together on web pages to add,
expand and change the content. Old versions are never deleted and can be restored.
This module is based on Erfurt Wiki.