Moodle book: simply a ‘resource’ or can it also be an ‘activity’ Anne Jamie Presented at Edinburgh Moodlemoot 2014 www.moodlemoot.ie

1. Moodle Book: Simply a ‘resource’ or
can it also be an ‘activity’ ?
Anne Jamie
a.jamie@napier.ac.uk
MoodleMoot 2014

2. Moodle
Book
Content
Resource
Hierarchical
Structure
Text, Tables,
Images, Symbols
& Equations
Links to
Files, Activities
& Multimedia
Potential
Innovative
Uses

3. What is a Moodle Book ?
Facility that easily enables users to create multiple
page resources in online book format
Structured as chapter and sub-chapters
Easy to print chapter or sub-chapter
Content can be entered directly in book or
composed in Word then copied/pasted into book
(also facility to import from HTML)
Can import and export books between modules
(easy to reuse or share books)

4. Hierarchical
Structure
Text, Tables,
Images, Symbols
& Equations
Links to
Files, Activities
& Multimedia
Other
Innovative
Uses
Example of Moodle Book

5. Advantages of Using Books
Enhanced presentation and design
Method for unifying diverse content ...
text, images, files & links to multimedia
Provides a logical, hierarchical structure
Enables users to navigate through content
more efficiently and easily
Interconnected content enables better
signposting of activities, course materials
and improved learning journey

6. Potential Uses for Book
By modifying book permissions and using
Moodle’s group / grouping feature it is possible
to use it for:
 Individual Student Portfolios
 Peer to Peer Teaching & Feedback
 Group Projects
Aligns with the key principles of University’s
3E Framework by empowering students to drive
their own learning

7. Engagement
Pedagogical
Practices
Future Proofing
(Review & Quality)
Faculty
TEL Curriculum
& Support
Collaborative
Activities
Individual Student Portfolios
Using individual group/grouping constrains access to single user

8. Engagement
Pedagogical
Practices
Future Proofing
(Review & Quality)
Faculty
TEL Curriculum
& Support
Collaborative
Activities
Peer to Peer Teaching / Feedback
Group/grouping constraint applied initially but removed for P2P feedback

9. Group Projects
Using group/grouping constrains access to group members

10. Further Advantages
Columns can be added to grades area to facilitate
recording of marks for ‘student’ book activities
Sharing knowledge ... many academics are
comfortable creating and using books so can
cascade knowledge to students
Potentially much easier to use than wiki ... some
users have experienced issues so reluctant to use
wiki again. More widespread knowledge of book
so easier for staff to support student learning
Easier to populate and duplicate than wiki ...
create a ‘master’ book and copy

11. Additional Points
Caveat ... currently requires initial involvement
during book creation from user with higher level
permissions to ensure access is configured
appropriately thus enabling student to have
editing rights for individual portfolio or group book
Wiki has ‘comments’ and integral ‘tracking’ facility
but book doesn’t have these features
Portability of portfolios (books) ... with system
adjustment it is possible for book content to be
exported into IMS content package

12. Moodle Development
New resource / activity ... ‘workbook’
has been created by University
VLE Development Team
This modified version of Moodle book
has recently been made available to
University staff
Workbook enables a book to have
questions embedded

13. Faculty of Health, Life and Social Sciences
School of Nursing, Midwifery & Social Care
Anne Jamie, Learning Technologist
a.jamie@napier.ac.uk