In May 2010 I set out to create this poster size guide for teachers, allowing them to compare the functionality and pedagogical advantages of some standard Moodle tools, adding a column to indicate how tricky the tool is to set up. After I posted it on my blog with a Creative Commons license, it spread across the Moodle Community. Many education technologists and organisations have since adapted the guide for their own purpose. For all of the versions and translations, please refer to my blog page http://www.cats-pyjamas.net/moodletoolguide I decided to repost it here on Slideshare, to make it more findable.

1. Moodle Tool Guide for Teachers
Information Assess learning Communication Co-create Bloom’s
What you want to Will this tool & interaction Allows what
Transfer content
What you want to
use (technology)
achieve (pedagogy)
Is it a tool for allow you to Can it be used for Can you & your thinking order?
disseminating assess your communication & students •Remember
information from students’ interaction collaborate & •Understand
you to your learning? among create content •Apply
Ease of use
students? participants together? •Analyse
How easy can this
(you & your •Evaluate
be set up by you?
students)? •Create
Add Resource Easy, like an email Yes. Only teachers Maybe. Use to No. It’s a Maybe. Use to None.
Upload a file attachment. But can upload files to give task. Collect distribution tool. give task. Collect This is not a
(Word Document/ can your doc course site. So student files No option for student files learning activity,
PowerPoint) stand on its own? definitely a push- through Forum or interaction or through Forum or but information
tool. Assignment. communication. Assignment. transfer.
Add Resource Easy, find the web Very easy way of Not directly. Maybe. Link to Maybe. You can 6/6
Link to a web page address (aka url – leading students Option is to link to external tools eg link to external Can do all of the
the bit that starts to information. external student Google Calendar, collaborative sites above, depending
with http://), copy Can link directly to e-portfolios or groups, blogs or e.g. Google Docs, on where you link
it, paste it. database articles. blogs. wikis. wikis or blogs. to.
News Forum Easy. It’s a Yes. Include No. The News You can start new Limited because 2/6
Use to send out standard forum , course updates, Forum is limited. topics. Students students cannot Not strictly
course already set up in encouragement, Students cannot respond. Great for start new topics. learning activity.
announcements your course. timely links, etc. post new topics. establishing Tip: Set up Test readiness for
course rhythm. another Forum. next class? R & U
Discussion Forum Easy. Forum has Share resources Forum is versatile Yes. Students Yes. Students can 5/6
Use for many usable default as links or files. & allows this, e.g. communicate with collaborate & Understand,
types of learning settings. A name High message design a formative you & peers. explore topics, Apply, Analyse,
activities * & description is volume? Risk of assessment Interact as a class discuss them & Evaluate, Create
enough. losing info. activity. or in groups. write together.
Wiki Tricky. Decide on Yes. Use as Wiki is versatile & Not suited for Yes. Students can 5/6
Use for many individual & group information site. allows this, e.g. discussions. Use in collaborate & Understand,
types of learning settings. Has Allow editing only design a formative brainstorming, explore topics, Apply, Analyse,
activities some quirks. Get by teachers or by assessment planning, collabo- discuss them & Evaluate, Create
some training. any participant. activity. rative writing,… write together.
Glossary Default settings Use glossary to Glossary is Not suited for Only original 5/6
Use for learning are good. Try to define terms or versatile & allows discussions. author can edit an Understand,
activities that set it so the present info. this. But you need Students can read entry. Class can Apply, Analyse,
gather resources author’s name is Better yet, let the to design the right other entries & collect reviews, Evaluate, Create
or present info shown. students add to it. learning activity. comment or rate. resources, etc
Quiz Tricky & takes The quiz is aimed Quiz can be timed No. Tip: Use No. Tip: Use 6/6
Use to assess time. Set up quiz, at assessment, & secure. Has forums instead. forums or wikis Can test all 6 but
learning, then questions. not as distribution essay, mc, true/ instead. this requires you
formative or Consider your channel. Tip: use false, matching, & to be creative in
summative. categories. as self-test. other questions. your assessment.
Lesson It can be tricky to Great for Yes, allows No this is an No this is an 6/6
Use for presenting set up, make sure presenting grading. Use as individual activity, individual activity, Can test all 6 but
branched info or you plan the information in a branched quiz, not a group not a group this requires you
testing lesson first. Worth branched, guided scenario, case activity. activity. to be creative in
the effort. way. study, role play. your assessment.
Assignment Easy. Choose from No. The Yes. Set due dates No. Only allows No. Currently it 6/6
Use to collect, 4 types. Both assignment tool is & maximum very limited does not allow Indirectly.
assess & provide online & offline not a distribution grades. Collect interaction group Depends on your
feedback on assignments are channel. assignments and between teacher assignments. Use assessment
assignments possible. provide feedback. & student. forum or wiki . design.
Database Tricky to set up. Can be used for Database is Not suited for Students can 5/6
Allow students to Know what you teacher to present versatile & allows discussions. share info & files Understand,
collect, share & want before you info, but better to this. But you need Students can read in searchable way. Apply, Analyse,
search created build. Get some let the students to design the right other entries & Create joint Evaluate, Create
artifacts training. add to it. learning activity. comment or rate. collections.
Great fit
How to use this guide *Be creative with Discussion Forums Need more Moodle help?
Are you a teacher new to Moodle? Use this It doesn’t always have to be an in-depth •Moodle community at www.moodle.org
guide to pick the right tool for the job. class discussion. Other activity ideas: class •Download Using Moodle book (it’s free!)
Can work w/ some •Know which tool you want to use? Follow debate, team discussions, report weekly •@lasic’s 2 Minute Moodles videos
learning design its row across to see its strengths & project findings, web quests, role play & •@moodleman blog: www.moodleman.com
weaknesses. feedback, gather resources & reviews, •Go meet your friendly e-learning, flexible
•Know what you want to achieve? Pick a assessment support, Helpline, NZ’s Got learning or educational technology team.
Not best tool for column and follow it to see which tool will Talent (use the rating), rotated student-led Buy them a coffee!
the job help you do it. discussions, weekly magazine,…
Joyce Seitzinger (@catspyjamasnz / www.cats-pyjamas.net) - May 2010 www.eit.ac.nz