The document discusses the use of Moodle in Nova Scotia for online learning and professional development. It provides details about: 1) The goals of using Moodle to provide increased online course options and professional learning support for teachers across Nova Scotia. 2) An overview of the Nova Scotia Virtual School which currently has 7,222 Moodle users and 700 students in 35 online courses. 3) Examples of how individual school boards and schools in Nova Scotia are using Moodle, including the Chignecto Central Virtual School which offers 16 online courses and a synchronous component. 4) Ways Moodle is being used for non-classroom purposes like communication, document sharing, and extending professional development.

1. Moodle & Distributed Learning In Nova Scotia MoodleMoot 2009

2. Provincial Perspective Michael Jeffrey, [email_address] Nova Scotia Department of Education Transition of a Virtual School to Moodle Guy Aucoin, [email_address] Chignecto Central Virtual School Moodle for Non-Classroom Purposes Sue Taylor-Foley, [email_address] South Shore Regional School Board Discussion Agend a Moodle in Nova Scotia

3. To make available in English and French increased course options and/or course components online to meet the needs of learners in the public schools in Nova Scotia, especially those students in small high schools, and to provide a medium to support online Professional Learning for teachers . Vision for the Nova Scotia Virtual School

4. 7 Regional School Boards 1 Pan-provincial School Board 133,100 public school students 9,900 teachers 93-year history in distributed learning Nova Scotia Context Learning Resources and Technology Services

5. Current Status: 2008-09 Common platform for online learning http://nsvs.ednet.ns.ca Moodle 7222 Users 700 students in 35 Online courses

6. Moodle v. 1.9 Commercialized Moodle Self Enrolment LDAP to province-wide e-mail Shared Management Moodle Learning Resources and Technology Services

7. Governance NSVS Online Steering Committee One representative per school board Department of Education (Chair) Operations Department of Education (ITS & LRTS) School Board Hosts Dr. Tech & Associates Learning Designers

8. Applications of NSVS Formal courses Online Extensions of classroom courses Online tutoring Non-credit courses Professional Learning Communities Resources Working groups & committees

9. Teachers Provincial Agreement Perceived threat to small schools Success for all learners Scheduling synchronous components Advance registration + critical mass Digital rights Identity Issues

10. Learning Resources and Technology Services

11. MoodleMoot 2009 Presentation Guy Aucoin, Consultant Chignecto Central Virtual School

12. Established in September 2003. Approx. 100 students each semester Chignecto Central Virtual School

13. Offer 16 courses Fine Arts Courses Science & Math Courses Others (Entrepreneurship, Africa Canadian Studies) Chignecto Central Virtual School

14. Why an online school? Area- Approx. PEIx2 Small high schools 4 Adult High School Campus Chignecto Central Virtual School

15. Chignecto Central Virtual School There are two components to our Online System: Asynchronous Component Ex. Moodle Synchronous Component: Ex. Marratech

16. Synchronous Component Weekly eChats Large and small eChats Common Room Remote Access to student computers Chignecto Central Virtual School

17. Asynchronous Component Chignecto Central Virtual School GradeKeeper aTutor Drop In/Out Box

18. Asynchronous Component Chignecto Central Virtual School Grades Content Activity Submission Activity Moodle

19. Other Uses of Moodle in CCRSB iSchools Teacher access to Moodle to use as a classroom tool CCRSBonline Online courses for teachers Use for Principals to interact with each other Professional Learning Communities Chignecto Central Virtual School

20. Comments from students about what they liked from CCVS: “ I got to meet people from other schools and I got to take courses that were not typically available at my school.” “ The Work. I felt it gave me a better understanding of the material I need to know for university.” Chignecto Central Virtual School

21. Comments from students about what they liked from CCVS: “ I liked meeting new people through CCVS and seeing where I stand mathematically against other schools.” “ The idea of being able to wok ahead on a course inside and outside the school area.” “ It was very rewarding to be able to do this. It was fun and different at the same time.” Chignecto Central Virtual School

22. Learning Resources and Technology Services

23. More Moodling Moments- Moodle for Non-Classroom Purposes Sue Taylor-Foley Coordinator of Assessment & Technology South Shore Regional School Board Bridgewater, Nova Scotia

24. Non-Traditional Uses Communication within school setting Communication amongst users in different settings Document depot Support for specific user groups Extension of traditional PD experiences

25. Communication within school setting Professional Learning Community Program Support/Resource Accreditation/ School Improvement Planning

26. Communication & Support for Users in Different Settings Administrators Science 10 Technology Services Literacy/Technology Mentors Math Mentors International Students and Home Stay Parents Guidance Counselors Student Services Staff P.E. teachers

29. Document Depot

30. Document Depot Provincial assessment data Board assessment data School assessment data Students needing additional support

31. Extension of traditional PD experiences Opportunities for: continued growth and support continued interaction with others P.D. and interaction as the user wants to have participants shape what P.D. and interactions look like to meet their needs supports a hybrid model when, where and how you want it

32. More Moodling Moments- Using Moodle to Support Learning & Communication

33. From one small site… Number of sites have grown Technical expertise has grown Ways to use sites have developed Great things are happening that engage and challenge users New ways to use Moodle are being discovered everyday

34. Learning Resources and Technology Services