Mastering Moodle ISU: A Comprehensive Guide to Idaho State University's Learning Platform

Idaho State University (ISU) utilizes Moodle ISU as its online learning system for academic courses. This article provides a comprehensive guide to Moodle ISU, covering everything from introductory workshops to advanced features, designed to help faculty and students navigate and utilize the platform effectively.

Introduction to Moodle ISU

Moodle ISU serves as the central hub for online learning at Idaho State University. For faculty, it offers a suite of tools and resources to design and deliver engaging online courses. For students, it provides access to course materials, assignments, and communication channels. Whether you are a new user or looking to enhance your existing skills, this guide will help you make the most of Moodle ISU.

Getting Started: Teaching Online with Moodle ISU Workshop

For faculty new to online teaching or those wishing to improve their skills, the Instructional Technology Resource Center (ITRC) offers the "Teaching Online with Moodle ISU" workshop. This free, eight-week workshop guides participants through the process of creating a quality online course using best practices for online teaching.

Workshop Highlights

Focus on Course Outcomes: The workshop emphasizes the importance of centering course design around clearly defined learning outcomes.
Accessibility: Participants learn how to make their courses accessible to all students, ensuring an inclusive learning environment.
Practical Tools: The workshop introduces various Moodle ISU tools and features, providing hands-on experience with their implementation.

Registration

ISU faculty interested in participating can register using the Teaching Online with Moodle ISU Online Registration Form.

Accessing Moodle ISU

Academic courses are created in Moodle ISU around the time that students can register for the term. If you need a Moodle ISU course, please contact your department course scheduler. Any changes to the Academic Course or Instructor of Record should be made directly with your Department Course Scheduler. Department Schedulers are required to immediately notify University Scheduling of course cancellations, class limit increases/decreases, day/time changes, instructor changes, and classroom assignment requests. Faculty and Staff can request to create other types of courses on the ITRC Forms page. Development courses, also known as a Sandbox course, will never have students enrolled. A Community Course is for those who are not affiliated with ISU but still want a Moodle course.

Read also: Job Opportunities in Moscow, Idaho

Course Evaluations in Moodle ISU

Since the Fall 2008 semester, course evaluations can be offered using Moodle ISU. The "Feedback" tool is used to create course evaluations that are easily accessible to students within their courses.

Alternative Evaluation Options

While Moodle ISU offers a built-in evaluation tool, faculty can also choose to use Qualtrics to collect, store, and analyze survey results.

Course Evaluation Coordinator

The Course Evaluation Coordinator Request Form needs to be submitted by the department chair (or their designee) with the contact information of the individuals selected to be the evaluation coordinators. Each semester a new request needs to be submitted by the course evaluation coordinator using the Course Evaluation Request Form (limited to three per semester). At the end of the semester, coordinators are responsible for downloading the data after the evaluation closes.

Essential Moodle ISU Tools and Features

Moodle ISU offers a range of tools and features to enhance the online learning experience. Here are some key tools and how to use them:

Assignment Tool

The assignment tool allows students to upload almost any type of file for submission.

Activity Completion/Progress Tracking

Activity completion or progress tracking allows the instructor to monitor student progress through the course. Instructors can learn how to set up and use activity completion in their course.

Choice Activity

The Choice activity is often one of the most overlooked tools in the Moodle ISU toolbox.

Forums

Learn how to add, manage, and communicate using forums.

Glossary Tool

The Glossary tool within Moodle allows you to create a searchable glossary or encyclopedia of definitions and examples. The tool can do so much more!

Grade Book

This workshop will show you how to structure your Grade Book when using weighted categories. This workshop will show you how to get started using the Grade Book.

On-Demand Training and Workshops

The ITRC offers a variety of instructional technology workshops for individual faculty and group training. The ITRC understands that faculty members have different experience levels and training needs, therefore, they offer face-to-face and webinars for Moodle and other EdTech applications. In addition, they have several instructional design training events available for those needing creative help with their course or making their instructional materials accessible. This workshop is for beginners who are new to the Moodle Learning Management System.

University Libraries' Tutorials

For many years the University Libraries have maintained tutorials to help students learn about basic library research and college-level research. These tutorials also have quizzes which can be embedded in any instructor's Moodle course. Recently, the library made some changes with its servers that affected the links to the Using Information Responsibly tutorials. The library would like to acknowledge and thank the Career Center and the University presidents who have supported and continued to support career path interns.

tags: #idaho #state #university #moodle #tutorial