Matthew Allen (@netcrit) posted and interesting piece about Moodle plug-ins and their comparison with web2.0 tools that can be easily integrated into the classroom. With the proliferation of embeddable content, will plug-ins and modules be replaced and allow for teachers to “off-shore” standard LMS functionality to other web services? It’s an interesting proposition, and one that would mean a simpler approach to creating core functions of learning management systems (not to mention Moodle). Here’s a link to the post: http://www.netcrit.net/ideas/do-moodle-plugins-mean-a-web-2-0-approach-is-redundant/
As a long-time participant in the online learning field, Matt ponders,
a constructivist approach probably comes from the teacher’s design of the study program and not the technology itself.
Meaning the integration and use of bits and pieces (plug-ins and embedded content) have less bearing on outcomes than the teacher’s design overall, which I think is being more seriously explored by Tomaz Lasic and the Moodletown Water! project. Plug-ins provide a major boost to flexibility and capability for Moodle, and compared to other LMSs can justify adoption or abandonment.
His conclusion is that web2.0 can provide a greater flexibility and perhaps more success in learning outcomes because the services (unlike many Moodle plug-ins) continue to be used as students move to the job force and are maintained by dedicated developers. This is compared to the situation with plug-ins which need continuous development in order to be used in conjunction with new releases or custom systems.
So…are there plug-ins that you can’t replace with web2.0 services or vice versa? What are they?
Related posts:
- What are the most sought Moodle Modules/Plug-ins?
- FREE IT4ALL course: Moodle, Web2.0 and #SecondLife on @integratingtec
- Plug-in Spotlight: Question Types for Quizzes
- Opinion: The Importance of Moodle Mobile
- @mguhlin’s 5 Moodle Modules you Need to Have
