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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2009-10-14, Page 15News Students introduced to the `moodle' Audy Baiter . 4111IMMISEEEM Engaging students with the technology they will use in the future is one benefit to setting up a `moodle' in class- rooms of schools in the Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board: Students in Sean McDade's Grade 6/7 class at St. Colum - ban School, one of a few elementary schools along with St. Anne's Catholic Secondary using the technology, were in- troduced to the "moodle' - a complex, secure website - at the start of this school year. McDade also briefly introduced the concept to parbnts of his Grade 6/7 class last month. • The moodle is a piece of software which runs off the school board's server, and is as secure as possible. Accessed via a smart board, which is basically a giant computer screen where your hand or finger is the mouse, each stu- dent and. in turn a parent is given a password and user identifica- tion to access everything the students are be- ing taught. Everything that is done as a class, parents have full access to it, McDade said, adding it's important to regularly. check 'Moodie', a complex and secure website what the stu- Is being used by elementary and high dents are doing school students across Huron -Perth. at school and of- fer input if needed. "It's a win-win situation for everyone," he said. "It gives them a chance to use the tools they've learned to love." "It creates a 'school that is.cutting edge," said Loretta Ay- otte, coordinator of Information Technology, who was pres- ent for the introduction to parents. Ayotte said a summer workshop was held where teachers could attend and learn more about moodles. The two-day in-service was held and now that it's up and runnhig, re- sponse has been positive. • "The feedback we've been getting is that the kids are en- joying it," she said. "Some teachers, like Sean, are into it more than others but it's the way they learn and the way they relate to things that make it exciting. • "We just see it growing from here," she said. McDade, who considers himself a "techy", said the moo- dle creates an experience for the child which engages them and keeps them interested. "If we're not changing, the kids aren't learning," he said. Calendars listing when assignments or projects are due or when tests are being conducted are easily accessible. What McDade really likes to see, and hopes will evolve, is an area called "parent centre' where parents can edit or add information to a specific topic they may be studying. "It's an opportunity to work together," he said to the par- ents. The access to information in a collective form makes it exciting for the 'students. • "We know kids are chatting on MSN, why don't we incor- porate that into their learning?," he said. Ayotte said this is the first time these moodles have been incorporated into area schools, and mentioned to parents that if there's something which needs to be improved, please inform McDade or the board office. "We know this is a direction we have to take, we're just not sure which road to take," she said. Ayotte said she likes the moodle because the software is free and it can be housed safely on their server. "Kids these days all have their iPods and what not, and this is a good way to grab the kids," she said. ttr 03,,:.zsemotomIw • BACK Voc,, ••ko-ar • • • 'yr The'Huron Expor.1 'OctObiti• d, 14401?-m;A • -.4tA4,,s,., APR • UP TO • W •CHASE • - r • . 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