Moodle versus eClass for Macau Schools

A Comparison of Open Source Learning Management Systems

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS)/Open Educational Systems development projects abound in higher education today. Many universities worldwide have adopted open source software like ATutor and Moodle as an alternative to commercial or homegrown systems. The move to open source learning management systems entails many special considerations, including usage analysis facilities. The tracking of users and their activities poses major technical and analytical challenges within web-based systems. This paper examines how user activity tracking challenges are met with data mining techniques, particularly web usage mining methods, in four different open learning management systems: ATutor, LON-CAPA, Moodle, and Sakai. As examples of data mining technologies adapted within widely used systems, they represent important first steps for moving educational data mining outside the research laboratory. Moreover, as examples of different open source development contexts, exemplify the potential for programmatic integration of data mining technology processes in the future. As open systems mature in the use of educational data mining, they move closer to the long-sought goal of achieving more interactive, personalized, adaptive learning environments online on a broad scale.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic brought about a major shift in the educational training of surgical trainees. As the Lockdown was implemented and the daily workforce reduced, an alternate method was employed to provide uninterrupted learning. Blended learning that includes virtual learning with face-to-face learning/teaching was utilized for the surgical trainees. MOODLE (Modular object-oriented dynamic learning environment), an open-source learning management system, was integrated as an Online Component of our Blended Learning Program. We aimed to evaluate the perception of postgraduate trainees of General Surgery regarding the benefits and limitations of Blended Learning, particularly its online component, i.e., Moodle LMS, for the betterment of surgical -education during the COVID-19 pandemic.Material and MethodsThirty-three postgraduate general surgery trainees were enrolled in a blended learning program, in which its online component, Moodle LMS, comprised four major topics on General Surgery. A questionnaire was provided to the trainees to obtain feedback on blended learning in general, and Moodle LMS was mainly themed on the Likert scale.ResultsThe approach of blended learning was positively received by the participants, the majority of whom were females (75%) and comprising of Year 1 residents (33.3%). Nearly half of the participants found Moodle LMS user-friendly, practical and a good platform for learning. However, nearly two thirds (60.6%) were uncertain if it ever helped in applying knowledge to interpret laboratory and radiological results for patient management. Even then, most of them found that the face-to-face component of blended learning helped them develop specific clinical and surgical skills (42.4%). Emphatically, 78.7% would recommend it for surgical training.ConclusionBlended learning was found to be beneficial in the training process of surgical postgraduates in the current COVID-19 pandemic situation. We recommend it for the training of doctors for optimized learning.

The recent state-of-the-art networking technology has made the Internet a vital medium to promote effective communication and education in language learning and teaching. Universities and schools have been reinforcing traditional classroom-based instructions with online learning management systems. Students can be benefited through the more frequent online interaction with the teacher for their independent learning outside the classroom. This paper explains what the multimedia-assisted language instruction means in English education in college classrooms and then examines how teachers can help students develop learner autonomy and classroom interaction using Moodle, an open source learning management system. Students of this study responded that English language materials provided through this multimedia-assisted instruction were very effective and that they felt doing class activities through online was very convenient because they could control their own learning according to their pace and situations. While sharing common interests and ideas about studying English or life events, they could study in interactive and collaborative ways. Students also answered that they could study voluntarily and more through these online learning activities.

In this chapter, the use of Moodle, an open source Learning Management System (LMS), by the Department of Electronic Media and Mass Communication in Pondicherry University, as a means to supplement classroom teaching has been examined drawing on Actor Network Theory (ANT). This chapter reveals that the use of Moodle gives rise to a new digital culture which is inscribed on the prior cultural template that students, instructors and institutions bring to have a bearing on their teaching and learning activities. However, the rise of such a digital culture is due to the human and material assemblages constituted by how students and instructors inscribe their manifestoes on Moodle and how Moodle inscribes its manifestations on them. Further, the performative potential of Moodle is explained by its networked interaction with other social, human and non-human actors such as the culture of using technology for learning, digital literacy skills, emergent digital divide, access issues among students and teachers, educational and economic background and institutional media ecology among others.

Computer-based concept mapping combined with learning management system use: An explorative study under the self- and collaborative-mode

This study examined the use of Advancity Learning Management Systems (ALMS) and the Moodle Learning Management Systems (LMS) in learning settings, as well as online exams, within the framework of Transactional Distance Theory. With 146 college students (nfemale = 102, nmale = 44) as voluntary participants, data was gathered through an online questionnaire. A time series design was used for two different LMS sessions, and participants who voluntarily participated in ALMS and Moodle LMS sessions were matched. The findings revealed that while Moodle and ALMS both receive relatively similar assessment ratings for online exams, Moodle scored better in terms of learning setting. When factors of the Learning Management Systems Evaluation Scale (LMSES) based on Transactional Distance Theory were compared, the dialogue and autonomy factors were significantly higher for Moodle LMS than for ALMS. When online exams in the LMS were compared, there was no significant difference between ALMS and Moodle LMS, and for both LMS, the reliability factor was a determinant indicator than the other factors. As a result, in assessing and using an LMS, choices should be based on how well the LMS characteristics address an institution’s demands.

Purpose: This study aims to examine the implementation of technology in educational assessments, specifically using the Learning Management System (LMS) Moodle at SMK Brantas Karangkates. Traditional paper-based tests limit multimedia integration and efficient scoring, whereas online exams offer a more effective and streamlined alternative for learning evaluations. Method: The research focuses on Moodle’s implementation process, detailing steps like preparing questions, setting up quiz features, conducting exams, and managing automated scoring. Observational data and school records were used to analyze Moodle's application. Practical Applications: Using LMS Moodle, with its multimedia and automated grading capabilities, enhances exam efficiency, accessibility, and result management. This practical approach supports schools in modernizing their assessment processes. Conclusion: SMK Brantas Karangkates has effectively used Moodle for online exams over the past five years, showing significant improvements in assessment efficiency. This study illustrates how e-learning platforms like Moodle can support schools in adapting to technological changes in education.

Evaluation of an Open Source Learning Management System: Claroline

Many higher education institutions nowadays are equipped with Learning Management Systems (LMS) to provide rich online learning solutions and utilize its functions and capabilities to improve the learning practices. The current study aims to gain instructors' perspective of LMS, investigate the use of its functions, and identify the barriers that may influence LMS utilization at the Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST). This research aims to examine current practices, opinions, and challenges that help academicians and system developers contribute to better learning practices and academic achievement. The study used a quantitative method that included a sample of 58 faculty members. Findings obtained from the questionnaire indicated that instructors were generally comfortable and had positive perceptions about LMS Moodle. The results revealed that LMS's administrative functions, such as files and announcements, are widely used compared to the advanced interactive learning activities. Moreover, LMS's use on mobile devices is infrequent, and more emphasis must be placed on using LMS friendly user interfaces that can enable all tools and functions to use LMS.

The pedagogical expressiveness of designed courses using Learning Management Systems (LMS) is highly dependent on the teachers' expertise about the use of the LMS at their disposal. The LMS semantics has to be raised in order to enhance the pedagogical expressiveness of the produced models. This paper deals with the proposition of a specific LMS-centered approach for abstracting the LMS low-level arameterizations and turning them into higher-level pedagogical building blocks. We choose to present and illustrate our propositions about the Moodle LMS.

The pedagogical expressiveness of designed courses using Learning Management Systems (LMS) is highly dependent on the teachers’ expertise about how to use the LMS at their disposal. The GraphiT project aims to help teachers in focusing on the specification of pedagogically sound learning scenarios that can be technically executable for automatically setting-up the LMS. We propose to provide teachers with LMS-specific instructional design languages and editors. The LMS semantics has to be raised in order to enrich the pedagogical expressiveness of the produced models. This paper deals with the proposition of a specific LMS-centered approach for abstracting the LMS low-level parameterizations and turning them into higher-level pedagogical building blocks. We choose to present and illustrate our propositions about the Moodle LMS. We focus on the first abstraction level. It consists in identifying some pedagogical activities according to recurrent uses designers make by handling the Moodle activities.

The article dwells upon the problem of distance learning using the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS). Importantly, the article analyzes the use of LMS or virtual learning environments (VLE) at universities, designed to store learning materials, conduct automatic testing of students’ knowledge, support remote communication, generate information on progress and reports on working with distance learning courses. The most well-known paid systems (according to Google Trends service) include Blackboard Learning System, Edmodo, Glow, Ning, SharePoint LMS. At the same time, the most popular free LMS is Moodle, as evidenced by both the results of Google Trends statistics and the data obtained from the ListEdTech resource. The article determines the features of using this system in the professional training of pedagogy students. It describes the challenges (problems) faced by students when taking distance learning courses, the time frame of students’ work on this learning platform and students’ assessment of the quality of distance learning courses developed in the Moodle system. It shows that the use of this system saves time spent on training, freeing it up for personal life, self-education, hobbies and entertainment. Students with higher academic performance spend more time working in the Moodle system. Indeed, they intend to acquire knowledge, obtain a diploma of higher education and further pursue their professional careers. More than half of the respondents rate distance learning courses positively. In their opinion, such courses are creative, valuable, exciting, effective, clear, innovative, meeting expectations, unconventional, innovative, easy to learn and enjoyable.

Prediction is growing area of research which is attracting many researchers. Prediction is applied to almost all the sectors. Much commercial Business Intelligence software is available in which prediction is one of the features. With the advent of Open Source Technologies, it has become possible for education sector which normally has low IT budget, to take maximum advantage of Information and Communication Technologies(ICT). This paper describes the use of Open source Software Knime for prediction of students result based upon various independent(predictor) variables and value of dependent variable can be predicted using decision tree , SOTA (Self Organizing Tree Algorithm) and Naive Bayes This paper compares these three predictive algorithms present in Knime in terms of accuracy. Predicted results are compared with the actual result in order to measure accuracy and recommends best Predictive algorithm for forecasting. This paper also demonstrates the use of Moodle - Open Source Learning Management System (LMS) Logs as one of the attributes in predicting the student results.KeywordsPredictive algorithmsDecision treeSOTA (Self Organizing Tree Algorithm)Naive BayesKnimeMoodle

We have studied the main Learning Management Systems (LMSs) to comprehend how personal data is processed and stored. We found that all the users' personal information, activity, and logs are stored unencrypted on the server filesystem and databases. A user with access to such resources may have full access to all the personal information and metainformation stored. Therefore, the LMSs are very vulnerable to
\ninformation leaks in front of targeted hacker attacks due to weak GDPR compliance. In this paper, we analyze this problem from a technical and operational perspective for the open-source market leader LMS Moodle, and we propose a solution and a prototype of implementation.