The UCLL Blended Learning Course starts

I've enrolled on the 4 week 'How to Use Moodle' blended learning course, although I will have to miss the f2f course next week.  Aside from needing to know how Moodle works (the mechanics), it's always useful to look at an online course from the beginner's angle.  This helps me remember the feeling of being in an online environment and how what is obvious to the designer is NEVER obvious to the new participant.

I've done enough work online not to be daunted so I know you have to take a deep breath and work your way through the material in an orderly fashion (i.e. do as you're told).  The social area is very important and those initial links with others, plus having a real photo make it a better experience.

And here's the but - it's so wordy.  Moodle is as verbal an environment - at least at this stage - as Blackboard.  You have to read everything and there's so much going on!  This is a reminder that the online environment isn't an easy one for those who don't like reading so how do you motivate them to want to use a VLE?

I think the first introduction to a VLE probably needs to be f2f (not for this course, but in general) and the first contact needs to be friendly with some flitting around a very stripped down environment until the participants are used to it.

The design of the front page is important - less text intially and perhaps a 10 second video welcome.

I will now look at Mahara and do something for the the Learning Journal.

Amstrad emailer I saw in a St. Ives gallery in 2009