Using Moodle to facilitate learning
Moodle is the Concordia-supported Learning Management System (LMS), a secure online space to post content, engage in learning activities and facilitate class communications.
MOODLE 4.1 upgrade
Go to Carrefour for all your questions about this upgrade, get training and find support.
Help with Moodle
- Concordia's Quick Access menu will be available within Moodle 4.1. You can install this app on your computer (Windows only) or in the Chrome browser (Windows & Mac) to access documentation and instructions for over 140 Moodle tasks and processes.
- Help for instructors (Moodle login required) is a Moodle site offering documentation and training resources.
- For technical support using Moodle, contact the Moodle team.
- For pedagogical advice on how best to use Moodle for your course, contact the CTL.
- Moodle will upgrade from version 3.9 to 4.1 in January 2024.
Getting started with Moodle
What Moodle can do
Moodle can enhance any course, whether it's online, blended or face-to-face, by offering:
- Anytime, anywhere, access to course content and activities
- Accessible formats for those with learning disabilities and language barriers with the Brickfield Accessibility+ Toolkit
- Course communications
- Group activities
- Assessment activities (including assignments and quizzes)
- Tools for gathering student feedback
Regardless of how little or how much you use Moodle, it can be a potent tool to help students achieve learning objectives, facilitate coursework and communications, and improve accessibility.
What can Moodle do? Part 1
This video provides a detailed run-through of the many features in Moodle, including:
- basic setup,
- adding Blocks,
- sending announcements,
- using discussion forums,
- using and grading assignments,
- embedding content from external sources, and
- chat and interactive features.
Note that this video uses the Moodle 3.9 interface.
What more can Moodle do? Part 2
This video is a follow-up to “What can Moodle do?” Discussed here are:
- the H5P Moodle plug-in that will help you create interactive content,
- Glossary,
- Database,
- Feedback,
- Scheduler, and
- Activity Completion.
Note that this video uses the Moodle 3.9 interface.
Setting up your Moodle course
Access the Moodle learning management system (LMS)
Moodle courses are automatically created before the beginning of a semester. Instructors and students are added to the sites by an automatic process. Moodle can be accessed by visiting Carrefour or moodle.concordia.ca.
Accessing and setting up Moodle step by step
This video covers how to access your Moodle course; add files and links to web sites and videos; send announcements to students; show and hide elements of your course; switch to a student view; "activate" your course so students have access.
Note that this video uses the Moodle 3.9 interface.
Uses of Moodle
You can share and display course content, such as documents and media, with Moodle. It can also facilitate activities, including assignment submission and grading, discussion forums, peer editing, and collaborative spaces (e.g., wikis). The most popular uses of Moodle include sharing content, collecting and grading assignments, administering and grading quizzes, and discussion forums.
Explore the Moodle activities and resources list to discover the variety of learning activities you can use in your course.
Discussion forums and groups
Online discussion forums allow students to engage with their classmates on course content using messages visible to everyone in their class or their group. Here you will find information on:
- How to set up forums
- Moodle forum types
- Tips on using forums with your class
Resources
- Using discussion forums
- Using discussion forums and groups in Moodle (quick overview video)
- Planning online group work (webinar recording)
Providing and collecting feedback
Providing online feedback to students
There are two basic types of feedback you can provide to students:
- Formal feedback: the feedback you give on a graded (summative) assessment and
- Informal feedback: ongoing feedback to improve learning.
Using Moodle to collect feedback from students
You can use the Moodle Feedback activity to conduct surveys to collect student feedback and information. Depending on the purpose, you can set surveys to be anonymous or attributed.
Assessments: Assignments & quizzes
Assignments in Moodle
Moodle is a very efficient way of collecting and facilitating the grading of assignments.
Online quizzes are an efficient way of testing student knowledge and understanding. Quizzes can include various types of questions: multiple choice, true/false, short answer, essay, cloze (fill in the blanks), and more.
Administering online exams in Moodle: Quiz or Assignment?
The choice depends on the type of assessment. Assignment is appropriate for written assessment such as essays, learning journals and final papers, while Quiz is better suited for closed-book tests, supports a variety of question types, and grades automatically.
Student resources
You may provide the following information to students in your courses as required.
In this Moodle course, IITS offers a a range of support materials for students.