More Faculty Join the Moodle Pilot Project
 Moodle stands for Modular Object Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment. Moodle is the leading open-source learning management system (LMS). The concept behind an open source application is that there is no license fee to use it. In addition, the growth and support for such an application comes from the community of users who have adopted it. Moodle has been adopted, with much success, at academic institutions across the country. It is
intuitive to use and offers many activities that foster active learning and student collaboration. Moodle.org,
the online community that supports the development of this application,
reports that there are over 55,000 registered Moodle sites.
University
of Redlands began exploring the use of Moodle last January when five
faculty members elected to use this LMS instead of Blackboard. The pilot continued with faculty teaching May Term, School of Business and School of
Education courses using Moodle. At
the end of the various terms, students have been surveyed regarding
their Moodle experience and the responses have been very positive. One
student remarked that “Finding scores, assignments, or anything really
is very simple,” while another wrote, “Moodle was very beneficial and
it helped me see when assignments were due and what grades I received.”
This
fall, the Moodle pilot project has been expanded to include over 27
faculty member from across the College of Arts and Sciences, School of
Business and School of Education. As we progress through this academic year, there will be many opportunities to see and experience Moodle. As
the University continues its exploration of this LMS, we want to bring
as many faculty members as possible into the evaluation process. Presentations will be made and small-scale
discussion group sessions will be held. It
is important that faculty members have an opportunity to add their
input into this comparison of Blackboard and Moodle; any decision to
move to Moodle will be a joint effort between the academic community
and ITS.
For more information regarding Moodle, contact Catherine Walker at extension 8321.
iPad LOAnER PROGRAM FOR FACULTY
 Intrigued by all of the tablet ads? Would you like to try one before you buy? ITS has four iPad loaners ready for faculty to check-out. With
an iPad loaner, you can browse the web anywhere you have a WiFi
connection, download and try educational applications from the Apple
App Store (using an Apple ID and password), and read/respond to e-mail. Take the iPad loaner to class or to meetings; each loaner is available for up to a month check-out period.
For more information, contact Kimberly Perna at extension 8316 or Catherine Walker at extension 8321.
SPATIAL THING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF REDLANDS
 Spatial thinking is the ability to interpret and visualize things like location, distance,
direction, movement, relationships, and change over space. We think
spatially when we plan a route around town to accomplish multiple
errands, unpack groceries into the
refrigerator, interpret weather maps on TV, or understand why Virginia can experience earthquakes too.
The
University’s spatial curriculum and research initiative, Learning
Spatially (LENS), is heading into its fifth year, under the guidance of
Dr. Diana Sinton. Working closely with Diana is the University’s
GIS and Computer Mapping Support Consultant, David Smith. David’s
role is to support University faculty who are interested in spatial
thinking and analysis.
In 2010, the University of Redlands received funding from the W.M. Keck
Foundation. This funding has created new opportunities within the
College of Arts and Sciences for faculty and undergraduate students,
across multiple disciplines, to use maps, mapping, and spatial
perspectives in their teaching, learning, and research. In 2011,
five faculty members were selected as LENS Fellows: Julius Bailey, John
Glover, Dan Klooster, Lei Lani Stelle, and Jen Tilton. Each Fellow is
developing new course materials that have a spatial perspective or component; they are being assisted over the year by undergraduate interns. Later in the year, the Fellows will share their work with the University community.
Stay
tuned for the opportunity to apply for a 2012 LENS Faculty Fellowship,
which will be the final year of funding under this particular grant
program. For more information regarding LENS, contact Diana
Sinton at extension 8687 or David Smith at extension 8057.
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