Now that Drew is using Google Apps, faculty members have a choice between using Moodle or Google Groups -- or both -- for courses. FacLab will be holding workshops on both Google Groups and the new version of Moodle in August as well as into the Fall Semester.
Google Groups
Starting with Fall 2013, each course taught at Drew will exist as a Google Group. The members will automatically include the instructor and all enrolled students.
Choose Google if you want to:
- Email the class
- Make announcements
- Conduct online discussions
- Share documents (files and folders)
- Invite students to an event
Learn more about Course Groups in Google...
Moodle
Moodle can also be used for almost everything Google Groups can do, but in slightly different ways. Additionally, Moodle offers teaching tools such as attendance and gradebook, as well as a variety of interactive Activities and Resource sharing.
Choose Moodle if you want to include any of the following Activities:
- Collect and return Assignments online
- Take Attendance
- Offer threaded discussion Forums
- Create a Course Glossary
- Check in with students using a one-question choice activity
- Offer Questionnaires
- Have students take online Quizzes
Choose Moodle if you want to share these kinds of resources:
- Book (instructor-created content)
- Files
- Folders
- Images using Lightbox Gallery
- URLs (links
Choosing between Moodle and Google Groups for Your Courses
Courses
- Instructor is the owner of the group
- Students are added as members
- The group is configured to only accept posts from members
- I think that any e-mails directed to the group by members will not be saved (i.e. messages sent to the group are not archived)