First Lboro E-learning Network meeting

Thanks to all those (30+) colleagues who attended the first Loughborough E-learning Network meeting this afternoon, chaired by Professor Ray Dawson. The theme was the planned migration of Learn to the next version of Moodle (V2).

Rich Goodman, Manager of the E-learning Systems Team in IT Services, gave a demonstration of our test installation and answered questions relating to the changes. Notable new features of Moodle 2 include the facility to schedule the release of resources within a module page, and to make the release conditonal on successfully completing an activity. We expect that module tutors will find this both useful and convenient (because it is easier than having to remember to ‘unhide’ a resource in, say, week 5).

The E-learning Network will meet regularly (probably quarterly) and will be an opportunity for staff who belong to the new school e-learning groups to come together in a wider forum.

It was particularly heartening to have a good turnout for this meeting after the overwhelming success of the annual E-learning Showcase which took place on Feb 1st, with an attendance of over 100 staff from across the institution. Many of these staff were drawn (in part!) by the chance to enter a prize draw for a Kindle E-book reader. The lucky winner was Dr John Samson from Physics, pictured here (on the right) receiving his Kindle from yours truly.