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[zharkov]

I can set it up so that the students don't have to mess with elements that aren't being used during each week, or unit, of the class.  They just bring up the Unit 1 or Week 1 tab, and all of those diverse "pieces" of the course are right there together. 
 

Moodle works like that as well.  The prof can put everything into a Week or Unit area: discussions, files to download, quizzes, etc. etc.

Yes, but you can't mix the layout as being both Weeks and Themes. For example, in one course I teach classes on a monthly basis. There is no way to incorporate that in the design?

In another case, I want to put a whole bunch of important documents in one area called Class Background. I don't want to put it in a Week but in a Theme box. But I also want Weeks boxes. Is there a way to do that?

The problem with our university is theyuse Moodel because it is free open source but they don't provide tech support and just suggest we go to the Moodle community to find out how to customize!

I'm not a Moodle expert, but what I would do for the monthly courses is use use Topic 1 for Month 1 and so on.   I would put the Class Background docs in the Topic 0 area (sometime called News by default).  (I don't think you can do both Topics and Weeks, it is one or the other.)

Moodle is indeed based on what I call the "friendly user" model.  (vs user friendly).  Although there is no Moodle Corp to train you, your school could indeed provide training.  There are "Moodle partners" who do that.  (For $$$, natch.)  Open Source means the SW if free, but that doesn't mean (or shouldn't mean) that support is totally a DIY deal.

 

[helpful]

I can set it up so that the students don't have to mess with elements that aren't being used during each week, or unit, of the class.  They just bring up the Unit 1 or Week 1 tab, and all of those diverse "pieces" of the course are right there together. 
 

Moodle works like that as well.  The prof can put everything into a Week or Unit area: discussions, files to download, quizzes, etc. etc.

Yes, but you can't mix the layout as being both Weeks and Themes. For example, in one course I teach classes on a monthly basis. There is no way to incorporate that in the design?

In another case, I want to put a whole bunch of important documents in one area called Class Background. I don't want to put it in a Week but in a Theme box. But I also want Weeks boxes. Is there a way to do that?

The problem with our university is theyuse Moodel because it is free open source but they don't provide tech support and just suggest we go to the Moodle community to find out how to customize!

I'm not a Moodle expert, but what I would do for the monthly courses is use use Topic 1 for Month 1 and so on.   I would put the Class Background docs in the Topic 0 area (sometime called News by default).  (I don't think you can do both Topics and Weeks, it is one or the other.)

Moodle is indeed based on what I call the "friendly user" model.  (vs user friendly).  Although there is no Moodle Corp to train you, your school could indeed provide training.  There are "Moodle partners" who do that.  (For $$$, natch.)  Open Source means the SW if free, but that doesn't mean (or shouldn't mean) that support is totally a DIY deal.

 

But how can I put background documents in a TOPIC 0 AND use WEEKS? Shouldn't Moodle be adaptable to such cases? What do other people do in this case? (Put background documents in News? Seems awfully bizarre!)

[zharkov]

But how can I put background documents in a TOPIC 0 AND use WEEKS? Shouldn't Moodle be adaptable to such cases? What do other people do in this case? (Put background documents in News? Seems awfully bizarre!)

Topic 0 (or Week 0) is called "News" by default (at least on my set up), but you don't need to use Topic 0 for News.  I use it as the place to put docs that are not needed for any specific topic, more or less like your background docs, I infer.

As I mentioned earlier, I'm not expert, but have been thinking of doing more with Moodle this coming year and perhaps becoming a Moodle Certified Teacher.  (My school has us do personal development plans, and becoming an MCT would fit the bill.)  Also, I found Rice's Moodle book pretty helpful.

[magistra]

This point came up previously, but I'd just like to hammer it home: don't do your research project.  If they wanted that, they'd have asked, or give you an hour.  15 minutes is nothing.  Besides, a fair number of your SC won't know what you're talking about and won't care -- it's always a good idea in an interview to tailor your remarks, etc., to the entire SC.  And if it's teaching, think about the courses you're likely to teach.  This isn't just to exhibit your knowledge of technology, though that's important, it's about the teaching!  So make sure you have a strong, clear, basic lesson that fits the job.

[helpful]

But how can I put background documents in a TOPIC 0 AND use WEEKS? Shouldn't Moodle be adaptable to such cases? What do other people do in this case? (Put background documents in News? Seems awfully bizarre!)

Topic 0 (or Week 0) is called "News" by default (at least on my set up), but you don't need to use Topic 0 for News.  I use it as the place to put docs that are not needed for any specific topic, more or less like your background docs, I infer.

As I mentioned earlier, I'm not expert, but have been thinking of doing more with Moodle this coming year and perhaps becoming a Moodle Certified Teacher.  (My school has us do personal development plans, and becoming an MCT would fit the bill.)  Also, I found Rice's Moodle book pretty helpful.

Is there a way to retitle "News" to read "Course Documents"? My students are awfully thick so it is best to have correct titles for them..plus, I don't see why we can't adapt Moodle to  our own purposes.