Comparing Learning Management Systems: Global learn2016 presentation_limerick_ireland_april28_29_2016_liveprez

Comparing Learning Management Systems: Google Classroom vs. Moodle

A Comparative Look at two Learning Management Systems (LSM) as Instructional Tools

Global Learn 2016Global Learn 2016April 28 – 29, 2016April 28 – 29, 2016

Limerick, IrelandLimerick, Ireland

Presentation by David Lewis BrooksKitasato University, Sagamihara, Japan

Learning Management System Learning Management System – Google Classroom or Moodle– Google Classroom or Moodle

A learning management system (LMS) such as Moodle or Google Classroom, can make a useful and flexible choice for teachers who want to communicate with their students in an active, collaborative on-line environment, and for collecting and grading schoolwork.

A learning management system is network software that helps teachers manage students, teaching activities, homework, quizzes, grades, discussions, and resources across the Internet to any computer with a browser.

A learning management system such as Moodle, and to a less extent Google Classroom, rather, is an integrated environment where students and teachers share materials and engage in thoughtful dialogue.

Their real value comes in coordinating the basic exchanges of gradable materials between the instructor and students or between the students themselves for group projects and for aiding in the efficient communication between the teacher and students

Features of LMSFeatures of LMSBoth Moodle and Google Classroom allow

the instructor to access these completed student items of class work and homework in one networked application which organizes them for ease of evaluating and responding to larger groups of students.

In addition, the instructor can distribute and later collect assigned work, send messages to all students, and get group feedback about class activities through polls and surveys.

Typically, the LMS allows for keeping and easily managing attendance and grades for assigned work and tests.

What are the advantages of a LMS?What are the advantages of a LMS? The learning activities and tasks can be tailored more closely to the specific

needs of different types of learning styles present in every classroom (O’Malley & Chamot, 1990).

In addition, in a multi-cultural environment where there are students in the same classroom from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds, use of a learning management system can help the teacher create a more culturally accepting learning environment that meets the needs of diverse individuals (Meyers, 1993).

Furthermore, classroom discussions do not need to finish at the end of the period. Students and teachers can extend the classroom beyond the constraints of time and the walls of the classroom.

Students from one class can discuss issues with their classmates in another class enlarging the pool of communication, as it is easy to invite students from another school or another country to participate.

Additionally, students who may be reluctant to discuss issues in class have the time and place to compose their thoughts and enrich the class discussion. Students and teachers save work submitted electronically along with the teacher feedback for quick access so that no information is lost.

Uploaded documents, links to websites, Power Point presentations, and media files are always available to students

Advantages Of Moodle As A Advantages Of Moodle As A Comprehensive Assessment ToolComprehensive Assessment Tool Moodle 　 is particularly well-suited for foreign language teaching. Not only is it free Open Source software, but it is based on a social constructivist theory of instruction. There is a simple to use test-making module within it for creating powerful online tests that include use of media files, multiple question formats, and both simple and sophisticated grading functions (Cole & Foster, 2007). In addition, Hot Potatoes quizzes and exercises can be incorporated directly into Moodle. Further, it has some in-built modules making it superior for self and peer assessments of student work or performances

AdvantagesAdvantages　　ofof　　MoodleMoodle Moodle allows for flexible incorporation of teacher evaluation,

self-assessment, and peer assessment in determining grades. The Workshop module of Moodle provides a tool for student

submission of written work or recorded performances (audio or video files), but scores can also be assigned for many online tasks, such participation in an online discussion

The teacher can also design the type of assessment and the evaluation criteria. One disadvantage is that Moodle is only a server side application. Fortunately, however, it is becoming widely popular and is relatively easy to install and maintain and is also being offered by third-party web hosting services at a very reasonable cost.

AAdvantagesdvantages　　ofof　　GoogleGoogle　　ClassroomClassroom Many school and universities already make use of Google Apps

for email, and as an alternative or substitute for desktop applications, equivalent to Word, Excel and Power Point, as well as for other powerful online tools that integrate with teacher’s classroom requirements.

Therefore, Google Classroom makes an excellent choice for both those who are novices to learning management systems and for those computer savvy teachers who have various levels of experience with using e-learning in their teaching.

Google Classroom is a free web-based learning management platform that integrates the Google Apps for Education account with all the Google Apps services, including Google Docs, Gmail, and Google Calendar.

Google Classroom can provide a platform of learning management that can be tailored to various types of courses, including language classes, content-area courses, and process-oriented training classes.

MMeritserits　　ofof G Googleoogle　　ClassroomClassroom

Google Classroom saves time and paper, and makes it easy to create classes, distribute assignments, communicate, and stay organized. Classroom does lack an important functionality that Moodle has: the ability to create quizzes and tests that provide online assessment tools for assessing student learning quickly and using various types of online questions. However, the capacity to create student quizzes and tests can be created for use in Google Classroom through Google Docs. You can see an example of how this can be done at: http://www.olejarz.com/handouts/formquiz.pdf

MoreMore　　featuresfeatures　　ofof　　GoogleGoogle　　ClassroomClassroom Google classroom teachers can quickly see who has or

hasn't completed the course assignments, and provide direct, real-time feedback and grades within each Google Classroom. 

Teachers can reuse posts from previous classes that they taught or co-taught since there can be multiple teachers for each Google Classroom.

In Google Classroom, teachers can create short answer questions to start class discussions. Classroom is only available for students and teachers with a school-provided Google Apps for Education account.

Users with mobile phones can employ the Android App or the Iphone App to use Google Classroom on the go.

Synopsis of Google ClassroomSynopsis of Google ClassroomThere are several benefits of using Google Classroom (Zhang, 2015) :１） Classroom is easy to set up: Teachers can add students directly or

share a code with their class to join. It takes just minutes to set up. 2) Classroom saves time: The simple, paperless assignment workflow

allows teachers to create, review, and grade assignments quickly, and keep them all in one place.

3) Classroom improves organization and management of student work: Students can see all of their assignments on an assignments page, and all class materials are automatically filed into folders in Google Drive.

4) Classroom enhances communication: Classroom allows teachers to send announcements and start class discussions instantly. Students can share resources with each other or provide answers to questions on the course stream.

5) Google Classroom is affordable, secure, and is free for schools.

Which LMS is the best choice for youWhich LMS is the best choice for you?? Choosing the right learning management system is an

important choice because it takes time, resources, and there is a learning curve involved.

For teachers who are just starting out with e-learning and particularly if their institutions are currently users of the Google Apps for Education services, then Google Classroom is the obvious choice.

Despite its many excellent components, there are several things that Google Classroom cannot do (at least for now, or not without a degree of effort to create a workaround).

For those teachers, who need a more comprehensive set of classroom tools, especially for those teachers who are not currently Google Apps users, then Moodle provides a more comprehensive set of LMS tools that are both flexible and powerful.

Google Classroom vs. MoodleLearning Management Systems for Language Teaching and Learning

Kitasato University,Kitasato University,Sagamihara, JapanSagamihara, Japan

Teaching and Technology asTeaching and Technology asProcess EngineeringProcess Engineering

Moodle – an example of a learning system management environment

End of PresentationEnd of Presentation David　L.　BrooksAssociate　Professor　of　EnglishDepartment　of　Foreign　Languages

Kitasato　University1-15-1　Kitasato,　SagamiharaKanagawa,　Japan　228-8555　　　　[email protected]

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