Staff and students will now be able to hone their online learning skills with the launch of the new Moodle Bar at Forth Valley College’s Alloa Campus.
Andrew Lawson, FVC’s Depute Principal, Fiona Brown, Vice Principal Learning and Teaching and Helen Young, Head of Learning and Quality officially launched the new service on Friday 25 May.
The Moodle Bar was the winning idea for promoting creative learning and teaching in the ‘Dragons’ Den’ competition at the Creative Learning Conference in August 2017.
The team who came up with the winning idea – Anne Feeney, Margaret McCracken and Nicola McArthur from the Department of Care, Health and Sport, Derek Smillie and Laurence Ferguson from the Department of Construction, Alan Lockhart from Applied Science, Maths and Mechanical Engineering, Steph Toms from Creative Industries, Sandra Edgar from Core Skills and Anne-Marie Harley from Access and Progression - subsequently presented their outline idea to the college’s Senior Management Team and are delighted to see the facility up and running.
The Alloa campus was chosen as being the most appropriate for the pilot project because an existing, underused area just under the main wooden staircase was identified as suitable. In addition, the smaller campus will allow members of the project team to monitor and encourage the use of the Moodle Bar and will utilise the expertise of Learning Technology Coordinator Jasmin Hodge.
The Moodle Bar hopes to:
- Increase confidence of learners and staff in using Moodle which is seen as an under-used resource.
- Create a space where staff and students can practise using functions within Moodle.
- Provide a touch screen directory to guide users to functions.
- Promote the theme of ‘Moodle Bar’ and a menu to promote ideal of small chunks of learning.
- Create a space where staff and students can practise using functions within Moodle.
Anne-Marie Harley, a Lecturer in FVC’s Department of Access and Progression and a member of the Moodle Bar Team, said: “Being involved in the Moodle Bar project has given me a great opportunity to work with other members of staff to create a valuable support for accessing Moodle for staff and students.”
Jasmin Hodge, Learning Technology Coordinator, said: “The Moodle Bar is a great initiative, especially as it came from teaching staff who recognised the need for another way to support staff and students using Moodle and other technologies. I’m excited about the possibilities and how the Moodle Bar will develop in the future. It is a great addition to the team!”
Any staff and students looking to volunteer at the Moodle Bar should contact jasmin.hodge@forthvalley.ac.uk or moodle.help@forthvalley.ac.uk