Moodle-Based Training Platform for Trainee Humanities Teachers

Teacher trainers

Problem to Solve – Learning Situation:

Trainee humanities teachers need a comprehensive and accessible platform to support their training, facilitate knowledge acquisition, and provide opportunities for interactive learning and assessment. Traditional methods of training may lack flexibility, collaboration, and immediate feedback.

Overview of Scenario:

In this scenario, Moodle, an open-source learning management system (LMS), is used as a training platform for trainee humanities teachers. Moodle provides a centralized space for course materials, interactive activities, collaborative discussions, and assessment tools to support their learning journey.

Competencies Covered from DigCompEdu:

1. Digital Literacy
2. Information and Data Literacy
3. Communication and Collaboration
4. Problem-Solving
5. Critical Thinking
6. Creativity and Innovation

Curriculum Constructs:

This scenario aligns with various levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, including remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating. Trainee humanities teachers engage in activities that involve recalling information, comprehending educational concepts, applying pedagogical strategies, analyzing teaching practices, evaluating student work, and creating instructional materials.

Scenario Description:

Trainee humanities teachers are provided access to a Moodle-based training platform. The platform consists of different course modules, each focusing on specific aspects of humanities teaching, such as history, literature, or social sciences. Trainees engage in interactive activities, collaborative discussions, and assessments designed to develop their teaching skills, pedagogical knowledge, and critical thinking abilities.

Scenario Objectives:

1. Apply pedagogical strategies to facilitate meaningful learning experiences in the humanities classroom.
2. Foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills in designing instructional materials and assessing student work.
3. Engage in collaborative discussions and peer feedback to enhance teaching practices.
4. Promote creativity and innovation in developing engaging learning resources for humanities education.

Activity Plan:

1. Introduction to Moodle (10 minutes):
   • The trainer introduces Moodle as the training platform and explains its features and functionalities.
   • Trainee humanities teachers are guided through the process of accessing and navigating the Moodle platform.
2. Course Modules and Resources (20 minutes):
   • Trainees explore the course modules on the Moodle platform, each dedicated to a specific humanities subject.
   • They access course materials such as lecture notes, readings, multimedia resources, and instructional videos.
3. Interactive Activities and Discussions (30 minutes):
   • Trainees participate in interactive activities, such as online quizzes, discussions, and case studies, embedded within the Moodle platform.
   • They engage in collaborative discussions with peers, sharing perspectives, and exchanging ideas related to humanities teaching.
4. Assessments and Feedback (20 minutes):
   • Trainees complete assessments, such as assignments, projects, or reflective journals.
5. Peer Feedback and Reflection (15 minutes):
   • Trainees engage in peer feedback activities, providing constructive comments on each other’s assignments or projects through the Moodle platform.
   • They reflect on their teaching practices, evaluate their own work, and incorporate feedback to enhance their instructional approaches.
6. Creation of Instructional Materials (25 minutes):
   • Trainees try out ways to utilise Moodle’s resources, such as the content creation tools, to develop instructional materials for humanities teaching.

Case Study Example:

Trainee humanities teacher, Sarah, accesses the Moodle platform and navigates to the history course module. She engages in interactive activities, such as online quizzes and discussion forums, to deepen her understanding of historical concepts and teaching strategies. Sarah completes an assignment where she designs a lesson plan for teaching a specific historical period. After submitting her assignment, she receives feedback and constructive comments from her peers and the trainer. Sarah reflects on the feedback, makes revisions to her lesson plan, and incorporates innovative teaching techniques she learned from her colleagues. Through this iterative process, Sarah demonstrates growth in her teaching abilities, utilizing critical thinking and creativity to design engaging and effective instructional materials.