Derrin Kent’s Blog

I often get asked the difference between Mahara and Moodle.  I often get told the VLE is ¨dead¨.   Here´s what I am currently saying in response….

Mahara is a Personalised Learning Environment (PLE), ie:

• a tutor-owned facility for ¨Handouts2.0¨ (now using a combination of video, audio, image, written text, downloadable files, RSS feeds, etc.)
• a facility for learner-created Homework2.0 / Essays2.0 / WBL Evidence2.0 (now using a combination of video, audio, image, written text, downloadable files, RSS Feeds, etc.)
• The modern Arch-Lever File (keep all your work in a nicely organised, secure & convenient online space - and get IAG or RPL on that work as and when required)
• A showcasing environment where the learner controls the access of who gets to see their own work / when
• A reflective learning environment (you are guided to define and track your own goals, skills and knowledge growth …and to ¨blog¨ about your learning - the online equivalent of keeping an offline learning diary)
• A collaborative learning environment whee you can work in groups (the online equivalent of small offline groups who are making posters or discussing group presentations)
• A system which freely gives you exportable data (reusable with other webhosts or in other e-portfolio systems)

Moodle is a Course Management System (CMS or a Virtual Learning Environment = VLE), ie:

• an institutionally-owned platform for the delivery of courses
• …which follow a taught curriculum of explicit learning objectives…
• …while encouraging social interaction (forum/wiki)…
• …and utilising activities (quiz/lesson) which check understanding
• …of the taught content.
• To this end, Moodle offers a highly sophisticated gradebook (or Learning Management System = LMS)
• …which can be used by an integrated Mahara to track progress of submitted Mahara ¨homework¨ or ¨evidence¨ against qualification outcomes (eg NVQ / QCF evidence).

Mahara (or a reasonable equivalent) is essential for effective Candidate-Led Work-Based Learning delivery, Moodle is desirable as a back-end to Mahara for the delivery of high quality taught vocational knowledge / skills development programmes.

Learning is a pesonalised process.  Mahara (or a reasonable equivalent) is essential for CPD, project-based learning development in schools, universities, colleges, companies. Moodle is desirable as a back-end to Mahara when you have a clear set of learning outcomes you NEED people to achieve.

The VLE is NOT dead!!! God forbid!  We still need teachers to teach people specific things for specific needs in specific situations.

….but it probably is fair to say that the VLE should now only be seen as a complement to a PLE.  The PLE is not just the latest trend… it will inevitably be more than a ¨flash-in-the-pan¨.  Why?

• Because we all know that learning is, in its very essence,  a personal process supported by the institution - and not vice-versa
• Because when you walk into a school you don´t only have a classroom…… you also have a satchel and a locker
• Because if you are genuinely going to grow your knowledge and skills, you have to express yourself creatively and reflectively - in your own way - when you do your homework.
• Because you own your own learning objects, your institution only needs to keep a copy when they are tracking and accrediting your progress…. You should be able and encouraged to take your own learning artefacts away with you - in your own digital ¨arch-lever file¨ as you continue on your lifelong learning journey.

Hope that helps.