Information Technology (IT) is offering online classes and workshops on “Moodle Basics,” to help students and faculty adjust to the new program.

IT Administrative Coordinator Marla Joseph said the classes are coming out of the technology center.

“Classes like these started in early July back in 2009, but there were even some workshops going on before that,” Joseph said.
Students who know about the classes said they will be helpful.

One of those students is freshman Christina Villalobos, 18, a sociology major, who is in her second semester at CSUN.

“I haven’t really gotten to experience many of the technical changes, but I think our generation is so familiar with computers and the Internet, it is kind of like we come geared and prepped to deal with technology changes, so I’m not overwhelmed by it at all,” said Villalobos. “But I think it’s a good thing to have workshops available to us for help.”

Unlike Villalobos, 19-year-old Linda Rivera, a sophomore English major, said she is getting overwhelmed trying to figure out how to turn in assignments with online classes.

“I also think it’s good to have classes where we can learn how to do these kinds of things,” Rivera said.  “I’m taking a partially online class this semester and just for that class, there are two sites where we have to register just to be able to receive and turn in class assignments.”

Dr. David Levin, senior director of academic technology, said CSUN has licensed online Moodle training for students  from Lynda.com.

“Students can find a link to ‘Student Moodle Training’ in the CSUN list of resources within all Moodle courses,” Levin said. “Students can access this online training by logging on to http://www.csun.edu/at/training/moodle/lynda.com/students/.”

Angela Davis, 23, family and consumer sciences major, said she has been at CSUN for three years and has seen several technology changes since she started.

“I think workshops like these will be great,” Davis said. “I know now everyone is computer savvy so it’s important for those of us who aren’t to have some kind of support if there’s anythingwe’re having trouble understanding.”

Davis said the e-mail change last semester was confusing and many were still struggling by the end of the semester when professors were e-mailing instructions for finals.
Levin said the workshops, which are different for students and faculty, are available to all.

“The Lynda.com training is fully online, anytime, anywhere,” Levin said. “These are video based tutorials covering all aspects of Moodle from a student’s perspective.”

The Faculty Technology Center also offers a series of three face-to-face workshops. However, these are specifically designed for faculty members, Levin said.

The workshops for students include a variety of topics such as managing their accounts, course overviews, participating in discussions, taking quizzes and submitting assignments, Levin said.

Faculty classes and workshops will include instruction in creating assignments and quizzes, assessing students’ work, using the grade book, managing student accounts and adding text and multimedia content.

Junior Alexander Stephens, 21, an art major, was unaware the workshops were being offered.

“I think there should be more talk about these classes because I’m sure there are other students who don’t know they’re being offered,” Stephens said. “I think more information should be distributed about letting students know when and where they’re held.”