Learning Management System in Higher Education

Promoting Hybrid Learning of Postgraduate Taught Students through Optimised Moodle Module Design

Abstract

Moodle (Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) is broadly used in the United Kingdom Higher Education environment and the rest of the world owing to its feature of being user-friendly as a learning management system (LMS). Since the pandemic, the pivotal role of Moodle is strengthened to facilitate virtual learning during the lockdown and enhance hybrid learning with face-to-face teaching gradually coming back. During the routine tutorials, some students reported their difficulties and concerns about Moodle, such as digital literacy, information density, and feedback. In this reflection, three postgraduate researchers who work as teaching assistants in Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), reflect on the Moodle designing experience. We discuss various manoeuvres like adjusting the structure, using virtual badges to engage students, compressing content, and updating synchronous and asynchronous learning materials to enable students to learn more efficiently. The module design is optimised based on the module nature, learning objectives, expected learning outcomes, and students' learning needs in the hybrid learning environment. With the students' feedback and previous learning experience, suggestions are proposed to contribute to the best practices in Moodle design to improve Postgraduate Taught Students’ learning experience in Higher Education.