Learning Management System in Higher Education

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

Authors

  • Zhizhuo Su University of Warwick
  • Yiduo Wang University of Warwick
  • Di Wang University of Warwick

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31273/jppp.vol2.2022.1233

Keywords:

Higher Education, hybrid learning, Learning Management System, Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment

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. 

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Author Biographies

Zhizhuo Su, University of Warwick

Zhizhuo Su is a second-year PhD student from the Intelligent Vehicle, WMG, University of Warwick, UK. He has received a bachelor’s degree in Vehicle Engineering from Jilin University, China, and a master's degree in Vehicle Engineering from Chongqing University, China. As a senior graduate teaching assistant, he hosted academic writing seminars, weekly drop-in mentoring sessions and designed synchronous and asynchronous curriculum (e.g., face-to-face tutorials and recorded video sessions) in the WMG module of Study, professional and analytical skills (SPA) for over 1000 postgraduate students. He is now focusing on the Analytical Stream of SPA and supporting students’ analytical skills with quantitative and qualitative methods. He holds an Associate Fellowship from the Advance HE (previous Higher Education Academy). 

Yiduo Wang, University of Warwick

Yiduo Wang is a PhD researcher from the Warwick Manufacturing Group. Her research is to investigate the effect of STEM outreach on secondary students’ attitudes towards STEM funded by the Lord Bhattacharyya Family Trust and in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Engineering. Since December 2020, Yiduo has been working as a graduate teaching assistant for the module of Study, professional and analytical skills (SPA) to provide academic support for more than 1,000 WMG master students, including delivering seminars, running one-to-one mentor sessions, designing synchronous and asynchronous learning materials, and refining online Moodle platform. Yiduo holds an Associate Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy. 

Di Wang, University of Warwick

Di Wang is a PhD researcher and belongs to the Energy Application Group of Warwick Manufacturing Group. His main research field is cell instrumentation, which provides technical support for the development and monitoring of a new generation of smart batteries. Di Wang has been working as a postgraduate teaching assistant for the Study, Professional and Analytical Skills (SPA) module since December 2020. He currently provides teaching support in qualitative and quantitative analysis to the SPA team, and provides diverse academic services to more than 1,000 WMG master students, including online and offline seminars or lectures, one-on-one offline tutoring for targeted students, development of synchronous and asynchronous learning materials to fully meet students' learning needs, etc. He also provided technical support for the upgrade and improvement of the SPA's online Moodle platform.

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Published

2022-10-17