Moodle Teacher Certificate

(MTC)

5th. Intern. Austrian

Moodle-Conference

Ralf Hilgenstock
Peter Sereinigg

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Outline
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Development
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Benefits
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Guiding principles
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Structure and process
– Certification elements
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Curriculum
– Skill Sets
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Support
– Mentor-assessors
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Registration
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Administration
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Future developments

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Audience
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Writing a certification scheme for Moodle is a
difficult task because…
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It is an incredibly difficult audience to please!
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Every member of the Moodle Community has
their own views on what certification should or
could be - many have extensive experience in
dealing with certification schemes.
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Moodle is ‘easy to learn’ – so does it even
require certification?
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MTC is global… but what does that mean?

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Development
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Planning started in 2004
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Draft scheme in August 2005
– Certification team working on MTC
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Stuart Mealor, Certification Manager
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Frances Long, Canada
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Alicia Wyatt, USA
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Ralf Hilgenstock, Germany

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Pilot group started 1st April 2006
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Official low-key launch of MTC 1st May 2006

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Development
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Participants in Moodle Certification (on
moodle.org) have been able to vote, using
choice activities, on aspects of the scheme
such as:
– Certification fees
– Balance of scheme (project/exam)
– Duration of MTC
– Certificate lifetime
– Balance of Moodle specific / generic knowledge

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Benefits of the MTC
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Recognition of individuals skills
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Assists employers in hiring and promotion
decisions
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'Good for your CV'
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Increases awareness of Moodle as a leading
global CMS
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Enhances individuals expert use of the Moodle
application itself
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Demonstrates a level of ‘loyalty’ to Moodle
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Certification fees contribute to the ongoing
development of Moodle

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Guiding principles
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MTC is not a 'course' in it's own right
– It's purpose is not to 'teach candidates how to use
Moodle'
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MTC is not a technical certification
– Candidate should have a working knowledge of
course set-up, management and support
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The candidates ‘project course’ is a shell course
provided by a Moodle Partner

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This certification does not address server or
application installation, site administration, set-
up, maintenance, connectivity or other
technical considerations.

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Guiding principles
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It is a benchmark demonstration of a specific
level of competency and knowledge
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The amount of work required by candidates to
gain certification will vary based on their prior
knowledge and experience

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Potential candidates?
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Teachers
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Trainers
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Tutors
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Lecturers
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IT support staff
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E-learning consultants
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Educational designers
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IT system administrators
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HRD managers
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In-house company trainers
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Entrepreneurs
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Private teachers

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Structure
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Three elements to certification
– Project course
– Narrative document (reflective analysis)
– Objective exam
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80% overall to achieve pass
– 80% course project and narrative
– 80% objective exam
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These three elements directly relate to the
eight MTC Skill Sets...

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MTC process
Preparation

Registration with Moodle Partner

(mentor-assessor assigned)

Course project
8 weeks
80% Narrative

Exam +4 weeks

Automated certificate

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Preparation for candidates
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Read the Moodle Certification Guiding Principles
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Browse through the MTC FAQ
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Review the MTC Candidate Guide and Skill Sets
– Explore each of the eight Skill Sets in more detail
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Read the MTC exam weighting
– Try the MTC quiz (orientation to exam)
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Explore the MTC course project Wiki
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Read the document Am I ready to register and start
the Moodle Teacher Certificate?
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Read through posts in the Moodle Teacher Certification
- news and community discussion forum
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Register votes in the Choices area
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Use the database to locate and register with a Moodle
Partner

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Skill Sets
1.Environmental technology 5.Using Activities
Browsers, cookies, plug-ins, Assignment, Chat, Forum,
access speeds... etc.

2.Generic Moodle skills 6.Multimedia and resources

Settings, formats, editor, Images, Audio, Movies,
themes... Flash...

3.Moodle blocks 7.Participant management

Use of all standard blocks... Enrolment, Grades, Scales,
communication...
4.Using Resources
Text, labels, links, 8.Course management
directories... Groups, Logs, Files, etc.

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Skill Sets assessment

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Balance of Skill Sets in Exam
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Environmental technology (5%)
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Generic Moodle skills (10%)
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Moodle blocks (30%)
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Using Resources (10%)
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Using Activities (30%)
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Multimedia and resources (5%)
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Participant management (5%)
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Course management (5%)

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Skill Set weighting in Exam
Course
management Environmental
Participant 5% technology
management 5%
5% Generic
Moodle skills
10%
Multimedia
and resources
5%

Moodle Blocks
30%
Using
Activities
30%

Using
Resources
10%

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Competition or Compliment?
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The MTC can form part of a wider programme
– An academic qualification in e-learning can include
the MTC as a practical component part
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Very cost effective
– MTC can be used as a standard within an
organisation for numerous staff

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‘Short and sweet’
– Typical candidate: 40-50 hours over eight weeks
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Certification Central Administration also assist
with cross-credit mapping and articulation into
other qualifications

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Interest since launch
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MTC has been implemented in a very low-key
way – no 'big bang' launch – allowing Partners
time to gear-up and translate key information
for local markets. Since the launch on 1st May
we have candidates from:
– New Zealand
– Singapore
– Croatia
– UK
– Spain
– Italy
– Colombia
– Germany
– USA

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Participants in Certification area
Argentina Brazil Chile Colombia

Mexico Peru Venezuela Guam

USA Austria Bosnia Denmark

Finland France Germany Greece

Ireland Italy Netherlands Norway

Poland Portugal Russian Fed Serbia

Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland

UK Iran Jordan Lebanon

Costa Rica Liberia Morocco RSA

Sudan UAE Australia China

Hong Kong India Indonesia Japan

Korea New Zealand Pakistan Philippines

Singapore Sri Lanka Taiwan Thailand

Vietnam

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Participants in Certification area
S America
9%

Europe
27%

N America
25%

UK
18%

Australasia Middle East

15% 6%

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Support for candidates
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Various support mechanisms:
– Personal mentor-assessor
– The Moodle Certification area
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Forums
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Chat
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Wikis
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FAQ
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Links to specific resources

– Orientation quiz – all participants

– Practice exams – for registered candidates
– Example projects – optional (in development)

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Mentor-assessors
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The registering Moodle Partner assigns a
mentor-assessor to the candidate. Mentor-
assessors have:
– Completed the MTC
– Completed an additional mentoring development
programme specifically devised for MTC
– A teaching qualification and/or extensive educational
background
– Supported Moodle users and e-learning previously

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Mentor-assessors
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Moodle Partners select their mentor-assessors
– Important with the global nature and so many
different languages
– All candidates complete a mentor-assessor
evaluation at the end of their programme
– This feedback is used by central administration, and
Moodle Partners, to review the performance of
mentor-assessors

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Registration
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Candidates can find the MTC contact for their
local Moodle Partner in the database in Moodle
Certification on moodle.org
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Where there is no Moodle Partner in a specific
country, candidates may
– Register with a Moodle Partner in a neighbouring
country
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Probably chosen because of language

– Register with Central Certification Administration

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Support only available in English and only available if
no Moodle Partner exists in the candidates country

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Administration
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Being managed through Moodle Partners in
each country has several advantages:
– Ensures quality
– Maintains consistent global standards
– Can link with authorised training programmes
– Translations to other languages possible
– Local representation
– Easier fee payment
●
Partners are supported through a dedicated
certification area on Moodle.com to aid
coordination between all Partners

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Future development
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Moodle 1.6
– Existing documentation now being duplicated and
revised for 1.6
– Blogs, Database, Reporting, etc.!
– Exam versions will run side-by-side for 2006
●
Translations
– German
– Spanish – European
– Spanish – South American
– Italian
– Croatian, Serbian, Bosnian
– Slovenian
– Danish
– Mandarin

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Furture development - MAC
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Moodle Administrator Certificate (MAC)
– Technically orientated
– For administrators and advanced teachers
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For people who set-up and manage Moodle
installations
– PHP
– Networking
– Operating Systems and environments
– Optional Blocks and Modules
– Server management and maintainence
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Will require candidates to set-up a server

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Furture development - MUC
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Moodle User Certificate (MUC)
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Primary focus on the use of Moodle as a learner
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Audience
– Non-editing teachers
– Students
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Possibly used as a lead-in to MTC
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Will be relatively quick, low-admin, and cheap

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Further details
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Moodle Partners in each country are a primary
contact point
.
●
Moodle Certification course on Moodle.org
provides general and up-to-date MTC
information and materials.
– Public forums (where we DO answer questions!)
– Orientation quiz
– Candidate wikis
– Frequently Asked Questions
– General help
– Contact details

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End
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Thank you

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MTC Moodle Partner details
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Edit this slide with contact details for the
specific Moodle Partner…

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