Abstract
E-learning plays a vital role in the educational process. Learning management systems are being essential component of e-learning. Moodle learning management system is being widely used in Higher Education Institutions due to the rich features it provides that support the learning process. Standard Moodle comprises 21 features (14 activities and 7 resources). Little research has been carried out to examine these features in particular. In this research, the awareness and usage of Moodle features among faculty members at Hashemite University, Jordan are investigated. A sample of 140 instructors were surveyed. Then, the responses were analyzed to find the overall awareness and usage of each feature. Furthermore, the correlation between awareness and usage and how the awareness of Moodle features is associated with their usage were analyzed through correlation and regression analysis. The study revealed that instructors expressed highest awareness towards File, Folder, Assignment, URL and Quiz features whilst the least awareness was towards SCORM package and IMS content package features. Regarding usage, the study identified the File, Folder, Assignment and URL features as the most heavily used features whereas the least commonly used features have been IMS Content Package, SCORM package, Wiki, Glossary, Workshop, Database, Survey, External tool and Choice. Moreover, the study statistically demonstrated a strong correlation between the awareness and usage of features and that changes in the awareness of Moodle features are significantly associated with changes in their usage. In other words, the study revealed that features with low awareness tend to have low usage and that the usage would increase as the awareness increases. The study would help Moodle administrators in Higher Education Institutions decide about the most important features that should be installed in their customized instance of Moodle. Furthermore, the study would help Hashemite University responsible parties in identifying the least commonly used and the least well-known features, allowing them to focus on increasing the levels of awareness and usage of those features in a way that might reflect positively on the learning process.
Highlights
E-learning is being involved considerably in higher education
Reliability tests resulted with a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.94 for the group of items that assess the awareness of Moodle features
Cautious comparison with similar works in the literature should be carried out as some of them investigated a subset of the standard Moodle features [4] [15], some investigated tools and features that are available in Moodle other than activities and resources [11] [13] [16], some investigated general features, criteria and tasks that could be supported by a Learning Management System (LMS) [12] [14]
Summary
E-learning is being involved considerably in higher education It is about the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in delivering education either fully online or partially (i.e. blended learning). In either form, two major components constitute the infrastructure of any e-course These components are the e-content and the Learning Management System (LMS). The instructor through the LMS can upload material, assignments, quizzes and answer questions, while students can read material, ask questions, communicate with each other and do assignments and quizzes. All these activities are performed online using the features that are embedded in the LMS
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