The main achievement of the first gathering in the continent is to serve as a baseline for Moodle. Only later events will help us gauge the real presence Moodle is having across the region. Also worth noting, the event was rebranded from its original MoodleMoot South Africa 2018. Possibly during the event it became clear the profile of speakers and participants was wide enough to represent all 54 countries.
Our first MoodleMoot in Africa has brought together more than 150 educators, developers, instructional designers and administrators for two days of Moodle and edtech talks! Follow the conversation at #MootAFR18! pic.twitter.com/Hcje09fGs7
— Moodle (@moodle) October 12, 2018
As always, check out our Twitter Moment:
????????https://t.co/e8qDDAV1nX
— MoodleNews (@moodlenews) October 14, 2018
African Skills
#MootAFR18 @solangelalonde @leighbubz @chartallbc.. Ask yourself whenever you design a new course… 1)Whose voice is mirrored in this content?; 2) whose is missing?; 3) How does it contribute to quality education? Key questions for all levels of education in SA.
— karen deller (@deller_karen) October 12, 2018
Teaching math skills targeting low-income students, taking into account existing levels of concentration; as well as insight at the university level, with possible use for higher education in other places, were key messages throughout the gathering.
"My main aim is NOT online learning, it is LEARNING. If my students have a challenge with being online, I must take them offline." – Andriene van As of Two Oceans Graduate Institute
As much as we're advocates of e-learning tech, the above is also as important. #MootAFR18 #Moodle
— iTukela (@iTukela) October 12, 2018
Akademia by die eerste dag van @moodlemootafr. #BouBande #LeerMeer #BeterNaBeste #MootAfrica2018 #eLeer pic.twitter.com/zBvM8CSTZP
— Akademia (@OnsAkademia) October 11, 2018
So it makes sense to make out of this first gathering an opportunity to listen.
How to motivate academics to integrate Moodle into teaching and learning, by Nompilo Tshuma from Rhodes University #edtech #MootAFR18 pic.twitter.com/eGfxsC5pF2
— MoodleMoot Africa (@moodlemootafr) October 11, 2018
Andrew Barret from @olicomaths shares how they are using Moodle to improve maths in low-income communities at #MootAFR18. pic.twitter.com/cUuKoaUGUA
— MoodleMoot Africa (@moodlemootafr) October 11, 2018
Moodle and Africa
One should aspire [aim] to have their #Moodle accessible by default to the widest audience. Even though it is not always possible, but gradual practices must be continuously applied in ensuring that content is most accessible. – Karen Hollard #MootAFR18 #Accessibility
— iTukela (@iTukela) October 12, 2018
Under the excitement and as a promising first meet, many questions remain unanswered, especially from those who believe Moodle is missing a concrete developing world strategy. Partners continue to be put at the head of the Moodle spear, but to serve the whole continent there are only two: eThink Education and AOSIS. Meanwhile, there are an estimated 30 million children ages 6 to 11 missing from classrooms.
I wonder if #moodle understand that not all good/expert Moodle users and institutions aren't dependent on Moodle Partners? Waiting for partners to be trained when we could also provide training ???????? #MootAFR18 what about making facilitator pool larger? #openaccess #community
— Lianne (@lkeiller) October 12, 2018
Not to say Moodle has not made conscious efforts to spread its awareness in the emerging world. Or that Moodle HQ is the only one responsible. Many organizations in much better position could in fact take advantage of the Open Source LMS to create measurable and sustained impact.
#MootAFR18 Moodle is a social initiative – a free LMS, co-created by 1000s of developers for the good of everyone & for the promotion of quality learning. Great passion for learning here. How can we harness this for SA society… we need this. @chartallbc @leighbubz
— karen deller (@deller_karen) October 12, 2018
#MootAFR18 learning analytics is critical to predict, describe, diagnose and prescribe. But to do it right you need to understand your pedagogy and goal for learning first (most people passing is not the only goal) @leighbubz @chartallbc @solangelalonde
— karen deller (@deller_karen) October 12, 2018
As some already have
How does Moodle empower entrepreneurs and small businesses to secure their future? Read all about @FINCA's experiences to find out : https://t.co/2MtyiZfpzH pic.twitter.com/par1YSyGMo
— Moodle (@moodle) October 8, 2018
