Using Moodlereader to Monitor and extensive reading programme at Sultan Qaboos University for the foundation programme.

1. 17 November 2013
http:bit.ly//moodlereadermajlis
SQU Language Centre
Faculty Academic Support Unit
Student Support Unit
A Moodlereader
based Extensive
Reading Programme
in SQU

2. Faculty
Academic
Unit
Support
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3. Agenda
Extensive Reading Background
Moodlereader
Project Implementation
Developments & Issues
The Next Steps
Q&A – Participants and All Presenters
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I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.

4. Extensive Reading…
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is reading a lot of easy and
enjoyable books.

5. Intensive Reading Extensive Reading
Should be easy
Fast
Aim is to build
confidence and
enjoyment
Choice of material to
appeal to personal
interests
Pleasure focused
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Can be challenging
Slow
Aim is to teach
specific strategies
and skills
Material usually
selected by
curriculum/teacher
Test focused

6. Easy!
Comprehensible input
Krashen
i+1
Day
i minus 1
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Reading fluency level

7. The need for reading speed
Read slowly
Don’t enjoy
reading
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Don’t
read
much
Don’t
understand
much

8. The need for reading speed
Read faster
more
Enjoy
reading
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Read
more
Understand

9. Learners that engage in
Extensive Reading….
improve reading rate
become more fluent readers
make gains in motivation and attitude toward
reading and make gains in overall L2 proficiency
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become better readers (and better readers are
usually betters writers and betters spellers)

10. The Past……..
In class quiz
Book report
Book review
In-class discussion
Book “show and tell”
• Time consuming for students
• Time consuming for teachers
• Sometimes demotivating for students
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11. The Present
• Moodlereader
Moodle websites to support Extensive Reading:
• moodlereader.org (M1.9)
• moodlereader.com (M2,3)
• local independent site
simplified site
for schools and
small institutions,
not using Moodle
user management
tools.
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• MReader

12. The Choices
Whether to run a local site or use the Moodlereader server?
Would prefer to manage our own, but not allowed to run an
internet access moodle site from within the University for
security reasons
Originally chose M1.9 but volunteered to use upgraded
M2.x site as quiz service is better optimized and quicker
and we would be one of only a few institutions using the
website so likely to have more bandwidth available
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Choice between Moodle 1.9x and Moodle 2.x?

13. The Site
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• Free
• Uses Open Source software (currently Moodle
2.3.1)
• Has additional blocks and plugins to manage
database of book titles and levels and the quizzes.
• Standard Moodle login and student management
tools, plus teachers’ ability to upload students into
groups from the course page not just from the
admin interface.
• Quizzes for c. 2,000 books from Beginners to
Advanced
• Run by English teachers for English teachers
• A community to which you can contribute

14. Student’s Main Page
Covers of books read successfully
List of quizzes taken
Search by publisher
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Search by title words

15. Choosing a Graded Reader
Important information
1. Books are organized by TYPE and then MOODLE READER LEVEL
2. TYPE tells what kind of book:
Action/Adventure (A) Horror (H)
Human Interest (HI)
Romance (R),
Mystery (M)
Short Stories (S)
People/Places/Things/Ideas (P)
3. MOODLE READER LEVEL is NOT the same as the LC course level. The table below
suggests the MOODLE READER LEVEL that will probably be comfortable for you in
your course.
230
340
450
560/603
Moodle Reader
Level
Level 1
Level 2
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
Level 7
TYPE
MOODLE READER
LEVEL
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Your LC
Course
120

16. The Books - 1
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17. The Books - 2
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18. The Books - 3
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19. The Quizzes
Quizzes for over 2,000 books
Easy quizzes which can be done “open book”
Timed – usually 15 mins., some shorter
Usually 10 questions (4 types)
Adjustable success criterion (Ours is 60%)
Once only, repeats only in special circumstances
• Fairly standard format
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Some MCQs
Some T/F
Some list choice, who said what to whom?
One - order the events
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20. Sample Questions 1
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21. Sample Questions 2
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22. Reports
• Organised for your class
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23. Moodlereader At SQU
Attempted introduction prior to 2009
Introduced Spring 2011: Pilot Project
Change in Library Management and Policies
Incorporated in LC Curriculum Fall 2011
4,130 users in 2011-13
2,968 active users in all of 2012-3
2,680 active users in Fall Semester 2013
636 books where quiz taken and passed at least once
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24. Issues 1
• Quiz Quality Uneven
• Significant quality control in progress
• Quizzes done where books not read?
• Posssibly some cheat sheets circulating
• Some control with cheat feature (similar time / same quiz)
• Moodlereader hiccups at busy times
• Control student timing – avoid need for rush periods
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• Direct Cheating

25. Issues 2
• Password Control
• Password emails blocked by
security systems outside Oman
• Setting the passmark
• How many books
• Was 4 (too few) per semester, now 8, enough?
• Dealing with late arrivals
• Students miss briefing, some teachers don’t compensate
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• What level should it be?

26. How about an extensive reading
program in your school or college?
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27. The End
Academic
Unit
Support
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