It’s a new academic year and I’ve decided to start using BuddyPress Courseware which, as the name may suggest, is a BuddyPress plugin which adds course management features. In fact, I’ve been thinking about “BuddyPress as a course management system” for a little while and I’m really glad that we’re getting closer to this goal.

This summer, Stas Sușcov did a lot of work on this Courseware plugin and documented the whole process through a WordPress-based microblog. A usable version of the plugin was released recently and  the full handbook is now available.

This semester, I’m using Courseware in parallel with Moodle in my two upper-level coursers. I’ll be teaching intro courses next semester and I’m hoping to either shift much of the activity away from Moodle or integrate the two in some way.

I perceive a number of advantages with using WordPress/BuddyPress as a platform for learning and teaching. For instance, WordPress in general is remarkably easy to use and manage, which is clearly an advantage in learning contexts (I want the learning to focus on other things besides the tools we use!). And WordPress has plenty of very useful plugins and themes which make it very flexible. having content in WordPress makes it easy to repurpose and redistribute (for instance, through blog publishing). BuddyPress itself adds a number of “social features” to WordPress in a seamless and simple way. And, contrary to tools and services owned by commercial entities (like Facebook and Twitter), outside interests don’t have any control on (or way to get into) individual BuddyPress and WordPress installations.

More than, say, Ning or Facebook, such group sites built on WordPress and BuddyPress can create a more nurturing environment, focused on learning and collaborative. More than, say, Moodle and Blackboard, these same group sites can enable collaboration between different groups as well as allow students to build and manage their own “content.”

I still enjoy Moodle but the “social features” envisioned as part of Moodle 2.0 seem to have either disappeared or became less interesting. Sakai 3 might end up having them but I can’t test it. As I’ve been doing a fair amount of work with WordPress in the past little while, BuddyPress seemed like a logical soclution, especially now that the Courseware plugin is really taking shape.

As I’m getting started with BuddyPress Courseware, I’ll probably have plenty to say. Chances are that I’ll post things on my personal blog here on LearningTwo.

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Alex

Enkerli.com

Teaching in the 21st century requires an understanding of the concept of Web 2.0 and Learning 2.0. This workshop will focus on demonstrations and descriptions of how web-based applications are being used in the classroom (i.e., Moodle, Open Technology, social networking tools like text messaging, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, podcasting, iTunes U and other technologies) to enhance creativity in teaching and learning along with the sharing and acquisition of new knowledge through collaboration. John Bentley is an Instructional Developer at the Centre for Teaching and Learning Services. Alexandre Enkerli is a Part-time Lecturer in Sociology. Cameron Hoffman is an Instructional Librarian.

Provenant de la notion de «Web 2.0», l’«apprentissage 2.0» est une approche de l’apprentissage qui tire parti des principes du Web et du média social. Ce site se veut être un lieu de rassemblement pour apprenants et enseignants intéressés par ces sujets.