Interviews

Milt Huling is the Sr. Coordinator for Secondary Science for the Polk County Public School System.  He was 40 years old when he started to seriously learn how to use a personal computer. 

I had the privilege of asking him a few questions regarding his use of Moodle. 

1.  What have you used Moodle for? 

It is a blank toolbox…so, depending on the need, I have used it in many ways, but mostly as an organizational tool.  My biggest project so far is providing resources to secondary science teachers.  For instance, there are now a host of materials in the Secondary Science site for teachers, such as CISM articles, labs, activities, PPTs and videos.

2.  From your perspective do students benefit from having online content available 24/7?

Yes it is a magical time for students.  They are able to look at things in a much more interesting way than just a picture from the textbook.  On my site, for example, I have a list of links for students to use for enrichment and remediation.

3.  Do you have any recommendations for students who do not have access to on-line technology from home? 

This is something kids are going to have to have and need to learn how to use in order to function in the 21st century (if necessary, they will have to find a buddy).

4.  What type of content would you like to see made available in Moodle to PCPS teachers? 

My specific goal is to provide teachers useful resources (this is where I concentrate).  I am currently using Moodle to provide and compile a list of resources.  I want the teachers to have a place where they can go and choose a lesson (that they like).  I would also like to see teachers bring their own creativity to the Secondary Science site in Moodle.  Currently I am in Phase 1 and simply compiling.  My thoughts are once we get the quantity of lesson plans into Moodle, then the quality of these lessons will naturally evolve as teachers begin to use and tweak these lessons to meet their needs.  With the use of Moodle, curriculum can be modified instantly to react to the changing needs of students.  A teacher will not have to wait for the book industry to catch up with a newer edition.  Things are online and ready for our use.

5.  What type of content would you like to see made available in Moodle to PCPS students? 

I would like to see online text books…additional articles to supplement textbooks.  Virtual labs and videos…Essentially, everything the teacher might need to teach.

6.  How will using Moodle for Lesson Plan sharing benefit the PCPS teachers?

Sharing is the only way we will increase student achievement.  Why are we coming up with individual lesson plans?  Why are teachers unwilling to share the lesson plans?  This is a major hold back and we must start sharing. There is too much creativity going to waste and too many people working too hard. It would make so much more sense, at least in my mind, if teachers had a good lesson plan to start with that they could then make even better as they adapted it to their needs.

7.  How will using Moodle for Lesson Plan sharing benefit the PCPS students? 

  The better the lesson then the better the outcome for the student.

8.  Do you have any recommendations to assist teachers with Moodle? 

Start having teachers list out what they specifically want and need and then we can target those needs.

9.  What is your vision for PCPS teachers & Moodle?

  I say let’s have a total integration…let their desktop be Moodle!!!  We are only scratching the surface right now!!! Having everything at teacher’s finger tips could transform how we do things within this district. Teachers could spend less time searching for activities and labs or creating a lesson from scratch and have more time to spend on thinking about implementation of those lessons.  Everyone wins. The teachers have a burden lifted from them, we (the district) can utilize teacher creativity more efficiently, and the students receive a better curriculum.