[K12OSN] Moodle, et al

[Mark Cockrell <cockrell honeygroveisd net>]

Ok, here's where my position as a tech and not as a teacher is a bit of 
a detriment.  Moodle- I know what it is, but I'm not sure I "get it."  
Could some of you teachers out there who are using it help me out.  When 
a teacher asks me *why* he should use something like Moodle, what can I 
tell them?  Being a geek my initial response is, "Well, it's really 
cool!" but that doesn't really seem to resonate with those who will 
actually be using the application.  Why are Moodle and its ilk a good 
thing?  What can you do with them that you can't do without them?  Why 
should a teacher use these tools as opposed to the tried-and-true 
methodologies that have been in use for generations?  I'm not looking 
for an idealistic treatise on the nature of learning and the miracle of 
the read/write Web.  I'm looking for a way to make a middle-aged English 
Lit. teacher see the *benefit* of using such a tool.  Explaining why 
they should, or what the current educational research shows doesn't show 
them how it'll make their job easier/better.  Any takers?

--

C-ya,
Mark
____
"There are three ingredients to the good life; learning, earning, and yearning." -- Christopher Morley