Moodle

Dear parent(s),
We have been developing our ICT capabilities over the last few weeks with the introduction of a brand new Moodle. Moodle is known as a VLE or Virtual Learning Environment. RCT are investing heavily in the project and over 70 schools (out of 143) are developing Models . Each child in years 5 and 6, has been allocated a user name and they have all devised their own passwords. We have stressed the importance of keeping passwords safe and personal, however, we would encourage them to share passwords with parents so that you can see the merits of the VLE, and view the work that they are doing in the Moodle. The Moodle can be easily accessed from our class blogs.
Advantages of using Moodle include;
• Online learning environment as a means of communication with pupils, parents and the wider community.
• Teachers can use the environment to support and enhance their classroom activities, allowing pupils to interact with learning materials and activities outside of school.
• With 14 of the 19 secondary schools being part of the RCT Moodle (including Y Pant), there has never been a better time to explore ways that Moodle can support and improve curriculum continuity from primary to secondary school.
• The Moodle is a safe environment for children which can only be accessed by invitation.
• Work can be set by teachers, uploaded by pupils, shared by pupils and even marked online whilst giving the pupil instant feedback.
• Moodle has a chat facility that can only be accessed by members of the VLE, thus providing a safe environment for your children to communicate with each other.
Since the introduction of blogs, we at Pontyclun Primary have had a direct and effective method of communicating with parents. In time we will hope to integrate our blog and Moodle but for the moment they will both run concurrently.
Over the next few months, year 6 children will be taking part in a Moodle transition project with Y Pant pupils to answer any questions that year 6 pupils may have before reaching the secondary school.
As part of our term studying the Victorians we would like to set a project for the children to do as homework over the next four weekends. The week commencing 14th February (last week of half term) the children will be asked to present a 2-5 minute talk on a subject of their choice from the following:

Queen Victoria and the Royal Family
The Victorian Empire
Rich Victorian Children
Poor Victorian Children
School life in Victorian Times
Victorian workhouses
Victorian Factories
Children’s lives in Welsh mines
The Shaftesbury report
Barnado's
Famous Victorian Inventions
Famous Victorians
Victorian Transport
Victorian clothes
Victorian toys

Your child is welcome to use the computers in school (at least 1 hour per week for this task) or at home, the library, books in school and or any books at home. The presentation does not need to be done via pc’s but any children who wish to upload their presentations to the class Moodle will be very welcome. They will be shown how to do this over the next few weeks – as well as being shown basic use of Microsoft power point. The presentation will form part of your child’s speaking and listening work in year 5 and build towards similar projects in year 6.

Yours sincerely
A. Llewellyn, Mrs, Gardiner, Miss Harwood