Sharing the experience of teaching mathematics with Moodle

Abstract

Mathematics is one of the fundamental sciences and has applications in many academic fields. It is a compulsory subject for the first-year students at Aleksandras Stulginskis University. The non-engineering specialties have a small number of academic credits for studying mathematics. However, this course is quite extensive. It includes the basic topics of mathematics and it has its learning continuity. Moreover, studying mathematics requires active participation in the lectures and consistent self-study. We encounter the students' problem of incapability and inability to use mathematical literature. The generation of nowadays students is the generation of technologies. The article introduces the method of teaching mathematics using open source e-learning system Moodle. Moodle is widely used in the study processes at universities. The teaching and learning of mathematics has certain specifies using Moodle or using other e-learning environments. The writing of mathematical operations by mathematical symbols and drawing of graphs is complicated while the students work with Moodle. Moreover, the entire course of solution, understanding and application of the material studied are assessed in mathematics. This is not only the selection of correct answers or statements, which is characteristic to the test system in using Moodle. The purpose of the study is adjustment of Moodle for teaching mathematics to part-time students at University. The article presents the experience of preparation of material and organization of students' self-assessment in application of Moodle. The students were asked to name the advantages and disadvantages of learning with Moodle. The article presents the descriptive analysis of time and quality of the students' work in the Moodle environment. The students expressed positive opinion about usage of Moodle as additional tool for individual learning. They pointed out the necessity of the teacher's role for teaching process.