Getting Math in Moodle is Easy
September 3rd, 2009
Very rarely do learning management systems (Blackboard, Angel, D2L, etc.) do math well. However this is definitely the exception.
Personally, I use Moodle as an LMS on TeachingCollegeMath to host discussion groups and workshop materials. It’s free, it’s relatively painless to get it up and running, and frankly, it tends to get features that incorporate new technologies faster than the other guys.
One thing that Moodle does particularly well is math. Just turn on the LaTeX editor and you’re good to go. When I was getting started, I asked Bob to make us a tutorial on how to get your math editing up and running in Moodle. Kindly, he obliged (click here) and I was surprised how easy it is. I swear, this one is painless. First, you turn on TeX notation in Moodle:
Then you can use TeX or use MathType to paste the TeX into Moodle! Since I am notoriously bad at using TeX, Bob was nice enough to make me a second video showing us exactly how to go from MathType to Moodle. The surprising part? You can go in reverse too! Just drag the equations from Moodle back to MathType! Watch the video to see how.
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I’ve been using moodle with my Precalc students and Calculus students for the past year and also find it fairly easy to get the math into it. For those people who don’t have MathType, sitmo.com can also provide the LaTeX fairly easily, but you do have to remember to add in the delimiters around the LaTeX expression.
Inline expression: \( LaTeX \)
Display expression: \[ LaTeX \]
I just started using Moodle for a Proofs course I’m teaching. Because of the ease of math notation using LaTeX, I prefer Moodle over other platforms.
BTW, I am using a free moodle hosting site called http://www.keytoschool.com (Not affiliated with these folks – just wanted to pass on the info.)
Nothing to install or configure – just set up a course and you’re off!
Thanks Maria — I referenced this at Moodle.org for others like us who maybe needed “the word” from someone who is using it!