Abstract:

New didactic methodologies have received considerable attention in recent years based on the correct use of new technologies. Developments in virtual instrument technologies greatly changed the traditional approach to teaching and practical experimentation at any educational level, from technical high schools and undergraduate academic courses through master’s and Ph.D. studies to continuous education and training in the industry.

In this way, two different methodologies can be carried out: E-learning and Blended learning, both as a consequence of the new software tools for the development of virtual instruments and the tools for the computer interconnection at great distance has increased steadily. E-learning is completely based on distance teaching where the face-to-face interactions between professor and students are minimized. However, this didactic transformation is performed with different on-line communication tools and other virtual tutor ones which facilitate the on-line interactions. Second approach, denominated blended learning, is a new methodology characterized by the combination of the face-to-face and online instructions using the adequate tools for each educative necessity where parts are online and parts are offline. B-learning increases the options for greater quality and quantity of human interaction in a learning environment and provides interactions which give the profound effect that it could have on distance learning.

Two different platform types have been developed: commercial and open source ones. Some of the commercial platforms are Blackboard, WebCT, and Lotus Learning Space. Regarding open source platforms, the main ones are Atutor and Claroline. Recently, an improvement in platform performance has been achieved by the introduction of the Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment (Moodle). The major advantages of Moodle over other platforms are open source, great community of users, a simple programming language (PHP), a learning content management system (LCMS), imports the course contents in different formats (SCORM, Flash, and RSS channels), and works in Linux, BSD, Mac OS-X and Windows.

The aim of this work was to carry out a new teaching method for the bioactive compound extraction systems in functional foods through B-learning using face-to-face seminars and different collaborative tools provided by Moodle. Group forums, wikis, databases and glossaries are a few examples of the tools proposed in this study to support collaborative pedagogical approaches in learning content management system.