If you were a computer programmer the term “Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment” (Moodle) might make your heart skip a beat. If you were a teacher you might recognize the word as a verb that describes the process of lazily meandering through something, doing things as it occurs to you to do them, an enjoyable tinkering that often leads to insight and creativity.

As such it applies both to the way Moodle was developed, and to the way a student or teacher might approach studying or teaching an online course. Anyone who uses Moodle is a Moodler. The Australian developer of Moodle (Martin Dougiamas), is both an educator and computer scientist. This combination brings unique qualifications to the art and science of using technology to reach learners in the 21st century.