Virtual Learning Environments

• College Composition & Communication: Online Writing Instruction: Principles and Effective Practices 
• Chris Friend, Will MOOCs Work for Digital Writing, Hybrid Pedagogy
• Online tools for aligning lessons to the Common Core Standards

MOOCs 

• Veletsianos, G. (2013). Learner Experiences with MOOCs and Open Online Learning. Hybrid Pedagogy.

Moodle

• Moodle
• Using Moodle: book download
• 2-minute video tutorials on Moodle
• Office Add-on for Moodle
• Campus Technology: Setting up a Moodle site
• University of Minnesota: Setting up and using Moodle
• Lindsay Jordan: Video: Using Moodle fo Peer Assessment
• Julian Ridden: E-portfolio options for Moodle
• Moodle eLearning Course Development
• Campus Technology: Administering a Moodle course
• Using Wimba voice tools in Moodle
• CoSN: K-12 OpenTech: Study of the implementation of Moodle
• Moodle Makes Its Mark on Education World, MinnPost
• Alja Sulcic: Virtual Worlds in Education and Moodle (describes use of Weblin)
• Weblin: Create 3D avatars to embed into Moodle
• Sloodle (combination of Moodle and Second Life)
• University of Minnesota: Using Moodle
• Adding a podcast to Moodle
• Piccle: International forums on literature and the media using Moodle
• Research: Benefits of using Moodle
• Luke Fernandez: Moodle and Social Constructionism

Google Classroom

• Google Classroom
• 100+ Great Google Classroom Resources for Educators 
• Alice Keeler: Google Classroom: LMS or Not? 
• 35 More Things You Can Do with Google Classroom 
• Using Google Classroom for organizing curriculum and instruction
• Johnathan Wylie: Descriptions on uses of Google Classroom

iTunes U

• Apple: iTunes U

Ning

 (charges $20.00 a year for the bottom-line platform)

• Ning
• Vance Stevens, TESL-EJ: The Ning Thing: Alternatives to Ning
• Video: Jenny Luca: Using Ning as a Platform for Classroom Learning Communities
• English Companion Ning
• K-12 classroom Ning sites
• Examples of Class Nings
• Ning in Education: Using Ning in the classroom

Drupal

• Drupal
• Social Media Classroom: free classroom site built on Drupal
• Drupal Gardens: Lighter version of Drupal that is easy to set up
• Jeremy Tirrell, Using Drupal in an Academic Environment, Kairos Webcourse tools wiki
• The Social Media Classroom: Drupal site created by Howard Reingold
• ReadWriteWeb: The Social Media Classroom: New Web 2.0 Platform for Education
• Drupal site: eOdyssey School, Denver, Colorado
• Drupal site: Meriwether Lewis Elementary School

Pearson: OpenClass (free)

• OpenClass

Edmodo

• Edmodo
• Video: Steven Anderson: Collaborative Classroom with Edmodo
• Vance Kite: 10 Tips for Getting Started with Edmodo

Gaggle

• Gaggle

Voces

• Voces high school digital curriculum

Other VLE sites

• Groopt
• WriteAbout: platform for sharing writing with different audiences 
• ITS Learning: cloud-based LMS
• Wixie: multimodal production platform 
• Edsby 
• Odysseyware 
• DocentEDU 
• 7 Free Fantastic Social Media Tools for Teachers
• 20 Social Networks for Lifelong Learners
• Directory of VLE sites
• 7 Social Media Tools for Teachers
• Social Media Classroom: free classroom site built on Drupal
• CourseKit: Course management system (CMS) designed by students
• Diipo: site for sharing work for classrooms
• Wiggio: Create groups for collaborative sharing of writing
• Engrade
• Desire2learn
• Saywire: Commercial social networking sites designed for schools
• WiZiQ: Free virtual video classroom platform
• Plone: Free course management system
• Edu 2.0
• Joomla
• Tappedin.org
• Sclipio
• Hotchalk
• Supercool School: Facebook application for creating a classroom site
• Textpattern
• Sakai
• Elluminate: Video-based VLE
• Studeous
• CollegeBrain.net
• Google Groups
• Vivaty: virtual 3-D chat sites
• Pageflakes
• Whyville: site for children/adolescents only
• Podcast: Deborah Fields: Avatar creation on Whyville
• Second Life
• Nicenet
• Sakai Project
• .LRN
• E-School News: Article about the use of .lRN open-source software
• Open University OpenLab: MSG: IMing tool for use with their OpenSource units
• Olat
• Panke, S., C. Kohls, and B. Gaiser. 2006. Participatory Development Strategies for Open Source Content Management Systems. Innovate 3(2).
• Horizon Wimba tools for audio interaction with WebCT/Blackboard/Moodle
• Many2Many: blog about social networking
• Mashable!: discussion of social networking
• Bryant, T. (2006). Social software in academia. EDUCAUSE Quarterly, 29(2)
• del.icio.us: social Networking

Commercial VLE's

• Blackboard
• LearningSpace (ePals)
• Angel Learning
• Desire2Learn
• Scholar360
• eCollege
• Second Life (non-structured environment)
• Comparisons of Different VLE's

3-D Virtual Learning/Chat Environments

• Active Worlds: chat in 3-D worlds
• Croquet: writing in a 3-D virtual context

For students 14 and under

• Club Penguin
• Webkinz World

Methods for Using VLEs

• Teaching and Learning at a Distance
• 4 Features to Look for in a 21st Century LMS
• 100 Inspiring Ways to Use Social Media in the Classroom
• Educause: Learning Space Design
• Wikipedia: Virtual Learning Environments
• Ros O'Leary, Using VLE's.
• Effective Use of VLEs
• Lisa Lane: Educause Quarterly (2008): Toolbox or Trap: Course Management Systems and Pedagogy