The MCI Online program uses Moodle as its learning management system. Moodle allows us to organize and deliver lectures, exercises, and quizzes over the Internet, exchange materials with students, and track their progress as they learn the skills needed to be church cantors and readers.
To use Moodle, you will need:
- a computer with an Internet connection, and either speakers or headphones
- a web browser, such as Firefox, Chrome, Safari, or Internet Explorer
- a vald email address
You can also use a tablet computer or even a smartphone (though very small screen sizes will make some coursework difficult).
Creating a Moodle user name
Any member of the Byzantine Catholic Church can obtain a Moodle user name to allow them to access MCI courses.To create a user name and password, just go to
http://mci.archpitt.org/online
Click on “Log in” (in the upper right), then “Create a new account”. Fill in the requested information, including your parish, with city and state, then click “Create my new account.”
A request will go the MCI staff, and as soon as it is processed, you will receive an email with login directions.
Logging in to Moodle
Point a web browser to
http://mci.archpitt.org/online
and log in with your Moodle user name and password. On the Moodle main page, you will see a list of available courses.
Setting up your Moodle profile
On the Moodle main menu, click on the down arrow beside your name in the upper right, then click on “Profile.” This will show your name and email address; click on “Edit profile” to see all your profile information. Here, you can change your password, update your email address, and add a photo of yourself if you like. Click on “Update profile” to save any changes.
To return to the Moodle main menu, click on “MCI” in the upper left. Each student also has a dashboard (click on “Dashboard to go to it) that shows your current courses and other information.
Enrolling in a Moodle course
On the Moodle main menu, click on a course name, then on “Enroll me.”
- A few courses, including Becoming a Cantor and Plainchant of the Byzantine Catholic Church, can be taken for free. No course key is needed.
- Most courses require registration and payment for the MCI program. Registration will include course key information.
Taking a Moodle course
A Moodle course is divided into topics, consisting of lessons (reading material, video lectures, or podcasts), practical learning assignments, and quizzes. Do them in order, taking the time to master each lesson pretty thoroughly.
For some lessons, the same material is available in several forms (for example, as both a podcast and a written text). Use whichever form works better for you. Lessons whch are particularly important have a checkbox to the right; check this box once you have read, watched, or listened to the material.
Most learning assignments and quizzes can be repeated as many times as necessary until you feel you have mastered the material. The checkbox to the right of these assignments will be checked automatically by Moodle once you have successfully completed the assignment. (The passing grade for most quizzes is 90%, since you need to master the material; remember that quizzes can be repeated.)
Here is a very short Moodle lesson, with one learning assignment (a podcast to listen to) and a quiz.
Some assignments will involve demonstrating particular melodies or singing skills to your mentor (if you have one), or recording them and uploading the recording for review. Your mentor or an MCI instructor will provide you with feedback, and mark the assignment as completed once you have mastered the assignment.
Each course will begin with a statement of the goals for the course, and end with information about what course(s) to take next.
When you have completed all the lessons and assignments for a particular course, your work on that course is done, and it will be added to your list of completed courses. You can unenroll from the course as soon as you have finished it. In general, we recommend working on no more than two courses at one time.
Classroom teaching
Courses that are particularly suitable for in-person learning (such as Introduction to Church Singing) may be taught, in whole or in part, in a classroom setting. Students will be asked to do preliminary reading for the course, then attend the remainder in person. The classroom instructor(s) will mark as complete all assignments that were completed in class. Classroom courses will be announced through the MCI website and blog.
Questions and problems
If you have questions, suggestions, or problems relating to a particular course, please post about them in the discussion forum at the top of each Moodle class page, just under the course goals.
If you have questions or problems related to the entire Moodle system, send emaIl to mci@archpitt.org.