Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) provides a structured environment in which a teacher makes decisions on how, when and what will be learned while everything can be monitored and controlled. However, Moodle 2.0 is developed as an integral part of the Web 2.0 environment. Moodle now supports integration with external repositories of content such as Alfresco, Amazon S3, Box.net, File system on Server, Flickr, Google Docs, Mahara, MERLOT, Picasa, Remote Moodle sites, WebDAV servers, Wikimedia, YouTube, and with external Blogs and Google Application (Moodle.org, Repository Support, 2010).

VLE vs. LMSSince Moodle 2.0 is much more than a Learning Management System (as it was during Web 1.0), the term Virtual Learning Environment is used more and more (Jandrić, 2008). Mahara, an open source ePortfolio and social-networking Web application already used by a few veterinary schools is a new addition to the Moodle family. It provides users with tools to create and maintain a digital portfolio of their learning since their first pre-veterinary courses to advanced achievements in their veterinary careers.  Mahara also has social-networking features so users can interact with each other, school, employers and recruiters. Mahara can be fully integrated with a Moodle single-sign-on system. Therefore, we can have one Mahara installation per each school, or all institutions can share the same Mahara installation.

In addition to reflective learning and social networking, Mahara provides teachers with tools to monitor and guide students’ intra- and extra-curricular activities. Also, with Mahara, recruiters can look for and attract the most appropriate candidates and project leaders to be the most suitable partners.

Personal Learning Environment

LMS and PLE. Moodle’s flexibility, networking capability and possibility to integrate with almost all major Web 2.0 applications is a strong framework for a Personal Learning Environment (PLE). Personal Learning Environment is a concept different than LMS. It is almost 100 percent in control of a student. A student makes decisions on when, how and what will be learned; a student creates new content.

Perfect combination. Although different, LMS and PLE make a perfect combination. They provide us with the possibility to combine well-structured, well-guided educational activities in a Moodle course with the benefits of a Personal Learning Environment and Web 2.0.

Super-productive Vet 2.0. PLE and Web 2.0 is a framework that supports “mass contribution model: a state wherein we all play a role in both creating and consuming everything" (Hodgins, 2007). Such mass contribution model my help us achieve “the immense scale that future learning demands.”