Learn-Moodle – the Official Learning Environment at HAMK
Article sections
System description
HAMK’s official learning environment is Learn, and its backend system is Moodle. The address is https://learn.hamk.fi.
Moodle is an open-source learning environment used in all HAMK and HAMI education. The learning environment includes courses for implementations, where the work supports the learning process. The distribution of learning materials, assignments and their submissions, and assessment takes place in the learning environment.
HAMK’s Moodle version is currently 4.1. The version update is usually done once a year in the summer.
Online learning environments, their use and limitations at HAMK
- Learn (learn.hamk.fi) is HAMK’s official online learning environment, designed and selected according to the official procurement and implementation process.
- It is easier for students if/when the same online learning environment is used for all online learning.
- According to HAMK’s archive creation plan, the material that is the basis of the evaluations must be kept for one year (by law, half a year). Content backups are kept from Moodle for 18 months, so the required storage times are met. There is no backup in Teams.
- The information collected by the Learn learning environment on student activities can be utilised in student guidance, as it is individual. The same data can also be viewed as group- and course-specific reports and analytics charts. Analytics in Teams only provides group-specific analytics data – assignment submission is the only information per student.
- There is an integration between the Peppi student administration and the Learn learning environment, which is used to create courses and automatically connect teachers and students approved for implementation to the courses in Learn.
- From the information management perspective, the Learn learning environment also enables the processing of confidential information, such as verbal assessments and performances. Currently, Teams is not suitable for processing confidential data. following HAMK’s data classification principles.
- For example, Teams can be a collaborative space for students on learning assignments during a module. The final assignments must always be submitted to the Learn learning environment so that all assessment information can be stored according to the regulations.
- The assessment of courses must always be saved in Peppi.
Comparison of Learn-Moodle and Teams usage possibilities and limitations
| Function | Learn (Moodle) | Teams |
| Student supervision / learning analytics | accurate personal information available | only general general information, no student-specific log information |
| View and structure | order freely editable,
several layout options available |
channel titles forcibly alphabetized. Channels have contents and tabs |
| Communication | one bulletin board discussion area in workspace, others can be added | forced general discussion area on every channel |
| Applications | a wide range of standard applications | by default only task and quiz |
| Additional applications,
eg Thinglink |
by embedding anything | a rich selection of add-ons can cause chaos in the student view |
| Accessibility | ReadSpeaker plugin in use | in assignments and contents Advanced reading program available to the student. Reading the channel list? |
| Mobile use | responsive + Moodle mobile app, also works on phone | mobile app, phone screen too small |
| Assessment | accumulates in the gradebook | accumulates on the Grades page |
| Storage of evaluation-related material | regular backups,
stored for at least 18 months |
no backup,
unused team loses after 6 months |
| Trash bin | 6 months, the teacher can return it himself | 3 months, the teacher can return it himself |
| Location of confidential material and environmental maintenance | in HAMK’s computer room, managed by HAMK and the Finnish Mediamaisteri Oy | Microsoft’s cloud service, which operates (as a rule) in the EU region |
| Processing of confidential material | can be processed | must not be processed |
| Student enrolment | Those accepted in Peppi are automatically transferred to Learn | completely handmade |
| Interactive working | requires switching to another service | meetings and live chats |
| Similarity check / Plagiarsim check | integrated, to Turnitin | can be integrated |
Teacher’s instructions
In Finnish: Ohjeita opettajalle, HAMKin omat ohjeet Moodleen|Learniin
In English: Teacher Quick Moodle Guide (moodle.org)
Student instructions
In Finnish: Opiskelijan pikaopas, HAMKin omat ohjeet Moodleen|Learniin
Student’s Guide
Brief instructions for using Moodle|Learn
Mobile use
The Learn learning environment can be used on mobile devices with the Moodle application installed. In the mobile application, the joining address https://learn.hamk.fi and log in with your HAMK ID (students username@student.hamk.fi, staff username@hamk.fi). The learning environment can also be used with the phone browser.
Open badges
You can complete badges in this regard.
- Student: Moodle expert (student), as part of the Starter Kit for Digital Skills, for new students.
- Teacher: Moodle user (basic skills) and Moodle Expert (advanced user). Read more in the intranet article.
