Innovations in Higher Education: MOODLE in Azerbaijan Universities

Aim of this study to describe innovations in higher education institutions and a way that they are applied in teaching and learning process in Azerbaijani universities. Nowadays knowledge and technology have a significant role in teaching and learning process in higher education. The changing scene of higher education institutions are requiring new technological implementation, new innovations and new approaches both in teaching and learning. The innovative teaching is one of the ways to enhance the quality of education. The use of innovations in higher education has a great impact in development of education and student accomplishments. Development and implementation of the ICT in education has brought many new opportunities and innovations, which are supported by the different teaching and learning platforms in higher education. This study is completed by retrieving information through a mixture of qualitative (literature review) and quantitative (survey questionnaires, focus group) methods to provide considerable evidence of the needs of Teaching and Learning in Azerbaijani Universities and MOODLE platform developed in Azerbaijani universities. Study was conducted online, and it was completed by 345 respondents from 8 partner and one non-partner universities in Azerbaijan. The link to the survey was sent out to partner universities by email and shared through social media.

I. Introduction

University scene changed a lot during past several decades and technology has become very important in higher education institutions. Various innovative teaching and learning methods are applied in many universities of the world. Innovations in teaching and learning help students to increase their effectiveness. Innovations in higher education and as well as in high education can be applied in two main forms: using technologies and using new methods for teaching and learning. Mr. K. Sadavell and et al. [4] saying that the meaning of innovative teaching method is an approach to integrate new teaching strategies and methods in the classroom. The benefits are certain processes, tools and methods on learning. Innovative teachers implement of new methods before they started to teach. In the use of innovative methods in educational institution is not only to improve education, but also to empower students’ knowledge.