Martin will be speaking in the morning

More info at: moodle.com, moodle.org, en.wikipedia.org

Martin Dougiamas is the founder and lead developer of the Moodle open source learning management system.

His interest in technology in distance education began during childhood when he attended School of the Air from over 1000km away via shortwave radio in the central deserts of Australia. He has post-graduate degrees in both Computer Science and Education, as well as years of experience in teaching students and supporting University academics in the use of technology for education.

This background placed him in an ideal position to create and lead the Moodle project, which is a fusion of computer science and educational pedagogy, with a vibrant self-supporting community. Martin's research focussed on the development and use of a social constructionist referent to construct tools for creating communities. The Moodle community was deliberately formed with many of the same tools and ideals that he would like to see teachers using when creating learning communities of their classrooms.

Martin is also the managing director of Moodle Pty Ltd, the company at the centre of the commercial side of Moodle, based in Perth, Western Australia. Moodle Pty Ltd manages the Moodle brand and helps Moodle Partner companies around the world provide commercial services to clients such as institutions. The company is also responsible for the maintenance and quality assurance of the Moodle open source software and ongoing development of its core functionality and design.