Perkins, Matthew and Plaffman, Jay. The Science Teacher (2006). 73(7). p 33-38. Retrieved from ProQuest Database May 24, 2007.

Summary
Although Course Management Systems are commonplace in higher education, more K-12 educators are also exploring how these systems can improve student learning and communication in traditional K-12 education as well. Some schools utilize simple tools like online gradebooks that can be accessed by students and parents, but others are taking advantage of open-source software such as Moodle to facilitate communicate and give greater access to coursework.
A site on Moodle can include both resources and activities. Resources include documents (such as assignments or PowerPoint presentations) uploaded to Moodle or instructor-created pages. Instructors can also add podcasts (such as news feeds like The New York Times). Activities on a Moodle site include assignment turn in, discussion forums, chat, quizzes, and a wiki. Moodle formats all pages to have a uniform look.
Utilizing a Moodle site in a traditional classroom can help students in several ways. Students who are absent now can have access to coursework and assignments at home. Parents can see lessons, assignments, and due dates, and instructors have the ability to update these items at any time. While some students may not have internet access at home, giving those who do have it the opportunity to access course materials there allows teachers more time to assist those without it in class.
For teachers, Moodle can serve as a way to access coursework and student from home as well as school. It can also serve as a planning record to remind instructors how they organized or paced a course in a previous year or semester. If teachers of the same course follow the same order of lessons, they can coordinate lesson planning and manage a Moodle site together, which cuts the workload for individual instructors.
Although sites like Moodle are more commonly used in higher or distance education, they may be a valuable resource in traditional K-12 education as well.

Response:
I found the ideas in this article interesting--and it made me think about looking into using a software system like this for my own class. I liked the ideas that the authors gave for how to use Moodle in a K-12 class because in the past, I've only thought of systems like this as a resource for higher or distance educators. One huge issue I see with high school students is the ability to manage make up work (or lack thereof!) and keep track of handouts, due dates, etc. Using a system like this would be a way to give them access to this information from home as well as giving them the opportunity to be able to turn in work electronically--which might help with another one of my chronic problems, missing assignments. This also helps make classes and expectations more transparent to parents and administrators. That might help parents feel like they can be more active participants in their kids' education because they are more in the know about what is going on in class.