YouTube includes a largely unknown feature that makes it quick and easy to record video. That’s right – record video! It’s easy because no other video software is needed, it records directly into YouTube. Educators can quickly record a video … More 
Elon University has been supporting Blackboard since the late 1990’s. Presently, there are approximately 1,700 active sites and 7,000 users. The Elon University license with Blackboard expires in June 2012 and as a result Teaching and Learning Technologies (TLT) and the Academic Technology and Computing Committee (ATACC), are examining the e-Learning requirements for the university to ensure the Learning Management System (LMS) provides functionality to meet faculty course needs. There has been a substantial movement in higher education toward the adoption of alternative course management systems due to similar functionality, user control, and cost effectiveness.
Since the summer of 2010, TLT and ATACC have been evaluating Moodle as an alternative to Blackboard. The progression of study outlined below, targets academic concerns such as course navigation, ease of use, communication and organizational tools, course content, and assessment. Based on function faculty and student feedback, and cost, Moodle has proved to be a viable alternative to Blackboard. Throughout the 2011-2012 academic year, TLT will solicit feedback on Moodle functionality as we prepare for the campus-wide transition in June of 2012.
While Blackboard is more fully featured out of the box, Moodle offers numerous opportunities to choose tools and features that may better meet our specific needs, without paying for those that don’t. Since Moodle is much less expensive than Blackboard, we’ll be able to invest more in customizing the LMS, to include specific features that faculty need. Moodle also offers integration with our Datatel system.
Spring 2012 is the final phase of evaluation before transitioning from Blackboard to Moodle. Stay ahead of the deadline by providing feedback, attending Moodle training, and moving your summer and fall courses to Moodle. Find answers to some of the most common Moodle questions in the Technology wiki.
Contact TLT at 278-5006 or TLT@elon.edu to learn more.
Fall 2010 Phase I Study of Blackboard & Moodle
• Running both Blackboard & Moodle concurrently
• Faculty & student feedback
• Training, course migration, & transition support available
January 2011 Study report data compiled; Moodle suggestions/enhancements noted
Spring 2011 Phase II Study of Blackboard & Moodle
• Running both Blackboard & Moodlerooms concurrently
• Faculty & student feedback
• Training, course migration, & transition support available
May 2011 Study report data compiled; Moodle suggestions/enhancements noted
Summer 2011 Moodle available for summer courses
• Running both Blackboard & Moodle concurrently
• Faculty & student feedback
• Training, course migration, & transition support available
Fall 2011 Phase III Study
• All newly hired faculty for Fall 2011-2012 academic year introduced to Moodle
• Faculty volunteers to use Moodle
• Faculty & student feedback
• Running both Blackboard & Moodle concurrently
• Training, course migration, & transition support available
January 2012 Final Moodle suggestions/enhancements implemented
Spring 2012 Training, course migration, & transition support available
Summer 2012 Elon campus using one LMS
If you are interested in learning more about Moodle and/or accessing it for course usage, contact TLT at x5006 or email TLT@elon.edu.
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