The Whole Kit and Caboodle on Moodle

“A comparison of terms and functionality to Blackboard”

Jonathon Sweetin (NCCCS System Office)

Moodle

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Purpose

This presentation will also compare Blackboard 7.3x terms and functionality to Moodle 1.9x.

It is not a how-to-guide for using Moodle or Blackboard but intended to aid in the transition of Blackboard users to Moodle .

Disclaimer: I do not claim to be a Moodle expert but I do have experience administrating and teaching in both CMSs.

The Audience

The audience for this presentation are current Blackboard users who are experimenting with Moodle.

Agenda

Background Information– What is Moodle?– About Moodle– Moodle Architecture & Open Source– Moodle Support & Feedback

Similarities and/or Differences– Layout– Course Administration– Student Management– Content Management

Conclusion

What is Moodle?

Modular Object Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment

Anyone who uses Moodle is a Moodler

About Moodle

Is an active and evolving work in progress Started in the ‘90s, first released in 2002 Moodle.org user community Moodle.com company website Moodle Stats as of March, 2011:

– Registered sites: 50,453– Countries: 211– Courses: 4,342,410– Users: 40,988,674– Teachers: 1,137,941

Martin Dougiamas

Background in Information Technology Began developing Moodle while working as a

System Administrator for Web CT Web CT and Blackboard frustrated him “There

had to be a better way” Went on to complete a Masters and PhD in

education. Moodle was his thesis project. “It is crucial to me that this software be easy

to use - in fact it should be as intuitive as possible. “ Martin Dougiamas

Moodle Architecture

Designed to support a social constructionist framework of education

Learning is more effective when constructing something for others to experience based on what they already know

Students learn from each other and the teacher Moodle is not constrained by what will sell

well, so the code that is developed is often at the cutting edge of educational thinking

Open Source

Moodle is provided freely as Open Source software

Users are guaranteed the right to copy, modify and redistribute the software

The software itself is free, but Moodle makes money from it in other ways

Moodle is supported and updated by the company

More importantly though, it’s also supported by a huge online community of enthusiasts – Moodle.org

Moodle.org

Currently over 1,049,637 registered users(Mar 11)

Averages over 500 new users each day All of these people have a vested interest in

finding and fixing errors and making improvements to Moodle.

Student Feedback

Student feedback has been mostly very positive

Students just “get it”

Faculty Feedback

Overall very positive Once they get started they love it Course conversion is not easy Moodle is a mind-set shift; some handle it

better than others Instructors that tend to use discussion boards,

chats and group projects seem to be the most enthusiastic

•Layout•Course Administration•Student Management•Content Management

The following slides will illustrate some of the major Similarities and/or Differences in Blackboard 7.3LS and Moodle 1.9

Moodle / Bb Functionality Comparison

Blackboard: Layout

The Bb layout is based off the navigation bar on the left.

Within each content area, folders and subfolders can be used to further organize content.

Instructors like this method because it’s all very neat and organized.

Students must “jump around” in the course to find things and sometimes complain that it’s a bit confusing.

Moodle: Layout

The layout of Moodle can be as far away from Blackboard as you can get, everything’s just out there.

In Moodle, you do not have different content areas and folders…at least not in the same sense that you do in Bb.

Moodle is very “shallow” and this can be a huge hurdle for instructors accustomed to Bb.

Instructor’s resist not having their folders, but students actually seem less confused.

The use of Blocks allows the instructor to customize the tools and resources that students see.

Moodle: Layout

List of Blocks

Blackboard: Control Panel

In Bb, you can edit every part of the course from the Control Panel.

Blackboard’s Control Panel

Moodle: Administration Block

No control panel in Moodle.

Instructor-only options are in the Administration block.

No content editing is done from this block.

Moodle Administration Block

Blackboard: Edit View

Blackboard’s Edit View feature allows you to edit content right from the content page.

Content Page Before Clicking Edit View

Content Page After Clicking Edit View

Moodle: Turn Editing On

In Moodle, you use the “Turn Editing On” button to “turn on” the content editing tools.

Course Page Before Clicking Turn Editing On button

Course Page After Clicking Turn Editing On button

Blackboard: Course Options

Most changes to the course structure and settings are made from the Course Options area of the Control Panel.

Course Options area of the Control Panel

Moodle: Settings

Edit Course Settings is located in the Administration block

Most course structure and settings are controlled on this screen including:– Names– Summary– Course Format– Availability– Start Date– Enrollment Status

Edit Course Settings Screen

Blackboard: Enroll Users

Enroll User Screen in BB

Moodle: Assign Roles

Very different terminology from Bb Located under Administration Block. Enroll & Un-enroll is done on the same screen. **Unlike Blackboard, in Moodle when you un-

enroll a student their records ARE NOT LOST!**Assign Roles Screen

Blackboard: List/Modify Users

List/Modify Users screen in BB

Moodle: Participants

Users are called Participants in Moodle. Accessed under the People Block. Can filter by time since last activity. Can sort by all column headings. Displays pictures, if added to profile. Gives quick access to student’s profile, blogs and

messages.Participants Screen

Blackboard: Announcements

By default are not emailed. Appear on the first page students see.

Announcements Screen in BB

Moodle: News Forum

The News discussion forum is used to keep students up to date in the course.

It is in every course and all participants are subscribed by default.

News forums are RSS enabled.

Found in the 0 section of the course.

News Forum Screen

Blackboard: Content Items

Available Content Items in BB

Moodle: Content Items

In Moodle, things are broken down into more specific categories than in Blackboard.

Moodle gives you two types of items to add.– Resources are things for students to read or look at.– Activities are things for students to do.

Moodle ResourcesMoodle Activities

Blackboard: Item Availability

Must modify each item to change availability. Can be controlled by date/time. Adaptive Release gives advanced options for

automatically setting availability when certain conditions are met.

Options when modifying a folder in Blackboard

Moodle: Hide/Show Item

A whole section or an individual item of content can be shown or hidden.

Simply click the eye – no need to edit each item. No date/time or adaptive release on resources but

date/time is available for activities and quizzes. (Available in Moodle 2.0)

Main course page, in Edit mode

Blackboard: Assignments

There are two common ways to post assignments in Blackboard.

The “old way” with instructions typed into a Bb item; submitted via drop box or email.– Items or columns were manually added to grade

book to hold these grades.– Submitted files had to be viewed elsewhere.

The “new way” using the Assignment content type.– Links directly to the grade book.– Submitted files are viewed from within the

gradebook.

Moodle: Assignments

Assignments in Moodle similar to the new Assignment content type in Bb.

Tied directly into the Grade book & Calendar. View work, leave comments & grade all on the same screen. Most Used Assignment Types:

– Advanced Uploading of Files allows multiple files to be submitted, also lets you send a file back to the student.

– Online Text allows submission of text only without a saved file.

– Offline Activity is anything you want to enter a grade for, that they don’t submit through assignments.

Types of assignments available in the “Add an Activity” box

Blackboard: Attach File

In Bb, files are attached to content items.

Content Area of the Add Item Screen

Moodle: Files A folder structure can be created to organize and store all

course files. Can be used to help you stay organized. Handles compressed zip files for easy upload. Can give students access to specific files or entire folders.

Files screen in a Moodle course Link files or folders into the course content by

Adding A Resource

Blackboard: Gradebook

Sometimes can be very slow to load. Headings fall off screen – can be confusing. Can display/edit for single user. Each individual grade is a link.

Moodle: Gradebook (1.9)

There are several view options that allow customization.

Grouped by category – can be collapsed or expanded for easy viewing.

Rows and columns can be highlighted for easy viewing.

Has option to override any grade from the gradebook while maintaining the original grade.

Unlike Bb, grading is always done per assignment – never per user and

Also lets you drop the X number of lowest grades in a category.

Moodle: Gradebook (1.9)

Gradebook Initial view

Gradebook with editing turned on

Blackboard: Grading

Can be very time consuming, especially if you need to grade submitted files.

Multiple OK’s, Submits and page reloads per grade

Moodle: Grading

One screen lists each student, their submitted work and date submitted.

Quick grade option lets you record a grade and leave comments for each student without having to submit each one individually

Quick Grade option – choose grade from drop down & leave brief comments

Moodle: Grading

Grading an Advanced File Upload Assignment. Everything is on one screen. A single click takes you to the next student. It’s a small window so each student loads quickly.

Blackboard: Course Statistics

Can be Slow. Minimal information. Few sorting or grouping options. Logs for individual dates are hard to read.

Bb statistics for the month of August

Moodle: Reports

Can see details about every click made.

Can sort, filter and view in greater detail.

Can view user specific activity reports.

Moodle Reports screen

Blackboard: Email

BB Send Email Option Screen

Moodle: Messages

Moodle Messages is a blend of instant messaging and email.

You can message students in bulk from the Participants screen.

A Message History log is saved of all messages you send through Moodle.

Messages can be automatically sent to students whenever you post grades.

Incoming message

Blackboard: Calendar

Cumbersome & time consuming to use. Not very prominent in the course.

Moodle: Calendar

Displayed prominently on the Moodle home page and each course page.

All dates are auto-linked directly into the calendar. Mouse over highlighted date for more info. Events can be set at the school, class, group &

participant level. Each user has a single calendar that displays

information from all classes.

Blackboard: Glossary

Simply a list of terms Not interactive within the course

Moodle: Glossary

Students can post gradable terms and definitions.

If a term in the glossary appears within the course, it is auto linked back to its definition.

You can turn this feature on and off.

Hyperlink to a glossary term

Conclusion

Contact Info: Jonathon Sweetin:

sweetinj@nccommunitycolleges.edu Phone: 252-737-2766