Moving to a new VLE – Where do you want the sofa?

Martin Lynch

Learning Systems Manager

University of South Wales

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Background and main drivers;

(2013)Students at UWN: 5552 Staff at UWN: 597 (469 part-time)

(2013)Students at UOG: 14,063Staff at UOG: 1366

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Background and main drivers;

• April 1 2013 – University merger and USW legal entity created

• Sept - December 2013 Learning Environment Review

• Jan 2014 LE review review presented

• June 18th 2014 Academic board makes the decision to adopt Blackboard as single VLE for 2015/16

• Sept 2014 – investigation and planning for migration

• March 2015 migration roadmap announced

LE Review Terms of reference:“To reflect on the current and future requirements of the University of South Wales’ Learning Environment and recommend a strategic plan for the delivery of the future technology enhanced learning, teaching and assessment environment for the University. The plan will be presented to the integration group for implementation…

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The Challenges

Data & Technical

• Identify Modules to migrate

• Technically how do we migrate content from Moodle to Blackboard?

Training and support

• What should the content and mode of delivery be for staff training and support during the transition period?

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The challenge - Data & Technical – identify modules

• Can we define which First Year Modules have content?– BB consulting help construct Query – identifies 710 modules as

content-rich

• Portfolio review reduces this number of modules to <300

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The challenge - Data & Technical – how do we migrate content from Moodle to Blackboard?

• No Magic bullet – seeking the “least bad” solution– Common Cartridge, – Mindclick Moodle to Blackboard conversion, – Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI)

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The challenge - Data & Technical – how do we migrate content from Moodle to Blackboard?

• Common Cartridge – The only IMS standard specification both platforms recognise out of the

box– We tested 1.1 (currently 1.3 is the latest)– Examined this as an option with Bb Consulting during Nov 2014– Too many deficiencies

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The challenge - Data & Technical – how do we migrate content from Moodle to Blackboard?

• Mindclick Moodle to Blackboard conversion, – http://www.mind-click.com/– specifically designed to migrate content from Moodle to Blackboard– Not cheap - £40K for an in-perpetuity licence plus £4K support retainer

to keep up to speed with additional support– Doesn’t support all types of content

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The challenge - Data & Technical – how do we migrate content from Moodle to Blackboard?

• Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI)– Supported by both platforms– Allows a trust to be set up between both VLE’s so content (and data)

can be shared– Data, not content migration

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Comparison of Content Migration tools

CONTENT TYPE MINDCLICK COMMON CARTRIDGE

NOTES

Topics and structures

Topic Summary Topic summary lost in Common Cartridge SIGNIFICANT ISSUE

Content links Common cartridge does not correctly link migrated files within migrated content – SIGNIFICANT ISSUE this would need to be done manually for every content item

Folder See above

Quizzes Limited support – only simple quiz content is transferred successfully

Assignments

SCORM

Choice

Chat

Survey

Forum With Common Cartridge, forums are imported with structure and description but without threads. Different results are obtained when importing with and without user data.

Lesson

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Comparison of Content Migration tools

CONTENT TYPE MINDCLICK COMMON CARTRIDGE

NOTES

Wiki

Workshop

External Tool

Feedback

Glossary

Database

Books Mindclick have agreed to develop support for this content type

File

Label Not supported in Common Cartridge – SIGNIFICANT ISSUE. Label type with embedded multimedia not supported in Mindclick

Page

Word Document File

Powerpoint File

Embedded Video/audio

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Comparison of Content Migration toolsCONTENT TYPE MINDCLICK COMMON

CARTRIDGENOTES

URL

Restricted access maintained?

Calendar

Conditional Access rules maintained?

Completion Tracking rules maintained?

Questionnaire

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The challenge - Data & Technical – how do we migrate content from Moodle to Blackboard?

• Conclusion

• Our focus should be on doing as much of the heavy lifting as possible but acknowledging that an amount of refashioning is inevitable

– Mindclick for migration of content– LTI as a lifeline back to the module

• Demonstration– Show Moodle module G107759_2015_v1– https://bbtest.southwales.ac.uk– https://moodle.southwales.ac.uk

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Training and support - How do we deliver staff training and support for the transition?

• 3.5 learning technologists – make best use of use limited resources;– Face-to-face workshops– Online resources– Online support (webinars)

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Training and support - How do we deliver staff training and support for the transition?

• Communication plan to staff March – Sept programme

• Created video to publicise programme

• http://teach.southwales.ac.uk/

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Training and support - How do we deliver staff training and support for the transition?

• Online and on-demand– Blackboard Organisation to support self-directed model– Collaborate webinars for quick, focussed 30 minute lunchtime support– Customer support call logging

• https://blackboard.southwales.ac.uk

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Conclusion

• Sought to be flexible and responsive in both content and mode of delivery

• Use of online delivery for resources and support

• Face-to face workshops a springboard for discussion and relationship building

• Any questions? - martin.lynch@southwales.ac.uk