Hurray!

One of the e-Learning Advisors, Nik, has discovered that he can export a Blackboard course and import it to Moodle as long as he can increase the file upload size in Moodle.  I haven't had time to see how it's done yet, but that cheered me up no end yesterday.  Of course going to another Moodle Forum run by the RSC SE at Newbury College helped as well.  Again, plenty of sharing and help was available from everyone in the room.  I must admit I had some time out when Moodle 2.0 was discussed because I've barely got my head around 1.9.  I was able to show off our e-ILP, which was nice.

Snow person from a previous winter....

Feeling steady

We've now booked Di Dawson to do half day training sessions on Moodle.  The first session will be with the e-Learning Advisors so we can go at a comfortable pace and with 7 of us, cover a lot of territory.  We'll then cascade to the movers and shakers (or early adopters) and all come together for a second session in early February.  We have confirmed that we'll renew our Blackboard license (it runs out in late January) so the pressure is off.  Hurray!


In the meantime, I am certainly feeling steadier because I've had a barrage of problem solving to do with staff contacting me with a range of problems and questions concerning the e-ilp.  As with many things to do with technology, some of it is that people panic or don't read the screen properly.  New systems throw people and in spite of e-Learning Advisors being available on two campuses almost every day, most people are opting to do it themselves.  ULCC continues to be patient and helpful.  I can't help thinking that some days our name must be on the 'naughty' wall with the number of questions that we throw their way.  I guess they know it will calm down and we'll be able to do more of the obvious things as we gain experience.

It's helped that I've now discovered that I can logon as anyone so I can see exactly what they see, i.e. what really works and what doesn't.  I can move menus up and down and I've created a few courses.  I was especially chuffed to be able to create a logon for the outside trainer and she tested it and got on first time.

In the meantime we're advertising AGAIN for a web/e-learning/IT analyst so I'm still the chief designer for the front page along with front line problem solving.  Tomorrow I'm headed to Newbury College for another Moodle Forum run by the JISC RSC SE.  The last one was fantastically helpful and I'm sure that this one will be similarly useful.  

After half term

Lots of things have been happening behind the scenes.  The technical side of uploading information from one system into another is complicated and for this alone, I think it's worth making sure you have it right before implementation.  I think everyone has done a superb job in a short period of time - our MIS person and ULCC but there are glitches.  And glitches mean that people get frustrated or turned off and that the luddites start dancing around saying 'I told you so'.  Dancing luddites are not a pretty sight.

Second stumbling block for me/us is understanding the levels of permissions and roles.  (This is where I long for Blackboard....).  It's complicated, very, very complicated.  It's almost a course in philosophy and on top of everything, people can have different roles and permissions all over the place.  You need many different groups with different levels of permission and you need to understand what that entails.  And we're not there yet.  Of course I also understand that there are benefits to having so many different roles and permissions because Moodle should be more interactive than Blackboard ever was.  For example, I can set up some pictures in Lightbox Gallery so that students can comment and upload a picture too. 

On the otherhand, how do I match staff who need to see students' eILPs to those who just want to view and those who want to add information or comments?

OK, I hear you say, 'You need training, immediately' and you're right, we do.  We were waiting for the new post of Web Developer (not the right title) before doing this but as time goes on, I guess it needs to be done now. 

Having said all of this, for most students using the e-ILP, it's working fine, staff are finding it intuitive to use and like it enough to want to personalise it to their course and students.  Some staff are starting to use the Moodle course slowly and a few have explored Mahara. NO one has screamed at me (although I haven't had anyone actually do this in the Bb days either) so I think we are winning - just.

Anyone who knows how to configure a web page to open full size when logging on to the network wins a small box of very good chocolates (not the one pictured - can't afford that!) from me if it works.  Our Moodle (hosted externally, remember) opens in a small window which is easily closed so it defeats the opportunity to broadcast all the news in someone's face before they close it.

http://www.boogaj.com/photos/uncategorized/green_and_blacks_box.jpg