The Solent Experience Timos Almpanis, Roger Emery, Nicole Smith, Lorry West 26 th October 2007

Migration to Moodle and Beyond… Background Evaluation of new Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) The migration Implementation Examples Feedback

Background

Evaluation of new Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

The migration

Implementation

Examples

Feedback

Background 10 years of online provision Course and Unit websites 1998 – 2002 Learnwise 2000 – 2007 myCourse (Moodle) 2006 –

10 years of online provision

Course and Unit websites

1998 – 2002

Learnwise

2000 – 2007

myCourse (Moodle)

2006 –

Housing Studies

Hydrographic Surveying

Why change? Why did we get rid of Learnwise? Portal developments Re-branding

Why did we get rid

of Learnwise?

Portal developments

Re-branding

Evaluation of VLE Systems 63 to 8 to 4 to 1 Learnwise V2 & V3 (for comparative purposes), Bodington, Sakai, and Moodle Criteria Technical compatibility with other SSU systems Ease of Integration with SSU systems Fit with University Portal development Does the VLE support the pedagogic demands of the SSU L&T developments? Is the VLE platform easily customised to fit the SSU brand? What support is available? What is their user base within Universities and local FE and feeder colleges? Is there a well-developed VLE user community to provide additional support and encourage product development? Why not Blackboard / WebCT?

63 to 8 to 4 to 1

Learnwise V2 & V3 (for comparative purposes), Bodington, Sakai, and Moodle

Criteria

Technical compatibility with other SSU systems

Ease of Integration with SSU systems

Fit with University Portal development

Does the VLE support the pedagogic demands of the SSU L&T developments?

Is the VLE platform easily customised to fit the SSU brand?

What support is available?

What is their user base within Universities and local FE and feeder colleges?

Is there a well-developed VLE user community to provide additional support and encourage product development?

Why not Blackboard / WebCT?

Timeline Spring 06 Dec 06 Jan 07 Aug 07 Aug 06 Evaluation Pilot Decision Development D Day

The Migration Plan Learnwise retired when all 2006/07 units completed October 2007 Launch of new VLE August 2007 LTU Training for staff on new VLE April – June 2007 LIS Internal promotion and publicity to staff and students January – September 2007 LTU with students employed to carry out some elements of the migration Migration of material from Learnwise to new VLE January – July 2007 LTU New VLE development environment moved to new server January – March 2007 ISSG/ LIS Final evaluation and decision on future VLE platform December 2006 Staff / Student involvement Activity Timescale

Pilot Autumn Term of 2006-2007 academic year Branded as myCourse Look and feel of student portal 6 Undergraduate units, 1 Masters unit, PgC Course 13 tutors 600 students Very good feedback

Autumn Term of 2006-2007 academic year

Branded as myCourse

Look and feel of student portal

6 Undergraduate units, 1 Masters unit, PgC Course

13 tutors

600 students

Very good feedback

Installation Moodle 1.82+ Linux SuSe 9 Apache Web Server Currently on a single server Clustering planned Authentication by LDAP (eDirectory) Enrolment by external database (oci8) CampusIT Quercus+ records system

Moodle 1.82+

Linux SuSe 9

Apache Web Server

Currently on a single server

Clustering planned

Authentication by LDAP (eDirectory)

Enrolment by external database (oci8) CampusIT Quercus+ records system

Integration Oracle Portal Single Sign-on Enrolment via MIS Authentication via LDAP Library resources Learnbuild (Sentient) Exam Papers Unit descriptors Turnitin Document Management System Timetables in Portal

Oracle Portal

Single Sign-on

Enrolment via MIS

Authentication via LDAP

Library resources

Learnbuild (Sentient)

Exam Papers

Unit descriptors

Turnitin

Document Management System

Timetables in Portal

Implementation New Learning Technology Unit New Staff, New Office Communication High profile announcements, posters, group emails, personal emails, internal communications – online and University newsletter Advertising the migration and archiving of old system Training Programme training sessions Course training sessions Individual training sessions including moving Learnwise content Drop-in sessions

New Learning Technology Unit

New Staff, New Office

Communication

High profile announcements, posters, group emails, personal emails, internal communications – online and University newsletter

Advertising the migration and archiving of old system

Training

Programme training sessions

Course training sessions

Individual training sessions including moving Learnwise content

Drop-in sessions

Student Awareness Posters, bookmarks, emails, webpages Attending lectures in induction period Factsheets and Publicity Video

Posters, bookmarks, emails, webpages

Attending lectures in induction period

Factsheets and Publicity Video

The Publicity Video Launch myCourse

FdA Business (Blended Learning) Blended Learning World-wide Army personnel Course-level Site FdA Business (Blended Learning)

Blended Learning

World-wide Army personnel

Course-level Site

Management Systems Rated Q&A Forum Forums for formative assessment Unit level site Management Systems Unit

Rated Q&A Forum

Forums for formative assessment

Unit level site

Cognitive Psychology Using discussion forums for student rep feedback Electronic submission through Turnitin plug-in Online quizzes Cognitive Psychology Unit

Using discussion forums for student rep feedback

Electronic submission through Turnitin plug-in

Online quizzes

Statistics

Feedback What were the highs and lows? New LTU Good pilot – Good feedback Successful migration Awareness campaign and take up – the Moodle Fever Evaluation What next?

What were the highs and lows?

New LTU

Good pilot – Good feedback

Successful migration

Awareness campaign and take up – the Moodle Fever

Evaluation

What next?

Learning Technology Unit Southampton Solent University East Park Terrace Southampton SO14 0YN tel: 02380 319 499 email: LTU@solent.ac.uk Timos Almpanis, Roger Emery, Nicole Smith, Lorry West

Sites of interest: myCourse – http://mycourse.solent.ac.uk Introduction to myCourse for Students – http://mycourse.solent.ac.uk/introduction Welcome to myCourse for Staff Members – http://mycourse.solent.ac.uk/welcome Hello Uni – http://hellouni.solent.ac.uk Portal (student intranet) – http://portal.solent.ac.uk (Login in with username demo and password demo) Southampton Solent University – http://www.solent.ac.uk Contact Details: Learning Technology Unit – [email_address] Learning Technologist - Timos Almpanis – [email_address] - 02380319728 Learning Systems Developer - Roger Emery – [email_address] - 02380319778 eLearning Support Officer - Nicole Smith – [email_address] - 02380319499 Learning Technologist - Lorry West – [email_address] - 02380319861

Sites of interest:

myCourse – http://mycourse.solent.ac.uk

Introduction to myCourse for Students –

http://mycourse.solent.ac.uk/introduction

Welcome to myCourse for Staff Members –

http://mycourse.solent.ac.uk/welcome

Hello Uni – http://hellouni.solent.ac.uk

Portal (student intranet) – http://portal.solent.ac.uk

(Login in with username demo and password demo)

Southampton Solent University – http://www.solent.ac.uk

Contact Details:

Learning Technology Unit – [email_address]

Learning Technologist - Timos Almpanis – [email_address] - 02380319728

Learning Systems Developer - Roger Emery – [email_address] - 02380319778

eLearning Support Officer - Nicole Smith – [email_address] - 02380319499

Learning Technologist - Lorry West – [email_address] - 02380319861