This document summarizes the transition from the WebCT Vista learning management system to Moodle at Napier University. Some key points: - Many modules were heavily online or blended before the transition, with content from WebCT migrated to Moodle. Training sessions and guides were provided but replicating complex activities required significant support. - Common issues included navigating differences between the interfaces, locking discussions, hiding/revealing content, and migrating content between modules. Staff generally had positive attitudes but the transition was laborious. - Support from the Moodle team was praised for helping manage the large volume of migrated modules and individual support requests. Lessons learned included tidying content before migration and managing expectations of change.

1. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing:
Supporting staff through the transition
to Moodle when they’ve already been
teaching online for years
Louise Drumm @louisedrumm &
Anne Jamie, a.jamie@napier.ac.uk
Learning Technologists
Faculty of Health, Life and Social Sciences

2. VLE History / Faculty Modules
 Most of our modules incorporate elements of
online learning
 Many modules are heavily blended
 A number of fully online modules and growing
 WebCT Vista adopted in 2005 with additional
tools such asTurnitin, Blackboard Collaborate,
Respondus, WebCT portfolio
 Moodle 2.2 replaced WebCT in Trimester 3 2012

3. The task facing us in January 2012 ...
 300-400 modules running each trimester
 Most have existing content migrated from WebCT
 On-going in-house development of Moodle
 Encouraging continued good practice in
technology enhanced learning

4. The WebCT Legacy ...
 Lots and lots of content ... all displayed on the
module home page
 The ‘learning module’ tool
 Staff well trained but in the wrong VLE
Examples
 Where’s the student view tab?
 How can I lock a discussion?

5. The Plan ...
 Rolling programme of scheduled training sessions
and dissemination events
 Step-by-step PDF guides and videos
 A bit of preliminary tidying up
 Advance warning given to staff of
what needs to be done

6. The Reality ...
 Well attended training sessions
 Limited roll-out of guides due to time constraints
 Replicating complex activities takes a lot of support
 Laborious book conversions & formatting
 High volume of 1:1 support
 Staff and student enrolment problems
(various reasons but not Moodle’s fault)
 Still a lot of content

7. The Saving Graces Were ...
 The Book plugin
 Staff attitudes to change
 Student feedback
 Turnitin plugin
 In-house support & team work
 Customised blocks e.g. enrolled students,
random glossary, RSS feeds, library
 Course Overview Plus plugin
 And for us ... Moodle docs

8. A Selection of Common Queries ...
 Hide / reveal course to students
 Add or remove topics / sections
 Email subscription to forums
 Setting up groups and group activities
 Activating the ‘link’ button in the WYSIWYG
 How to rollover contents from one module
to another

9. The Training Programme ...
• Developing Your Migrated Module
Level 1 • Moodle Induction (New Staff)
Introduction
• Compiling a Book in Moodle ... The Story So Far
• Using Tracking & Reporting Tools
Level 2
Intermediate • Creating, Using & Managing Groups
• Setting & Releasing Quizzes / Assessments
Level 3
Intermediate/
• Using Communication & Collaboration Tools
Advanced

10. Other Events & Collaborative Activities
• Moodle in a Flash ... Migrated Module Overview
Presentation
Q&A
• Moodle in a Flash ... Checking & Preparing Your Module
Workshops
• Midday Moodle (opportunity to share experiences and
Presentations showcase good practice)
& Informal
Chat

11. Question 1: What have you found hard
about the transition from WebCT to Moodle?

12. Q1: A few comments from staff ...

13. Question 2:
What do you like about Moodle?

14. Q2: A few comments from staff ...

15. Question 3: What do you wish
you knew then that you know now?

16. Q3: A few comments from staff ...
“I think that how to use the
book application was handy
and that would have made a
big difference early on.”

17. Question 4: Other Comments

18. Q4: A few comments from staff ...
“Support from Moodle team during
the transition from WebCT to Moodle
has been very, very good, I don't
know how I would have managed
without the support of this team.

19. What We’ve Learned ...
 Best to tidy up content before it leaves old VLE or
in Moodle before staff see it
 Encourage deleting of redundant content
 Show example modules / consider design & layout
 Have stock answers to common queries (FAQs)
 Identify champions and make sure they are
spread throughout offices
 Manage expectations ... it’s never going to
function exactly the same as another VLE &
it’s going to take a bit of getting used to

20. Future Plans
 Moodle 2.4
 Develop additional focused training
sessions & events
 More staff help materials
 ePortfolio
 Customised bank of activity icons for
embedding in content pages