The second of four posts about the options we have assessed: Blackboard 9, Moodle, Sakai and the Decentralized Option.
Definition
Moodle is an open source LMS that is available for free and can be customized by programmers at an institution. There is a “core” version of Moodle that is supported by a community of institutions and programmers who create modules and submit improvements. There are also commercial providers who will host and maintain Moodle instances for a fee. In Moodle, course content and activities are structured around a single page with a sequence of blocks down the center (typically organized by week, but other options are available).
Interface and Features
The Moodle interface is simple and easy to learn. Its all-in-one-page structure will provide consistency between courses and make it easier for students to find what they need. However, some instructors will see this as a limitation on their ability to customize and create hierarchical “pages” of content. Out of the box, the Moodle tool set looks more limited than Blackboard’s; however, because Moodle is open-source and customizable we would have be ability to make changes as we see fit. Key questions:
- Are there modules available that add the features we need?
- How would we structure our own process for making improvements and fixes?
- Does UMass Amherst have the resources to maintain, modify, and improve Moodle?
A direct and detailed comparison of LMS features will appear in upcoming blog posts.
Transition:
Because Blackboard Vista courses are encrypted, there is no official method for transferring courses from Vista to Moodle (although we have heard that some exist). Even if we can locate a tool or process that makes the transfer easy, the difference in course structures will require most of the instructors using Spark to redesign their course sites in some way. Key questions:
- Is there a migration tool or process available to us?
- How much work would this change require from instructors to adapt their courses?
- Would a switch to open source help us have better control over future transitions?
Behind the Scenes:
Moodle is based on PHP-MySQL, which is familiar to our current technical staff. It also runs on servers that are roughly equivalent to our current arrangement for Blackboard Vista. Schools like LSU have shown that Moodle has the capacity to work with large populations of students. Key questions:
- Does OIT have, or could it build, the resources necessary to maintain, improve, and even add to this system?
- What do we need to do to Moodle to make sure it can work with Spire to create, populate and provide the right roles in courses?
Get a Preview of Moodle
If you are interested finding out more about Moodle yourself. We recommend reviewing the handouts and tutorial videos at Louisiana State University: http://moodle.grok.lsu.edu/http://help.asu.edu/search/node/bb9
Comments are welcome! Please comment below and share any questions, concerns or things you like about Moodle.