Blackboard - Going…Going…Gone
Lynda S. LaRoche, FITS Specialist and Blackboard / Moodle Support Coordinator
During the 2007/2008 academic year, both Moodle and Blackboard have been available for faculty members to use for their courses. Beginning fall 2008, Moodle will be the sole system for campus.
There may be some questions rushing through your mind right now, such as “Exactly, what does this mean?” … “What do I need to do?” … “When will I find the time?” … “How will I get the skills I need to build a Moodle course site?” Hopefully, this article will help you out!
First, let’s address those questions:
“Exactly, what does this mean?”
This summer we will begin to restrict access to Blackboard in phases.
- Phase 1 – July 1, 2008 - Students will no longer be able to access Blackboard. Faculty members and other “instructors” will only be able to archive course sites and/or copy materials for re-use in Moodle.
- Phase 2 – September 15, 2008 (changed from September 1 due to faculty suggestions) – Faculty members will no longer be able to access Blackboard. Administrators will only be able to access Blackboard for special circumstances.
- Phase 3 – December 1, 2008 – Blackboard will be fully retired. No one will be able to access Blackboard.
“What do I need to do?”
Here’s a checklist to help you with the transition:
- Compile a list of your Blackboard course sites. Remember to include any courses you may teach on a rotational basis (e.g. taught one semester every third year).
- Archive the courses you have listed. Step-by-step instructions about archiving course sites are available at DePauw’s Blackboard Support Site at (http://www.depauw.edu/it/blackboard/toolsresources/FacArchiveCourse.asp) or you can visit FITS (Roy O. West Library, lower level) for assistance.
- Blackboard creates archives that are only readable in a learning management system. There is a tool available that assists with the uploading of archived Blackboard courses into Moodle. However, other available options may be more appropriate depending on the complexity of your Blackboard course. I encourage you to contact a FITS instructional technologist to determine which option to use.
- Backup your archived courses by saving them to a CD.
- Contact an instructional technologist in FITS to discuss your options for re-using course materials in Moodle.
“When will I find the time?”
Remember, you don’t have to do everything the first time you use Moodle. You can start out by posting your syllabus (for example), and then add more when you have the time. However, for those who prefer to build the majority of their course site before the beginning of the semester, it may take a considerable amount of time to do so. How much time depends on the quantity of materials you want to place in Moodle and the features you want to use.
“How will I get the skills I need to build a Moodle course site?”
It is the priority of all staff members in FITS to provide you with the help you need during the Blackboard to Moodle transition:
- Check out the remaining spring 2008 Moodle events at http://www.depauw.edu/univ/fits/events/events.asp.
- Submit a proposal for the 2008 FITS Summer Workshop.
- Watch your email for a schedule of summer time Moodle events.
- Schedule a departmental or individual training session by contacting moodle@depauw.edu or any FITS instructional technologist:
Michael Gough, michaelgough@depauw.edu
Lynda LaRoche, llaroche@depauw.edu
Veronica Pejril, veronicapejril@depauw.edu
Dave Diedriech, ddiedriech@depauw.edu
Just as you hear the words “going…going …gone” when a baseball is hit over the outfield fence for a homerun, we are in a similar scenario as we go into the final days of Blackboard. Blackboard is …going - July 1, 2008 ……going - September 15, 2008 ……gone - December 1, 2008.