I have a resource called TestGen which is developed by Pearson. I have been able to use TestGen up to the point of importing the created test to my Moodle site. It allows me to create a file with an .mxl extension. However, once I go back into Moodle to add this to my course, it comes up in code.
I tried calling Pearson, but they were unfamiliar with Moodle and were not of help. They directed me to Moodle.
I am presuming you mean xml extension. From TestGen is there an option to export to Blackboard? I would try that and then import to Moodle as a Blackboard version. I am guessing that Pearson's xml format is not necessarily the same format as the Moodle xml format.
Yes, I meant an xml extension. This demonstrates my Moodle capabilities and why simple elementary principals aren't equipped to be doing file conversions! Actually, it has been good for me to learn Moodle as it is the platform our high school 1:1 uses.
Ruth Ann "I tried calling Pearson, but they were unfamiliar with Moodle and were not of help."
Of course! It is not in the interest of publishers to provide export options to platforms other than their own. That would be shooting themselves in the foot. On the other hand, Moodle does provide a number of import formats from other platforms, to facilitate adoption of Moodle as CMS.
Joseph
I can understand that...but why list Moodle as an export extension on their own site? The resource was already purchased...so wouldn't it make sense for it to be able to interface. Because I'm not hacked at Moodle for TestFen not interfacing.
There is a Blackboard export in TestGen that will import into Moodle.
You may find this "recipe" useful: http://eresource.npc.edu/forum/files/70dadffef44257ae2163314a1e6940f4-33.html.
I'm surprised Pearson and any other major EFL coursebook publisher such as Cambridge, Oxford and Macmillon are not aware of Moodle. If they have taken an interest in getting their own LMS and marketing their courses, and are aware of what an LMS is, then they will know Moodle.
But I can understand their reluctance to have any part of their courses transferred to another LMS such as Moodle. I'd be interested myself in some form of agreement of their courses being transferred to Moodle.
Hello Ruth,
Sorry to be late to answer your question but there is something very important and it seems all people responding to your question forgot to ask you that
What version of Moodle are you using ?
This is very important because depending on your answer various advices given in that thread will work or not.
Here is my answer assuming you are using a recent version of Moodle (2.5, 2.6 or 2.7)
From the TestGen side
As other people have already pointed out you need to EXPORT (not Save) the quiz as a Blackboard 6.0-9.0 File.This will give you a zip archive
From the Moodle side
You need to choose "Blackboard" for the file format during import.
Note that Moodle import questions not quiz so you will need to add these questions to a quiz after import.
- Don't try to do that with Moodle versions 2.0 to 2.3.2 the import is broken in these versions and there is absolutely no way to import blackboard files with these Moodle versions. You must upgrade your Moodle to a more recent version.
- Don't follow various tutorials found on the web that tell you to recode link to images in your questions. To is totally unnecessary. You have nothing to do if your questions contain images these images will be imported automatically
- Don't follow various tutorials found on the web that tell you to extract the .dat files from the .zip archive exported from TestGen. This is totally unnecessary and you risk to mess things if you do that. Import the zip archive directly. This is why the link given by Joseph is not recommended. Don't follow the advices given in http://eresource.npc.edu/forum/files/70dadffef44257ae2163314a1e6940f4-33.html this advices are outdated.
I hate to admit that I cannot answer your question directly. I'm not sure what version of Moodle the university for which I am working uses. I would guess it to be a fairly recent version as they have only been using Moodle the past two years. They were using Blackboard previously.
Jean-Michel "[...] This is why the link given by Joseph is not recommended."
Sorry about that.
Joseph
