Are there provisions to help an instructor (new to Moodle) to make the transition or does one have to start from a blank screen?
um.... blank screen? As is, 1) I can't find documentation about migrating or 2) Guys, we've been using BB for ages and finally decided to dump it, but now we need to learn about Moodle, or 3) Moodle has just been installed and we are getting a blank screen.
1) There is no recent documentation on the migration process, mainly because the demand for it has diminished greatly so there has been no updating of the Moodle Docs. Unfortunate.
Some one else may have some idea on how that can be done, but in any case there will not be an easy way of doing this, I suspect. Also, I have not seen a backed up BB course for..mmmm over 14 years I would think, so would not know. If you have a smallish one, all zipped up, let me know, I would love to play around with it
2) Once you get through the login screen, you are at the Front Page. You can move through to the courses you need from there easily. However, you need to be an Authenticated User, or an Administrator, or be assigned a Role at the Front Page (never a good idea) to be able to do much at all.
3) "I am trying to log in to my brand new Moodle and all I am getting is a blank page". These forums get a spate of this question, so if you do a search on "blank screen", that should provide you with an answer to your problems.
I am taking a shotgun approach here, your question is so open ended, and general that it could mean so many different things-depending on how you would like to read it.
Are you an Administrator of your Moodle or a Teacher, or a Student?
Colin - I didn't interpret Steve's "blank screen" as meaning a Moodle blank screen; I thought he meant starting to understand Moodle from scratch having been used to BB as opposed to having some documents to make the transition over. I have trained people who were used to using BB and now had moved to Moodle and since I had no knowledge of BB I just worked with them on understanding Moodle - from a "blank screen" if you like Any regular teachers can join our MOOC on https://learn.moodle.net We hope to run it again for people who miss it this time around.
Yes, point 2) Mary, I did get it but did not elaborate on it.... draw Steve's thinking out a bit,
@Steve,
The best thing for anyone new to any tool is to play with it for a while, learn what questions need be asked. I agree the step from BB to Moodle is large, but every page in Moodle has a link to a document that can offer explanations for things. While the Moodle Docs are not always clear, they are usually helpful, or can point people in the right direction, and then there are these forums. Mary's books and other works, the videos on YouTube, these are first stops these days, YouTube seems to have everything from fixing the loo to building a rocket, and lots of things about Moodle as well. That is the one thing that Moodle.org lacks, video guides to things.... maybe time for a rethink.....mmmmmm If you are in that position of training new Moodle users, it might be there is the place to start, rather than structured lessons. We should not dismiss informal learning because it is informal.
It is a whole lot of #1, some of #2 and none of #3...
I am an instructor, not an admin, although I have had a version of Moodle on my private system to test.
I am thinking of suggesting to a co-instructor to make the migration but want to be better prepared first. The only thing I can suggest at the moment is to have both programs open on a dual monitor system to copy/paste but that is not all that much of a persuasion...
I doubt it is going to be a one-button-press operation either.
The documentation has been allowed to slip since v2.0 but there are still some commonalities. Quizzes and SCORM, but there has to be a better way than just copy and paste for the rest of it. How does BB backup its courses? A Zip file in an XML file like Moodle? mmmm If you have a small backup post it here, I would seriously like to have a look. Don't know if I can achieve much, but I might be able to help.
I'm with Mary on this.
The title of the original post plus the body led me to believe Steve wanted "Docs specifically designed to meet the needs of a Bb user" like 'Bb does this, Moodle does this'
In the cure, I am also with Mary.
I was part of the great Bb to Moodle transition at the University of Canterbury. My basic approach: Ignore Bb. Introduce the basic concepts of Moodle (Course, section, members, activity, resource, editing on etc), then move on to there. Find a few workflows that suit the needs of your audience, and work on them in Moodle. I allowed for questions like "How do I do this?" which were of several types:
- I'll meet you in your office later
- That's advanced Moodle
- Stop everything and address this need
- See pxx of docs
My new version of workfow and design pathways for Moodle will be hot off the press soon (with Indonesian translation!!). PM if you would like a copy.
-Derek
Maybe the BB>M conversion button won't be available until v6.7 or so...
I doubt it, Steve,.. wouldn't bother I suspect..why tie up scant resources in a dead end? Beter off looking at some of the newer tools, like Canvas. Set up a RoR directory and put Canvas onto the server, then work out how to convert from Canvas courses to Moodle, and Moodle courses to Canvas. Much simpler I would think.
@Derek, that is what Steve is thinking anyway, but he would like a converter, making his job that much easier I suspect.
I cannot leave this thread alone.....and I am sorry to say.....some may not like what I have to post...so I am going to take some time to reflect in order to post a response that has some outside chance of not being mod-ed.
Warning first, on guard all for one and one for all ....not like there is nothing else to do on a Sat morning
laters....
Curious ... 'put Canvas ....' are we taking Canvas by Instructure!?
Hmmmm ... from what I read, to install a Canvas site locally or on own server, one would have to be up on ruby on rails and postgres. Another hmmmm ... I see mentioned specifically MacOSX and Linux, but no 'Wonder"! While one can acquire the code via git, the install wiki is much more involved than an installation of Moodle (IMHO!). While it does advertise many features missing from a standard/stock install of Moodle, much needs to be investigated.
Having said that, however, it might be worth the time spent exploring their free/online offering.
'spirit of thinkering', Ken
Are there provisions to help an instructor (new to Moodle) to make the transition or does one have to start from a blank screen?
OK.
A measured response, bit of role-play, narrative distance (adult play J)
I am a VC at the University of Woodlands, there are a number of sites/buildings spread out across the town, with thousands of students, and subjects span STEM, business, law, nursing, education and so on.
We have good ratings in the league tables. We have used Bb for a long time. I have decided to ask my secretary to look on the net for some ideas about changing our LMS. I am a specialist in the field of education, so I am keen to know about the pedagogical implications for my staff in terms of encouraging their seamless transition for practice. My secretary found the following:
my.cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk/share/moving-to-moodle-2.pdf
and this thread:
https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=278529
In view of the first link, I have no doubts about my IT team making the transition successful, possibly with a partner.
In view of the second link, well my secretary and I had another look on the net and found this too:
http://techbar.blogs.brynmawr.edu/files/2011/06/Moving-Materials-from-Blackboard-to-Moodle.pdf
Getting back to this thread. I can see clearly when Mary states: I thought he meant starting to understand Moodle from scratch having been used to BB....having some documents to make the transition over. This would be very useful for my context at The University of Woodlands.
And when Derek says: The title of the original post plus the body led me to believe Steve wanted "Docs specifically designed to meet the needs of a Bb user" like 'Bb does this, Moodle does this' This, I can only agree with, excellent idea.
I must say, I found it a little disappointing when Colin states: 'The documentation has been allowed to slip since v2.0 but there are still some commonalities'. So it goes I need to get my secretary to search-seek out those commonalities before I can make any strategic plans, which means more time delay at the University of Woodlands, but I need to be timely at my end in terms of our list of priorities and remit for strategic development at and for the University, you see.
Out of role play now....and I am going to breathe J
Question remains: Why is there no documentation that maps out the pathways for the process, mapped out in a simple and accessible manner? Or if there is, where is the link for this please?
Hope helpful
Dawn
Hi, again
I am not keen on leaving things within a rhetorical domain. There is no point harping on without action eh. I know you all will agree with that because you take time to post here....you take action.
Well, it may be that now we have identified a gap....a gaping hole maybe That action might involve Martin, Howard and I putting something together for the Docs...this would be a truestyle-multi/inter-disciplinary approach....and that is what Moodle/moodle.org is about right?
I will, when I get time, email those colleagues mentioned- with a plan.
D
I really did not think this would be such a difficult answer.(:
I do see that the actual transition is complex to say the least but It seems that this conversion would be paramount considering the huge expense for BB and free Moodle. I figured a lot of potential Moodlers would have asked this already. I am sure it would go a long way to help people make the change.
I am going to see if I could grab a BB export but maybe there are readers here who have one available already.
Out of curiosity, What does this "Canvas" have to do with any of this?
Well Steve, you did well bringing this up....thanks for that...a great thread.
Now....as the VC of the University of Woodland, I can tell you now...canvas is something I think artists use, it can be made of linen or cotton....and can hold acrylics...which are superficial...compared with oils...linen is better for oils. As for infrastructure...nobody needs to tell me about my university's infrastructure it is fine thank you!
yours virtually,
D
Duh!... Sarcasm notwithstanding...
It was my understanding that the BB response to Moodle surging as it did with v1.9 was to complicate its backups. How, I have no idea, but with the transition to v2.0, so much attention was paid to the ramifications and details of changes made, everything else basically came to a standstill. When initially, you could not even restore a v1.9 Moodle course to a v2.0 Moodle, unless you took the Users out, then it was a while before you could add courses with Users, (about v2.1.2 from memory), who worried about BB. Once v2.2 came about, the Moodle database had become so complex, that restoring courses from BB would be a complete nightmare, I imagine.
If someone was to suggest that this is not a good long-term strategy, I could accept that. What does concern me now is that this is another instance of developing like mad, but not looking over the shoulder to see what has been missed. What is worse, it has taken until now, with Steve's original question, for the matter to become an issue.
Something I just considered, it may be that the number of institutions making the transition from BB to Moodle have declined, so no-one is making a fuss about it. Either BB has reached its "rusted-on" level or Moodle has maximized is reach. Hope not....
Steve,
Are you looking for a way to import Bb courses into Moodle? Nothing I know of does that cleanly, but you might want to look at the following:
http://moodleconverter.lsu.edu/
http://www.moodlenews.com/2010/3-resources-to-help-manage-your-blackboard-to-moodle-migration/
"Canvas" is a learning management system offered by a company named Instructure.
Floyd
off website....
opening of quote 'Canvas is designed for K-12 students' close quote. Taken from website link there Floyd. Scratching head because I know about generic transference-yet I am not aware of that impact to date, with regard to Canvas . MS)
Hi all. Just to let you know I split the posts about Canvas and moved them to the Comparisons and Advocacy forum and you can continue the more general discussion here: Moodle, Canvas and comparing LMS systems.
Steve, I see your question analogous to asking "How does one transition from riding a bicycle to driving a Formula I race car?" Moodle has so many more features that even if there was a magic tool to move courses, teachers would still have to learn a lot of new things.
Realistically, about 80% of teachers would need to know 1) how to post content, 2) how to create a forum, 3) how to create a quiz, 4) how to create an assignment, 5) how to use the grade book, and 6) how to use the calendar. These items provide a good start.
Of these items, maybe the hardest will be creating quizzes. However, the good news is that Moodle can import Blackboard questions, quite well I might add. The grade book might challenge some, because Blackboard's grade book is a whimp compared to Moodle's.
Consider finding someone to bring in who has experience setting up courses in Moodle, and spending some time with your teachers.
By the way, I made this transition myself around 6 years ago. It took about 2 months to get the hang of Moodle. This was on my own. Had I had a Moodle "expert" nearby, the transition would have taken 2 weeks.
From your original post Steve, I did not understand you wanted a conversion utility.
I've just posted in the thread mary spilt off from this, and a little repetition:
Migrating Bb > Canvas > Moodle
Here's what Colin said "Better off looking at some of the newer tools, like Canvas. Set up a RoR directory and put Canvas onto the server, then work out how to convert from Canvas courses to Moodle, and Moodle courses to Canvas."
Your original post didn't even hint at "We want to migrate courses" but if you do, migrating courses is traversed here: https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=260498 with the Canvas to Moodle option. I suspect there is NO nice Bb > Moodle option which is why Colin suggested do the Bb > Canvas > Moodle pathway.
Have you seen https://docs.moodle.org/28/en/Blackboard_migration The variables are many (with the Bb/WebCT versions especially)
And another comment: migrating questions can be a separate challenge.
I think it is true that there were a few bits added to the backup/archive options in Bb that made it more complex to import into Moodle. By design or not I cannot say.
Good luck.
-Derek