About the Move to Moodle

Moodle is a widely-used open source learning management system (LMS), that can be used to deliver course content and host online learning activities. 

• Moodle course request for Summer 2013 and Fall 2013 on-campus courses is currently available.

See Request Your Moodle Course [2].

Why Moodle?

The Campus evaluated options for a new LMS after Blackboard Inc. announced that it would discontinue support for Blackboard Vista, the software behind SPARK. A committee of faculty and staff made a recommendation to the CIO and Provost in October 2010. The Provost and CIO chose Moodle because it offered more local control and the best opportunity for future growth and innovation. Details of the evaluation process and decision can be found on the Future LMS blog [3].

Learn How to Use Moodle

Throughout the change to Moodle, OIT Academic Computing will be offering workshops [4]and one-on-one consultations [5]to help instructors convert their courses and get started using Moodle. We also have a large collection of Moodle support articles [6]available for self help.

• To register for our ongoing Moodle workshops instructors can go to: https://etna.oit.umass.edu/public/workshops [4].

Timeline for the Transition to Moodle

• 2011 Spring
  Limited pilot of Moodle (7 classes).
• 2011 Summer
  Content conversion and training for Fall 2011 Moodle Pilot.
• 2011 Fall
  Pilot semester of Moodle.
• 2012 Spring
  Moodle available for teaching (limited to 350 instructors).
• 2012 Summer
  Content conversion and training for final exit from Blackboard Vista (SPARK).
  Moodle available for summer courses.
• 2012 Fall
  Moodle open to all Campus courses.
  Teaching in Blackboard Vista (SPARK) by special request only.
• 2013 Winter session and Spring
  Neither students nor teachers will be able to login to Blackboard Vista (SPARK).