2008 Woodie Awards
Moodle replaces WebCT as ISU Learning Management System
Diantha Leavitt
Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: News
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This summer ISU bid farewell to the commercially based WebCT Learning Management System (LMS) and welcomed the new free open source system Moodle.
LMS is the system used by professors and students to communicate online, post homework assignments, and discuss topics in open forums.
"Personally, I like the whole concept that it is open source and that it is not commercially managed or run," said Blake Beck, manager of educational technology services.
Moodle was born out of a PhD research project by Martin Dougiama and now has 31,310 registered websites and more than 13 million users according to www.moodle.org.
"I'm glad we're making the change," said Rick Hooper, PhD, associate professor of social work.
Hooper uses the system to post notes, study guides, and homework. One feature he likes is that all the students can read each other's homework when they post it online and give each other feedback.
Hooper was one of the pilot professors used to see if Moodle would work for ISU. He said that students surveyed after using Moodle mostly gave positive feedback.
Not all students are excited about the change, however. Josie Penndleberry who has used WebCT in the past for her nursing classes said that she prefers WebCT.
"I hate (Moodle)," said penndleberry.
Freshman Lauren Branden is using both systems for her classes.
"Both (systems) are pretty easy to use," said Branden. "I kind of like WebCT better because it's easier to use, but with Moodle you can do so much more."
However, other students said that they prefer Moodle to WebCT.
"(Moodle) is getting better," said Sophomore Spencer Sessions. "I think that Moodle will be better over all. It looks nicer and it's pretty easy to understand."
The road to switching systems began before fall semester 2006 when ISU was informed that the WebCT manufacturer would no longer be supporting the version of WebCT the university was using. ISU then discovered that the commercially run LMS "Blackboard" would be taking over Web CT.
LMS is the system used by professors and students to communicate online, post homework assignments, and discuss topics in open forums.
"Personally, I like the whole concept that it is open source and that it is not commercially managed or run," said Blake Beck, manager of educational technology services.
Moodle was born out of a PhD research project by Martin Dougiama and now has 31,310 registered websites and more than 13 million users according to www.moodle.org.
"I'm glad we're making the change," said Rick Hooper, PhD, associate professor of social work.
Hooper uses the system to post notes, study guides, and homework. One feature he likes is that all the students can read each other's homework when they post it online and give each other feedback.
Hooper was one of the pilot professors used to see if Moodle would work for ISU. He said that students surveyed after using Moodle mostly gave positive feedback.
Not all students are excited about the change, however. Josie Penndleberry who has used WebCT in the past for her nursing classes said that she prefers WebCT.
"I hate (Moodle)," said penndleberry.
Freshman Lauren Branden is using both systems for her classes.
"Both (systems) are pretty easy to use," said Branden. "I kind of like WebCT better because it's easier to use, but with Moodle you can do so much more."
However, other students said that they prefer Moodle to WebCT.
"(Moodle) is getting better," said Sophomore Spencer Sessions. "I think that Moodle will be better over all. It looks nicer and it's pretty easy to understand."
The road to switching systems began before fall semester 2006 when ISU was informed that the WebCT manufacturer would no longer be supporting the version of WebCT the university was using. ISU then discovered that the commercially run LMS "Blackboard" would be taking over Web CT.
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