Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is the move to Moodle?
La Trobe has chosen Moodle (Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) to be the University’s Learning Management System (LMS), replacing Blackboard CE6. Moodle will be the University’s LMS for all subjects commencing after 7 February 2011.
How will the University benefit from a new LMS?
- Improved usability, accessibility, functionality and efficiency for staff and students
- Improved support for staff and students using the LMS
- Improved reliability
- Resolution of problems in the previous LMS
What is the LMS?
The LMS is an Internet based learning management system. It allows you access to learning materials and to interact with other students and teaching staff in activities related to your studies from any location with Internet access. The LMS is based on open-source software known as Moodle (abbreviation for Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment). La Trobe’s previous LMS was Blackboard CE, also known as WebCT. WebCT continues in 2011 for the benefit of a small number of subjects that were already running at the time of switch-over to the new LMS (Moodle).
What can the LMS system be used for?
While LMS subjects may share a similar look and feel to other online systems you may have used, the set up of each subject is at the lecturer’s discretion and your lecturer may not use every feature/tool that is available in the LMS.
Some typical uses of the LMS may include:
- Access subject resources and activities
- Communicate with your lecturer, tutor and other students enrolled in the subject by discussion and chat
- Complete quizzes and self-assessment activities
- Submit assignments
- Prepare individual and group online presentations
- Create a profile, and see who is in your subject and find out a bit about them from their profiles
- Conduct searches and use glossaries, and
- View scheduled events using a subject calendar or upcoming events block
Do not feel alarmed if all these features are not used in your subject. Your lecturer may be using a different set of resources.
What personal information is shared on the LMS?
You can view your own personal information on the LMS in your Personal Profile. From there, you can control whether your email address is visible to all others in the LMS, or visible to no-one, or restricted to those enrolled in the same subjects as you. The LMS enables staff to communicate with students via email but a student’s email address is not visible to staff if the student has elected to make their email address not visible to anyone on the LMS. If you upload a picture of yourself then this will accompany all your forum posts, instant messages and may appear in your lecturer’s view of the Gradebook. If you don’t want this to happen, do not upload your picture.