1. What is your experience of using VLEs?
   1. 3 : #vle1 some experience of moodle a few years back. Write an OS VRE that interfaces with moodle
   2. 4 : #vle1 I've a firly rounded experience with both Moodle and WebCT. I support the AME staff and students and there's mixed feelings about both
   3. 5 : #vle1 Diverse. Content packaging (including multimedia) and signposting (gateway) to external sources
   4. 6 : Not used VLE for teaching, have practiced with blackboard & Moodle - Rob E #vle1
   5. 7 : #vle1 Broad use for teaching and admin. Most in WebCT some Moodle. Tend to use to enable collaboration rather than content.
   6. 8 : #vle1 bad start. Can't get mac connected
   7. 9 : #vle1 experience in vle production is limited - but use as a student on an online science based foundation degree course
   8. 10 : #vle1 I use it in my teaching as a source for information and for assessment
2. First Impressions
   1. 0 : #vle1 Once the imsmanifest.xml has been updated within RELOAD, the IMS CP will load into BB release 9 successfully.
   2. 1 : #vle1 Prior to importing a WebCT generated IMS CP into BB release 9, the imsmanifest.xml file needs updating within RELOAD.
   3. 2 : #vle1 exporting from WebCT and importing into Moodle seems to work fine.
   4. 3 : #vle1 current experience with VLE's - importing and exporting CP's between VLE's.
   5. 4 : #vle1 I like the updated layout of Moodle. it looks more inviting than before.
   6. 5 : #vle1 Adding content:- Module overview seems easy to enter
   7. 6 : #vle1 Moodle - Impressed by the use of the 'template' with videos. Need more time to view than I have at this point. :-(
   8. 7 : #vle1 Having the video tutorial side by side makes set up rather easy. maybe this needs to be highlighted that it's possible?
   9. 8 : #vle1 BB9 - creating folders for the weekly material is straight forward
   10. 9 : #vle1 Using Bb. Created Week 1. Extremely easy (very much like WebCT in terms of navigation but with more and better features).
   11. 10 : #vle1 not initially obvious how to add a file to the course content!
   12. 11 : On video - whole screen capture is better, seeing a small window is confusing/#vle1
3. Teacher Activities
   1. Adding Files
   2. Embedding videos
   3. Creating a Forum
   4. Assessment
4. Learner Activities
   1. 1 : #vle1 BB can't add a link to a discussion forum (in the BB course itself) to a course page. Has to be a separate item.
   2. 2 : #vle1 Build a dynamic, immersive, multimedia environment. Communicate with students via IM
   3. 3 : #vle1 I would love to have a feature where the students blog could be viewed from outside the organisation.
   4. 4 : #vle1 allow them to add content (links / materials etc)
   5. 5 : #vle1 Activity idea. Students create their own collaborative web page (wiki with rollback etc.) for all to view.
   6. 0 : using one built here. follow comments on #vle1 link is http://moodle.pteppic.net/demosite05 login vle04 password learning
   7. 1 : #vle1 Blackboard seems to jump tab when 'submitting' from some pages.
   8. 2 : #vle1 MA Students to participate remotely in seminars (eg China and Bolton) within VLE
   9. 3 : #vle1 Moodle - Just set up a feedback form - very easy to set up and add questions
   10. 4 : #vle1 moodle/safari on mac - compose a webpage has no editor but I realise this is a well documented issue
   11. 5 : #vle1 MA students (Digital Image) peer-group critique of visual artefacts post-seminar. Requires lightbox display of images with discussion.
5. introductions...
   1. 0 : #vle1 3rd attempt at sending a twitter message to vle1.
   2. 1 : #vle1 Hi every one
   3. 2 : #vle1 Just enjoying a cup of tea
   4. 3 : #vle1 hellow world!
   5. 4 : #vle1 Mike Lawrence currently logged in as boltonvle9
   6. 5 : #vle1 Trying to figure out Twitter
   7. 6 : #vle1 boltonvle9 logged in ok!
   8. 7 : #vle1 Test message from Hilary
   9. 8 : #vle1 hello everybody
   10. 9 : #vle1 keep forgetting to put tag in!
   11. 10 : #vle1 I'm a twit
   12. 11 : #vle1 test
6. Second Impressions
   1. 0 : #vle1 BB9 you need to create an item to be able to add a file - not obvious!
   2. 1 : #vle1 moodle - I have opened the youtube video in another screen and minimised it so that it is running as I "do" - this is helpful
   3. 2 : #vle1 Moodle -- Easy enough creating a new course. Some confusion over re-editing a created page but soon sorted.
   4. 3 : #vle1 BB9 added PPT file & when selecting "displaying media file within the page" the PPT will only open in MS & jumps out of VLE!
   5. 4 : #vle1 blackboard, very easy to use the edit screen entered my course content with a bit of help - thrilling
   6. 5 : #vle1 moodle -- clean, uncluttered interface
   7. 6 : #vle1 Moodle -- Made discussion forum in wrong week, easy (5 seconds) to figure out how to move to correct week. Not such a twit after all!
   8. 7 : #vle1 When you come back to BB9 from MS PPT you have to go back 2 return 2 the course structure!
   9. 8 : #vle1 added PPT & create link to file works the same as Display file option! Opens MS PPT & jumps out of VLE
   10. 9 : #vle1 would be nice to have mutiple file upload option (without having to zip) I may be missing something here tho?
   11. 10 : #vle1 Dead easy to set up a discussion board on Blackboard, added the contract and put up a post easily; "the url is mine"
   12. 11 : #vle1 BB9 added PDF & selected create a link to file - pdf opens up within VLE. The Special Action Box option isn't effective
   13. 12 : #vle1 moodle - when uploading word file the word icon is not present next to the document link
   14. 13 : #vle1 Moodle -- 3 week course created in about 10 minutes. Easy-peasy.
   15. 14 : one to play video and the other to carry out the tasks synchronously. Splitting the browser window into 2 screens is far from #vle1
   16. 15 : #vle1 The spell check seems a little jumpy. It's locked up the browser once, then not made it obvious that it has finished the check.
   17. 16 : #vle1 seems good
   18. 17 : #vle1 BB9 embedding youtube video works reasonably well. Numerous options to do this - some are better than others!
   19. 18 : #vle1 Added an assignment with only a small amount of help. Just pointed in the right direction under content also added an URL.Off the wall
   20. 19 : #vle1 BB9 adding a word file - doesn't work with displaying file special option same as PPT's - Best to avoid using Word & PPTs??
7. When did you ask for help?
   1. 0 : #vle1 Asked about re-editing a week
   2. 1 : #vle1 Where's lunch?
   3. 2 : #vle1 needed help for adding files (not obvious) to a course & adding video links, (numerous options available)
      1. 0 : #vle1 Collaberative help docs in many formats - video / written / audio etc
         1. What would this look like?
      2. 1 : #vle1 If not in help file, add to help file and add help icon appropriately
      3. 2 : #vle1 sorry I had not sent it!!! ....... but if I insert the url in the link to a file or website it is uploaded as link
      4. 3 : #vle1 designing courses should be a distinct activity supporting by organisational/academic help. Adding material is at the end of line.
      5. 4 : #vle1 incubate a user community, seeded with experts, that enables peer support
      6. 5 : #vle1 all IST staff to be trained on basics so help can come from many staff.
      7. 6 : #vle1 help 2 design courses - encoder audio & screen walk thru-tutorials. MikeLawrence-Testcourse in Moodle has a few examples to show this.
      8. 7 : #vle1 we need an someone who can provide support when needed.
      9. 8 : #vle1 A course that is actually a FAQ?
      10. votes
          1. 0 : #vle1 0, 4, 8
          2. 1 : #vle1 8
          3. 2 : #vle1 yes I guess
          4. 3 : #vle1 expert help from IS&T staff, Community of users and peers, Help docs in various formats
          5. 4 : #vle1 yes for 0 and 5
          6. 5 : #vle1 item 6, then 8, then 4
          7. 7 : #vle1 0, 4, 8
          8. 8 : #vle1 8
          9. 9 : #vle1 yes I guess
      11. 0 : #vle1 rtfm
   4. 3 : #vle1 might need some help in designing courses and adding/removing students and staff to courses
   5. 4 : #vle1 BB9 needed help with 'Displaying files within' VLE but VLE didn't support it!
   6. 5 : #vle1 seems to be several bugs in saf 4
   7. 6 : #vle1 The auto dropdown boxes in Moodle are a bit twitchy, they can get in the way.
   8. 7 : #vle1 moodle when I follow the instruction for embedding a video within the "insert a label" resource text is not hyperlinked - see nxt msg
8. afternoon activity
   1. 0 : #vle1 BB - where do I go to add course content having created a course?
   2. 1 : #vle1 BB created course then several mouse clicks to find it ready for adding content! Not very intuitive. Moodle presented it immediately.
   3. 2 : #vle1 I'm having a great time! (test)
   4. 3 : #vle1 nice lunch back to work. smooth criminal
   5. 4 : #vle1 Blackboard runs smoothly (so far) in Firefox 3 - apple mac. Really nice intuitive interface
   6. 5 : #vle1 still have faith in macs.
   7. 6 : #vle1 where's dinner?
   8. 7 : #vle1 moodle - page layout is a bit of a fiddle - there appear to be line spaces where they shouldnt be and editing them out is not obvious
   9. 8 : #vle1 we need a community of helpers; IS&T is technically focussed this may be confusing; how about external help?
   10. 9 : #vle1 Still watching the Moodle video. Doesn't look TOO different to Bb as yet.
   11. 10 : #vle1 wish I was on a Greek Island, instead of a geek island
   12. 11 : #vle1 now using firefox on mac. Looks clean and simple and first impressions are good
   13. 12 : #vle1 On to blackboard now, its a new environment so a little tricky to navigate. have attached some files, the layout ability isn't as obv.
   14. 13 : #vle1 I like the template layout for the course
   15. 14 : #vle1 straight away rendering problems in firefox mac
   16. 15 : #vle1 - why the need for video instructions - blackboard more intiutive on first impressions.
9. What are the Blackboard people stuck with at the moment?
   1. 0 : #vle1 BB not so obvious to create items in place.
10. Moodle afternoon impressions
    1. 0 : #vle1 Would like to see week numbers and dates in structure
    2. 1 : #vle1 I'm adding resources to Week 1 in Moodle - seems pretty straight forward thus far
    3. 2 : #vle1 Moodle despite the help & the structure/features on the page, it is difficult to upload files. Seem to be in a loop. Heal the world
    4. 3 : #vle1 Seems very easy to upload documents and like automatic urls
    5. 4 : #vle1 The mouse cursor comment was about Blackboard!
    6. 5 : #vle1 mouse pointer dosn't change when floating over the menu box, confusing as to weather you are in the right place.
    7. 6 : #vle1 - Okay, no real issues, but the interface design is not as well thought out as BB and therefore not as intuitive. (apple/firefox)
    8. 7 : #vle1 Like the way you can turn editing on and off. not sure what the purpose of switching roles is
    9. 8 : #vle1 the function menu in blackboard folds out below the screen so not all functions are showing if you are close to the bottom of screen
    10. 0 : #vle1 - moodle - sorry but moodles interface is very messy
11. final impressions
    1. 6 : #vle1 Moodle got content loaded, but feel it is all over the place, not sure how it is structured
    2. 7 : #vle1 moodle/mac - would prefer the save changes button to be submit
    3. 8 : #vle1 Prefer visual mapping of course structure creation with drag and drop content creation (ie: an alternative to hierarchical nesting)
    4. 3 : #vle1 bb9 - would prefer to set up a whole course structure
    5. 4 : #vle1 "The Blackboard system clock may be incorrect. If you continue to see this error, contact your Blackboard system administrator."
    6. 5 : #vle1 BB no intuitive interface. 30 mins only halfway through wk 2 of course creation :( 10 mins to complete in Moodle.
    7. 6 : #vle1 BB I created course (with content). Clicked on course: 'You do not have access to the content for this course.' ?????
    8. 7 : Some interesting twitter chatter going on RE:Moodle - Search #vle1
    9. 8 : #vle1 - feel that BB will offer more robust support - yes it has to be paid for but the concept of moodle=free is obviously not correct
    10. 9 : #vle1 BB - course referred to by ID no. not name? Like using IP address instead of domain path.
    11. 10 : #vle1 - both do the job. prefer blackboard - it looks and feels more robust-moodle interface not as intuitive.
    12. 11 : #vle1 bit disappointed with Moodle not as intuitative as I thought. BB seems easier to me.
    13. 12 : #vle1 I'm seeing much of a muchness in terms of 'obvious' functionality and not much difference in ease of navigation
    14. 13 : @washy21 Moodle relies more on a huge OS community, supported by Moodle Partner companies, rather than a single company to succeed #vle1
    15. Information on migration