Blackboard or Moodle?

As you are probably aware, the University is considering switching from Blackboard to Moodle for its online course delivery system. From what I can tell, the major consideration seems to be the cost of Blackboard.

Although I have heard some good things about Moodle from students who have used it elsewhere, most faculty members on our campus seem to want to keep Blackboard for a variety of reasons. Two of the most compelling that I have heard are (a) the modules that various publishers have produced work with Blackboard but do not work with Moodle and (b) the KCTCS system uses the new version of Blackboard, so if we're serious about getting more transfer students, we should perhaps use what KCTCS is using. My friends in CIS also tell me that the new version of Blackboard has all kinds of useful new features.

One of my concerns here--and this concern I apparently share with a number of faculty--is that the choice of our online delivery system is an academic decision that should be made by Academic Affairs (as opposed to IT). And I would hope that the faculty would have a significant voice in this process. Faculty Senate members, are you listening?

Let me know what you think. And let your faculty senators know what you're thinking as well.

Ron

BOR Work Session on Friday, 27 August

The work session on Friday, 27 August will largely be a celebration of the new CHER facility, with no other items on the agenda. BOR members will get a tour of the facility and will participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The CHER facility will be a great new resource for the region and for MSU.

Ron