StFX is pleased to offer Moodle, a Learning Management System (LMS) used to create effective online learning spaces. Many faculty members are already using Moodle for course resources, collaboration, communication and activities. Over the past month StFX has upgraded Moodle from version 1.9 to version 2.2.3. For more information on the new features available in this version, including a mobile version optimized for tablets and smartphones, please visit the Moodle website. Access to and administration of the StFX Moodle LMS is provided by the Technology Support Group (TSG) and Continuing & Distance Education. Support and professional development in the use of Moodle is provided by the Supervisor of Academic Technology & Pedagogy Support as well as the Continuing & Distance Education Instructional Designer and Learning Management System Administrator.

Course Availability and Student Enrolment 

All courses offered by StFX that have been entered into the Banner Student Information System will be available in Moodle. Faculty members who have been set up in Banner to teach a course will automatically have access to the course section in Moodle. Students who have been registered in the course will automatically be enrolled in the course in Moodle. Course and student registration information is synchronized between Banner and Moodle daily beginning at 2:00 AM, and updated information in Banner (example: registration of a student into a course) will be reflected in Moodle the following day.

Please note: Students who drop a course will continue to be enrolled in the course in Moodle and will have to be manually removed. Faculty are encouraged to check their class list look-up reports in mesAMIS to identify students who have dropped courses. Also, during the period in which students are able to add courses, faculty should monitor their class enrolment reports to track the availability of seats in their courses.

Accessing Historical Course Content

The Moodle LMS is intended as an online learning environment for courses that are currently being offered and, therefore, all Moodle course content from previous years was not migrated to the new Moodle system. As a significant portion of course content (example: readings, assignments) are used from year to year the overall size of the system can grow significantly. As many faculty reuse course content from year to year, it is possible to export a previous year’s course from the old Moodle system (now available at http://archive-moodle.stfx.ca/) and import the course into the new Moodle system. For step-by-step instructions on exporting and importing course content, please see the Migrating Moodle Courses guide. The old Moodle system will be available until August 31, 2013.

Please note: Student content (example: discussions, submitted assignments, grades) should not be imported into a new Moodle course. Please see “Backing Up Your Course Content” below.
If you require assistance migrating your course content to the new Moodle system, please contact the TSG Contact Centre for assistance and your request will be directed to the Supervisor of Academic Technology & Pedagogy Support:

Phone: (902) 867-2356 or Toll Free 1-(888)-860-2356
Email: tsg@stfx.ca
Fax: (902) 867-3736

Backing Up Your Course Content

Although the Moodle system is backed up nightly for disaster recovery purposes, it is not possible to restore an individual Moodle course. It is the policy of StFX that all student grading components be maintained for a period of 1 year in the event this information is required for an academic appeal. Faculty members are strongly encouraged to periodically create a backup of their course and store the backup on their H: drive. For step-by-step instructions on creating and saving a backup of your Moodle course, please see the Backing Up your Moodle Courses guide.

If you require assistance backing up your course content, please contact the TSG Contact Centre for assistance and your request will be directed to the Supervisor of Academic Technology & Pedagogy Support:

Phone: (902) 867-2356 or Toll Free 1-(888)-860-2356
Email: tsg@stfx.ca
Fax: (902) 867-3736