BLACKBOARD STILL USED DESPITE ALLEGED SWITCH TO MOODLE
By Elizabeth Sekkes
Comment Staff
Last spring, students and faculty at Bridgewater State University prepared for another major change across campus, the total transition from using Blackboard to Moodle.
As the fall semester has unfolded, it has become apparent that the supposed switch never did occur. While a definitive reason as to why has not yet been discovered, many students and faculty members are saying that they find Blackboard to be much easier to navigate than Moodle.
Kait Kingman, a junior Corporate Communications major finds its easier to retrieve and upload assignments with Blackboard.
“I liked Blackboard because it was easier,” said Kingman. “It was divided into sections, so it made it easier to find assignments professors wanted you to find. It was easier to upload assignments.”
Additionally, students like Kingman have found Moodle to be unpredictable and, at times, quite frustrating to navigate.
“Moodle is temperamental,” said Kingman. “It’s much harder to locate assignments and upload assignments.”
Arthur Lizie, chair of the Communication Studies department, echoes Kingman’s sentiments on the overall organization of Blackboard.
“Blackboard is more hierarchical,” said Lizie. “In other words, you follow along in folders to find where you want to go. And Moodle doesn’t seem to have as much of a built in hierarchy.”
Lizie said that Blackboard is more familiar to him, and is therefore easier for him to use.
“I’m more used to Blackboard, so it made it easier for me this semester,” said Lizie. “But it’s really more of putting off the inevitable of making the switch. It’s not that I like Blackboard better, I’m just more used to it.”
While Lizie finds Blackboard to be more comfortable to use, however, he realizes that much good could come from continuing to use both programs effectively.
“I would hope that there is room for different learning platforms on campus,” said Lizie. “There are different strengths for each of the learning systems.”
Information technology could not be reached for contact for this story.
Maryann Serrilla, a senior Elementary Ed, Special Ed and History major is frustrated that a final decision of which program to use hasn’t been decided yet.
“I think they should have stuck to one thing instead of switching back and forth between the programs,” said Serrilla. “Just to make it easier on students’ academic life. They need to get it together. I think the professors or staff should sit down at a formal meeting and discuss the pros and cons between both, then finalize which one they wish to use from here on out.”
Elizabeth Sekkes is a Comment living-arts writer. Email her at esekkes@student.bridgew.edu.
