From a sharepoint-based e-learning system to moodle

Abstract

A Moodle-based e-learning system will replace RWTH Aachen University's SharePoint-based e-learning system, which was introduced 10 years ago, within the course of digitizing teaching processes. The strategic background for the university management is that in the competition for students, teaching must become more attractive through innovative formats. At the same time, students demand the support of new, state of the art teaching scenarios and formats. In contrast to the old SharePoint-based LMS solution, there is a large Moodle community at German universities that actively promotes developing Moodle further according to university-specific requirements. Through the collaborative development of Moodle within the community, interests can be pooled, meaning individual efforts can be reduced and a sustainable and quality-assured development of the LMS can be guaranteed. Within the context of introducing a new e-learning platform, not only technical challenges arose but numerous organizational and procedural changes surfaced as well. Additionally, the stakeholders wanted to keep the operation and functionalities close to the old system in order to make the transition for users as simple as possible, while at the same time, developing a modern platform with up-to-date user guidance and innovative teaching formats..