Why change?

Our current LMS is WebCT CE 4.1. It will continue to be available and supported throughout 2009. WebCT has been a fantastically useful and stable product at ANU since 2001. It has suited our purposes well and its use has grown dramatically.

However, over time the ways we use the web have changed. Students and lecturers have higher expectations of their online environments. Newer technologies now allow much richer and more flexible ways for students to engage with the people and materials in their courses, for enhancing learning and teaching processes, and for seamless integration with the University's many other online services.

So it was time to review our LMS.

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The process for selecting a new Learning Management System

The Director of ICT Environments, Dr Markus Buchhorn, has been taking advice throughout 2007 and 2008 from staff and students about the University’s needs, through individual and group meetings across the University, emailed comments, phone calls, etc. and more formally via the Academic Systems Assurance Advisory Committee and various College Education and Information Committees. In May 2008 an LMS Proposal Evaluation Panel was established, bringing together people from many parts of ANU with expertise on the various aspects of online learning and teaching. A list of requirements (available here) was drawn up, circulated for comment in 2007 and further refined by the evaluation panel, in consultation with their areas, through May/June 2008. This was sent out as part of a Request for Proposal (RFP) in July 2008. The proposals were received on 30 July 2008, and have been carefully evaluated.

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The process for the change to the new LMS

It is important that any new system is introduced alongside the old, to allow time for training and familiarity with the new system and to transfer learning materials from the old system to the new one.  The new system ideally should be fully functional by Semester 2, 2009. Areas will adopt the new system in ways which best suit their own needs and timeframes.

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Welcome to Wattle

Wattle (Web Access to Teaching & Learning Online) is the name for the University's new Learning Management Service which consists of Moodle as the main underpinning platform and provides the framework for the courses and tools available to students and staff. Wattle currently supports other online learning services such as Digital Lecture Delivery (DLD) with future support being developed for Camtasia and Wimba Live Classroom.

When will academics be able to migrate to Wattle?
ANU Colleges are currently working with their academic staff to consider the best way to migrate to Wattle. A range of online resources and training services are available to support the uptake of Wattle. WebCT will continue to be supported until the end of Semester 1, 2010.
Throughout 2009 and during the first half of 2010 there will be several opportunities to transition your courses to Wattle:
    •    Semester 2, 2009
    •    Summer School Courses 2009-2010
    •    Semester 1, 2010
    •    Autumn and Winter School Courses 2010
    •    Semester 2, 2010

This timetable will be reviewed in September 2009 and revised if necessary.

Wattle Semester 1 Pre-release >>

Wattle Semester 2 Release >>

Courses being offered in Wattle for Semester 1, 2009 >>

Division of Information and College Support for Wattle
The best outcomes for this project will be achieved by working as a partnership initiative between the Division of Information and participating ANU Colleges.

More information >>

To provide any feedback please email feedback@information.anu.edu.au and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.