Out with the Old Answered :Moodle Support and Lab Upgrades hope to improve student concerns

Students who need help with the University’s newest online learning platform, Moodle, now have access to after hours help courtesy of Moodle After Hours Support.
LMS Administrator Goldie Jordan, says Moodle support was implemented in order to offer a greater range of services and convenience to students who may have problems using the software.
Before Moodle was introduced to students last semester, the University had been utilizing the e-learning software, Blackboard, for more than a decade.
According to a customer help representative for Moodle After Hours Support, students who can call their toll free number are connected with a representative that can offer help with anything from login issues to uploading assignments.
In addition to after hours support, upgrades were added to Moodle that include online grading, a restoring feature, and the ability for students to upload or download assignments straight from the Moodle app.
Outside of software improvements from the Division of Information Technology students also have access to upgraded computer labs.
The upgrades were part of the University’s efforts in addressing student concerns with the universities aging technological resources.
According to the DOIT, the general purpose labs located in the Smith –Brown Memorial Student Union and T.T. Allain have been upgraded to provide students the resources and technology needed to succeed.
Computer Lab Coordinator, Leonard Harris, helped spearhead the effort in upgrading the general purpose labs, something that had not been done for several years.
The project, which was assessed from student technological fees, included the purchase of 67 PCs and 9 macs.
In total, the university spent more than $100,000 for the renovations.
In addition to proving the new technology, the labs have also replaced aging desks, chairs and carpet in order to improve the overall look and feel of the labs.
“So far Students have been very pleased with the progress,” said Harris adding that much of the new look is courtesy of the student workers who volunteered their time in helping with the upgrades.
Accounting and finance major La’Shanti Holden; computer science major, Gina White; and computer science major, Rashell Williams were all student’s whose input was instrumental in helping the university upgrade the labs.
Williams says that they became involved after Harris asked for the input and help because as students they would know what other’s wanted.
“I feel like me being a student and helping with the renovating helps because I know what feels comfortable for me and other students being in the lab,” said Williams.
White added that the age of the computers, the desks being very uneven and the uncarpeted floor were all issues that the group wanted to tackle.
The students helped with every aspect of the new design in the T.T. Allain lab from the color of the carpet to trying out the new chairs that were installed in both labs.
The students also say that they have seen an increase in student usage of the labs since the upgrades.
The seniors added that they want students to take pride in the new additions and help take care of the upgrades for students who attend in the future.
Moodle support is available from 5 PM to 8 AM Monday through Friday and 24/7 on the weekend. They can be reached at the toll free at 1-877-771-0621.
The newly renovated lab in T.T. Allain is available for use from 8 AM to 10 PM Monday through Thursday and 8 AM to 5 PM Friday.