Conversion Feedback

This page contains helpful hints on course conversion.

Problem: Missing Files in IMS Export Packages

An IMS export package which includes content will NOT necessarily include every file need for a complete migration. For example, I have migrated a course which included pages with javascript image rollovers. The secondary images did not come over.

Solution

Copy over needed files. Easiest way is create WebDAV folders for both the WebCT shell and the D2L content. Then move files with drap and drop from WebCT into D2L. Another solution would be zip-download/upload-unzip.

Problem: Project Dropbox contains Assignments that were not visible in the course

A course that was converted had a list of Dropbox entries that were not "in" the course according to the instructor.

Solution

This course was inherited from another instructor. The Assignments tool was previously used but had been deleted from the course homepage and menu. After adding it back, we found that the assignments were indeed in the course. So, even hidden assignments and quizzes will port over to D2L.

Problem: Quiz images are not showing after importing via the CEMT

The quizzes are there but when previewing the questions, the images are not loading. They are in the Course Files area, however.

Solution

The URL for the image contains the WebCT variable: _COURSEID_. You have to edit the code for each question/answer with an image and remove this to correct the path to the image. This makes them display correctly.

Problem: All of the quiz questions are placed in a folder called "Subsection" in the layout. This puts the word subsection at the end of each question, which would be confusing to students (and is confusing to us, too!) No solution other than reorganizing each quiz to move the questions into the root rather than subsection.

Problem: Upper textblocks from quizzes are NOT imported. These would have to be recreated as text information items inside D2L.

Other random things we have noticed about importing:

The Content tool contains most of the materials that were in the course. It imports the homepage (*SEE INTERESTING NOTE BELOW) from WebCT as well as any URL, Single Page and Content Modules into the Content. Theses are all placed in individual modules in D2L. Discussion topics come over well. It appears that NOTHING from the Manage Students (ie Gradebook) is migrated so that is something that will have to be redone inside Desire2Learn.
INTERESTING NOTE: For the two courses we have imported so far, the course homepage is imported as an HTML file into the Content area. The material on that homepage is repeated 2 or 3 times on that page! Not sure why, but it happened both times.

Problem: Quiz questions are not linked to the Question Library. It requires editing in both locations to correct the issue. Clicking on the Quiz title then Layout and Edit questions edits in the quiz itself, not the question library.

Solution: Correct the question in the question library and recreate the quiz.

Linda Lyle, NSCC

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Problem

When converting a course that contained only Organizer pages and Single Pages (no Content Modules) I was seeing multiple links to the same content. Actually there were 3 sets of links to some of the content pages.

Solution

I deleted all Course Menu links and used the instructor's Export Course tool again. The multiple links did not appear in this course conversion.

Comments

From rbowery - 2/17/07 8:22 AM

RODP WebCT Course Migration Results 2/16/07
UNIV4995R57: Roy Bowery
Migrated by RODP server team

WebCT Homepage: Corrupted (needs editing)
1. Imported as Content page
2. Repeats material 4x
WebCT Course Menu

Syllabus Page: No - Needs linkage reset

Page was sent to Manage Files

Professor Page: Ok
1. Imported as Content page
2. Photo ok
Calendar: Missing WebCT Dates
1. Did not import into D2L calendar
2. In D2L Calendar link is on My Home page but not in my course
Discussion Page: No - Partial tranfer
1. WebCT message threads and postings are missing in D2L except for two of my posting
Mail Page: No - No transfer
1. D2L mail is empty
Assignments: Yes - Need editing

WebCT assignment titles tranferred but not instructions, due dates

UofM Senior Project Guide: Ok

In WebCT this was external link to UofM page
1. Opened in the same browser window
Imported as Content page and opened in same window

Web Links: Ok
1. In WebCT this was single html page in Manage Files
2. Imported as Content page and opens as should in same window
RODP Library Link: Ok but needs rescripting by TBR
1. Imported as Content page
2. Opens as should in same window but to generic RODP Library page
Student Services Link: OK
1. In WebCT opened as external link to new window
2. Imported as Content page and opens in same window
RODP Site Link: OK
1. In WebCT opened as external link in same window
2. Imported as Content page and opens in same window
Smarthinking Link: OK
1. In WebCT opened as external link to new window
2. Imported as Content page and opens in same window

From jstclair - 2/16/07 7:24 PM

Forwarded from Linda Weeks, DSCC:

Our admin people (both of them) just spent a couple of hours trying to get two classes ready for the bulk course create. Both of these women are very concerned that this is very time-consuming and perhaps there is a short cut or easier way to do it than we are now doing. ... Now we’re looking at putting 10 more courses up in another week to continue the trial process and they are not happy campers. It seems that the CSV file step is a bit lengthy. Should this be such a time-consuming process?

From jstclair - 2/16/07 7:13 PM

Forwarded from Lauren Neal, TTU:

When I used the cp_api.pl to export a course from WebCT 4.1 to an IMS
Package and imported the package through D2L Import Course this is what
I found.

Concerning the following areas:
1. Content - it seems to be really good as long as it is setup properly
in WebCT in the Content Modules. A nice thing is that any single pages
that were on an organizer page come up as a new module also.
2. Discussions - it does well, but it does bring over the Personal
Homepage as an Introduction discussion posting.
3. Dropbox - it brought over my two assignments, but people will have to
be taught that this tool is different than the Assignment tool in WebCT
and that the assignment is only turned in here, the information about
the assignment will need to be posted in the Content area or some other
way.
4. Quizzes - was weird. I was able to get my quizzes over, but the
questions do not go into the Question Library (the Survey questions do
automatically go into the Question Library though)???
5. Surveys - worked great.

I have also done the transfer of a course via instructor mode of
exporting through the Control Panel in WebCT and importing the
individual components. It yielded the same results.

From aldsmith - 2/14/07 2:19 PM

I moved a course using WebDAV in WebCT and dropping it in via WebDav in D2l. It worked great but it was not very fast.

I exported courses using 4 different methods.

1) IMS export via the command line

2) WebCT GUI Admin using the course migratation tool

3) Export from inside the course using the export course function.

4) Zipping files and using WebDav to import them into a course.

I had the most success with the command line exported courses and zipping up the entire course.

I had several problems with the other two mehods. I would get an error message before the content was loaded. I tried to use relatively small files sizes but still recieved errors on several courses. I also noticed when I used the export function inside the courses that the file size was twice as large as the other two methods. I believe this is due to the fact that the course had two existing course backups in the course. I did have some errors on courses that used flash buttons to start captivate movies the files were simply not moved over. So zipping up all the files and exporting them out of WebCT may be a good option for courses that have more that just the basics.

Just some thoughts.

Albert Smith MTSU

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