Important Information for 2023 Fall Term

Current Students

  • Please log into Moodle with the same credentials that you use to access myMount.
  •  Your Moodle course sites will be visible in the ‘In progress’ tab of the Moodle Dashboard Course overview section on the first day of classes.
    *Important: If you are registered in a course, but you do not see the course in your list of courses please contact your instructor.
  • Important announcements and information are shared with faculty and students on the Moodle Dashboard. Please read this helpful and timely information when you first log into Moodle. Students can also access other helpful resources from the Moodle Dashboard page in the ‘Resources’ block on the right-hand side.
  • Collaborate​​​​​​​ is our online classroom software. It provides a virtual space where faculty and students can meet in real-time, work in groups, chat, and learn together.
    • Check out the Accessing Collaborate video in Microsoft Stream to learn more about successfully joining your online classes, then take a test drive in Collaborate by joining this Practice Collaborate Session.
    • Tip! It is important to practice using Collaborate and check your computer and browser settings before joining your first online class. If you require assistance with your browser settings or computer equipment (video and audio) before your first online class, a Tech Navigator can meet with you virtually (during regular business hours) – email online@msvu.ca  to request this support.
    • Collaborate Teleconference allows you to establish a dial-in audio connection to your MSVU online classes with your telephones when you are unable to maintain a consistent internet or audio connection through your home internet. Please be advised that if you use this feature to join your online Collaborate session, you may incur long distance fees on your telephone bill. The number you will be dialing is a local Halifax number so your long-distance calling plan will determine if you incur fees.
    • Visit Get Started with Collaborate Ultra for Participants to watch a video tour, see how to navigate around sessions, establish audio and video settings for your devices and browser, and much more.

Online Learning support services for students:

Whether you are new to using Moodle and Collaborate for your courses, or you are already familiar with the educational technologies used at the Mount, please know that we are here to support you as you navigate this process. You can visit Online Support for Students to learn more about preparing for your classes, how to order textbooks online, technology requirements and more. You are also welcome to stop by our Drop-In Collaborate Support Sessions from 1:00pm – 2:00pm to ask quick questions about Moodle or to practice using Collaborate. If you have any questions about Moodle or Collaborate, please email online@msvu.ca.

The IT&S Help Desk is also here to support you with the following types of support:

  • Login and password issues related to accessing Moodle. Please be reminded that students can now securely reset their account password and update their authentication details by using the Self-Service Password Reset Tool found at www.msvu.ca/password.
  • Home equipment issues relating to connectivity
  • Browser issues
  • Please visit Hours and Contact Information to request support

MSVU’s Suite of Educational Technologies

Moodle is the Mount’s Learning Management System and is used is most course deliveries, including face-to-face, online, blended and multi-access. It allows faculty to create and manage course content, host online discussions, administer quizzes and meet in real time with students. Moodle provides a place where students can access course content, submit assignments, complete activities, and communicate with their peers and their instructor.

Blackboard Collaborate​​​​​​​ is our online classroom software. It provides a virtual space where faculty and students can meet in real-time, work in groups, chat, and learn together.

Microsoft 365 is a collection of apps used in course delivery such as OneNote, Teams, Stream, and Yammer.

Current students and faculty can view Moodle course sites and join online synchronous classes in Collaborate by logging into Moodle.

Moodle Login

More about Moodle and Blackboard Collaborate

Moodle 3.11

Moodle was successfully upgraded to version 3.11 on May 4, 2022.

Online Learning is here to help faculty and students learn more about the Mount’s customized version of Moodle 3.11. Please email online@msvu.ca to inquire about the new features that are available to enhance course delivery in Moodle.

Blackboard Collaborate

MSVU has been utilizing Blackboard Collaborate as its virtual classroom tool for over 10 years. Blackboard Collaborate is designed for education, with pedagogically rich features which enables instructors to create engaging, personalized, and pedagogically innovative learning experiences. It is made for education and is designed specifically to meet the needs of instructors and learners.

Blackboard Collaborate provides exceptional support to MSVU, and its wealth of resources, community hubs, and opportunities to engage in product enhancement and training events is second to none.

The Online Learning team actively participates in community forums and initiatives, is subscribed to all relevant news releases (product updates, issue tracking, solutions, etc.) and attends webinars regularly to ensure the best support is provided to Mount instructors and students.

Check out the new Accessing Collaborate (3:24) video in Microsoft 365 Stream and take a test drive by joining the Practice Collaborate Session.

Scheduled Moodle Maintenance Periods

Scheduled Maintenance Periods and Upgrade Activities

Online Learning and IT&S are committed to ensuring that the educational technologies used by faculty and students at the university are properly maintained and upgraded on a regular basis. It is important to continually perform security updates, important server maintenance tasks, technology updates and enhancements.

Scheduled Moodle Maintenance Periods are Scheduled as Follows:

  • Based on the academic calendar term dates, maintenance and security tasks in Moodle will be performed in between each academic term (between fall and winter; between winter and summer one; between summer two and fall).
  • Maintenance periods are chosen based on the last day of classes, exam schedules, and final grades submission deadlines.
  • During these maintenance periods, Moodle will be unavailable to faculty and students.
  • Normally, the maintenance period is between 1-3 days depending on the level of work being completed.
  • The dates are communicated as soon as possible and in several ways – email, Moodle Dashboard, Moodle login screens, and the Campus Bulletin.
  • If you are teaching a course outside of the regular academic calendar dates and you require the use of Moodle and Collaborate during this time, please email online@msvu.ca to discuss possible alternatives.
    • Please note the following:
      • If you require the use of Collaborate, please email online@msvu.ca and the Collaborate course session link will be shared with you so you can share it with your students in advance.
      • You will still be able to use Collaborate as you normally would – record, share PowerPoints, use the whiteboard and use break-out rooms.
      • A support person can also attend your online class during (upon request only to online@msvu.ca) to ensure everyone joins successfully and that the correct roles are in place.

Mount Online Learning Platform Informed Consent Statement

The Mount’s Online Learning Platform includes Moodle, Blackboard Collaborate, Microsoft 365 and more. By using this website, you are confirming that you have read, understood and accepted the following terms and conditions.

Copyright

Materials on the Mount Online Learning Platform are subject to the Copyright Act, Canadian laws, policies, regulations and international agreements. This includes identifying the source of information and prohibiting the reproduction of materials without written permission.

Data Storage

The Mount abides by all provincial privacy laws including the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPOP) and the Personal Information International Disclosure Act (PIIPDA).

Confidentiality

Authorized Mount staff have access to your course site to provide technical support and to assist in the administration and smooth functioning of the Mount Online Learning Platform. All information gathered in Moodle will be kept confidential.

Your class sessions and other learning activities may be recorded by your instructor for use within your online course site. Your instructor will provide advanced warning before beginning the recording and will inform you of any additional use of these recordings. Recordings will not be distributed outside of the Mount Online Learning platform.

Terms of Use for Students

  • You will not submit material completed in a course to fulfil the requirements of another course without the written permission of both instructors. To do so would constitute cheating as stated in the Academic Calendar.
  • You will not record any class activities including discussion or lecture without securing the permission of the course instructor.
  • You will not upload course material to any external websites or share with others, unless permitted to do so by the instructor. If you require further clarification about using materials from this course in other contexts, please contact the instructor.
  • Only students registered in this Mount Online course site are permitted to view, download, upload, comment or otherwise participate in this course site.
  • You will not provide anyone not registered in this course with access to the Mount Online course site established for the course.
  • You will not divulge or share your Mount password with anyone.

By entering this website, you agree to:
1. Abide by the Mount’s Regulations Governing Computer Use
2. Maintain Academic Integrity
3. All of the terms and conditions above.

Support Services, Hours of Operation and Contact Details

Support Services

Online Learning offers a variety of support services to assist faculty and students. Faculty are invited to participate in the Educational Technology Weekly Workshop Series. Faculty and students can join the daily Collaborate Drop-in Sessions from 1:00-2:00pm to ask quick questions about the educational technologies. Emailing online@msvu.ca to ask questions about how to use the educational technologies ensures a prompt reply. You can also request a 1:1 session using the Online Learning Bookings App to meet with a member of the Educational Technology Team to learn more about and practice using the educational technologies. Tech Navigators are another great resource to assist with accessing Moodle or Collaborate for your first time, or to find the optimal settings for your device (computer, tablet, headset, webcam) and to establish the best browser settings for a successful online class experience.

Hours of Support

  • For the first week of each new term, the Online Learning team will be available from 8:30am to 8:00pm
  • For the remainder of that term, we will be available from 8:30am to 4:30pm

How to Contact Us During the Above Hours of Operation

  1. Email:  online@msvu.ca
  2. Online: Daily Drop-In Collaborate Session | 1:00pm – 2:00pm
  3. Appointment: Book an Online Learning Educational Technology Demo/Training Session

Evening and Weekend Support

  • Evening and weekend support is provided for urgent requests only, after the first week of each term. Urgent requests are those that concern your ability to teach or participate in a class that same evening or weekend (connection, browser, audio or video issues).
  • Only urgent requests will be responded to immediately, and others will be responded to the next business day.
  • Please call 902-457-6601 and explain how you are not able to teach or participate in an online class and your request will be responded as soon as possible.
  • Faculty, if you are administering an assessment outside of normal business hours (Moodle quiz, assignment, discussion forum), please troubleshoot issues students may have with that Moodle activity first, then if you require support please email online@msvu.ca and it will be responded to the next business day.