deciding on a new lms-an inclusive rfp and decision-making process

DECIDING ON A NEW LMS:AN INCLUSIVE RFP AND

DECISION MAKING PROCESS

Rhonda D. Blackburn, PhD

C. Christine Salmon, PhD

University of Texas at Dallas

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? Who we are Why RFP Process Timeline Results Outcomes and Issues

WHO WE ARE University of Texas at Dallas Approximately 15,000 students and 800

faculty Four online programs

WHY CONDUCT AN RFP? Blackboard Vista end of life Buy-in from faculty and students Two systems on campus Go with the best solution for our campus

OUR PROCESS LMS Committee Instructional Technology survey Focus groups Request for Proposal Review submissions Bring top three companies to campus Decide on the new LMS

TIMELINE Summer 2010

Sent out survey Fall 2010

Reviewed surveyConducted focus groupsStarted writing RFP

TIMELINE CONTINUED Spring 2011

Finished RFP, sent it out (March 7)Deadline for proposals (April 4)Develop rubric to evaluate vendorsBring in top three vendors, have faculty and

students involvedDecide on new LMS (hosted or self-hosted?)

TIMELINE CONTINUED Summer 2011

Begin backend implementation and integration with PeopleSoft

Begin building documentation Fall 2011

Continue backend implementation and integration with PeopleSoft

Continue documentation

TIMELINE CONTINUED Spring 2012

Complete backend implementation and integration with PeopleSoft

Complete documentationBegin training faculty who will use it in

SummerBegin migrating content from old LMS

Summer 2012Pilot new LMS, run simultaneously with old LMSContinue trainingContinue migrating content from old LMS

TIMELINE CONTINUED Fall 2012

Add more faculty to the summer pilot groupContinue to run simultaneously with old LMSContinue trainingContinue migrating content from old LMS

Spring 2013Any faculty who want to use new LMS canContinue to run simultaneously with old LMSContinue trainingContinue migrating content from old LMS

TIMELINE CONTINUED Summer 2013

Everyone is on new system and old system is used only as archive, no one is on old LMS

Migrate any additional content from old LMS

AT LARGE INPUT Instructional Technology Survey

Focus groups11 focus groups

4 faculty (1 online) 4 student (1 online) 1 instructional designer 1 back-end 1 accessibility

INSTRUCTIONAL TECH SURVEY Desire for more online courses Single sign-on Easy navigation Reliability and stability Prompt support

FOCUS GROUPS PROCESS Determined number and target

audiences Developed guiding questions Developed pre-focus group survey Conducted focus groups (audio

recorded) Analyzed results from survey and

discussion

RESULTS – OVERALL

FacultyFaculty unaware of existing featuresFaculty trainingEasy migration to new system

StudentsLack of use by facultyFew fully online courses – used as supportConcern with stability

RESULTS Usability Tools Accessibility Overall improvements

USABILITY Powerful but for power users Learning curve is more work than it’s

worth Could look more modern, updated

TOOLS Communication Collaboration Assessment Learning modules Course management Integrated tools Additional tools, functionality

INTEGRATED TOOLS Library, library reserves (f)(s) Video server, YouTube, iTunesU (f) Google docs (f) Turnitin, Grademark (f) MuchLearning (calculus) (s) Skype (s)

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONALITY Online document editing (f) Push notification for course updates (s) Notification system (missed exam,

announcements, discussion, etc) (f) Easily embed videos (f) Web conferencing (s) Resume function on quizzes (s) Picture roster (s) Consistent look among courses (s) Wikis (f)

OVERALL IMPROVEMENTS Login Mobile Public Migration Listings myCourses

OUTCOMES AND ISSUESCaveatThe Office of Educational Enhancement was dissolved, so the support for the campus LMS has been downsized.

OUTCOMES AND ISSUES

What we know 8 vendors responded to the RFP 3 chosen to present on campus

What we don’t know Process for vendor presentations Process for decision making Timeline / process for implementation What training will be available*

THANK YOU! Contact information:

Rhonda Blackburn979-255-0289rblackburn91@gmail.com

Christine Salmon281-728-7472christine.salmon@gmail.com