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Picking a Better Learning Management System (LMS). Why Choose an New LMS?. Out growing WebCT Campus Edition (CE) # of students approaching WebCT CE technical limitations System stability Database Architecture Data Integrity Data Security Faculty and Student Issues Related to Ease of Use
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Why Choose an New LMS? • Out growing WebCT Campus Edition (CE) • # of students approaching WebCT CE technical limitations • System stability • Database Architecture • Data Integrity • Data Security • Faculty and Student Issues Related to Ease of Use • Growing need & opportunities for “Branding” SPC and non-SPC programs
Start Up • Timeframe – 1 month • Decision to move forward with feasible study • Formed LMS Evaluation Committee with three subgroups: feature set, architecture, and total cost of ownership • Web Site Developed to inform SPC staff and faculty http://it.spcollege.edu/lms/
Lessons Learned – Start Up • Pick participants for the committee that do not have a bias to one LMS • Communication, communication, communication!! • This will be a long process
Due Diligence – Phase I • Timeframe – 6 -7 months • Staff review and analysis of all systems • Site visits by 4 of the vendors • LMS Olympics – Side by side comparative evaluation of the 4 vendors (LMS Doc) • Evaluation tool created to narrow to 2 finalists (Rubric for Evaluation Doc) • Site visits by the two finalists • Feature set group recommends ANGEL
Lessons Learned – Phase I • Do an RFP • Make contact early with each vendor and develop a good working relationship with the sales reps. • Get names and a contact person from each institution using the LMS being evaluated from the vendors. • Communication, communication, communication!!
Due Diligence – Phase II • Timeframe – 3 – 4 months • Detailed TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) is developed • Architecture group obtained evaluation license of both finalists • On site installation and evaluation 0f WebCT Vista v2.0 & ANGEL v6.0 • Architecture group recommends ANGEL
Lessons Learned – Phase II • Consider all possible costs (TCO): • Licensing • Hardware • Vendor Services • HR • Cost of not purchasing a new LMS • Make sure to have Information System people involved in the evaluation from the beginning • Determine the profitability of the company • Communication, communication, communication!!
Due Diligence – Phase III • Timeframe – 1 month • Last review of latest releases – ANGEL 6.1 and WebCT Vista 3.0 • Re-confirm LMS Committee groups selection & conclusions
Lessons Learned – Phase III • Because the process can be long, new releases of your choices may become available. • Communication, communication, communication!!
Final Recommendation & Approval • Timeframe – 2 -3 months • TOG Review & Concurrence • President Briefing, Feedback, Direction • Cabinet Review & Approval • Board Review & Approval • Informed Competing Vendors
Conclusions • Take your time. SPC spent almost 13 months making a decision • Involve many faculty and other special groups in the evaluation committee • Involve senior management, CIO, V.P. of Student and Educational Services • Make sure some of the people on the evaluation committee do not have bias on one system or another
Conclusions • Make sure you have a total consensus on a choice. Do not use majority voting • Do not make migration from one system to another as highly weighted as the feature set