Picking a Better Learning Management System LMS

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Picking a Better Learning Management System (LMS)
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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

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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/

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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

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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

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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!!

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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

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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!!

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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

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Lessons Learned Phase III

• Because the process can be long, new releases of
  your choices may become available.
• Communication, communication, communication!!

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Final Recommendation Approval

• Timeframe 2 -3 months
• TOG Review Concurrence
• President Briefing, Feedback, Direction
• Cabinet Review Approval
• Board Review Approval
• Informed Competing Vendors

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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

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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

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Questions and Answer Time