Online Course Systems: Online Course Systems: Grab Your Compass!Grab Your Compass!

It's 2006, do you know where your LMS is going?

Andrea Chappell, Group DirectorInstructional Technologies & Multimedia ServicesUniversity of Waterloo

Basic PremiseBasic Premise

It’s hard to get there if you are not sure It’s hard to get there if you are not sure where there is.where there is.

So, be aware of the landscape, and So, be aware of the landscape, and recognize what decisions you need to recognize what decisions you need to make along the way.make along the way.

Sort of like …Sort of like …

AgendaAgenda

Online course environment at UW.Online course environment at UW.

Get out the compasses: where do we (and Get out the compasses: where do we (and you!) think things are going?you!) think things are going?

UW-ACE: UW ANGEL Course UW-ACE: UW ANGEL Course EnvironmentEnvironment

Mission critical system.Mission critical system.

Used by campus and fully online (Distance Used by campus and fully online (Distance Education) courses.Education) courses.

Steadily increasing uptake.Steadily increasing uptake.

Architecture is extensible for growth. Architecture is extensible for growth.

Guided by campus steering committee.Guided by campus steering committee.

Robust, collaborative user support team. Robust, collaborative user support team.

ANGEL?ANGEL?

Once upon a time there was UWone. Once upon a time there was UWone. Pedagogical front-end (task-based learning).Pedagogical front-end (task-based learning). Distance Ed admin and instructor tools.Distance Ed admin and instructor tools. PHP, MySQL, JS, perl, ColdFusion, … ack!PHP, MySQL, JS, perl, ColdFusion, … ack!

Tool set at back end.Tool set at back end. Blackboard; inflexible, no API to tie to UWone.Blackboard; inflexible, no API to tie to UWone. ANGEL a better fit, good partnership.ANGEL a better fit, good partnership.

Move from homegrown to out-of-box, and Move from homegrown to out-of-box, and ANGEL was a natural choice.ANGEL was a natural choice.

GrowthGrowth

Pilot in summer 2004, 30 courses.Pilot in summer 2004, 30 courses.

Winter 2006: ~ 25% of course offerings Winter 2006: ~ 25% of course offerings (630/2500), mostly through word of mouth.(630/2500), mostly through word of mouth. F2005: 20% F2005: 20% S2005: 10% (smallest term)S2005: 10% (smallest term) W2005: 12%W2005: 12%

As instructor experience grows, so will the As instructor experience grows, so will the intensity of use (more feature usage).intensity of use (more feature usage).

Architecture in 1000 wordsArchitecture in 1000 words

ANGEL/IIS(Dell server)

SQL Server(Dell server)

ANGEL/IIS(Dell server)

Data Filer

Load Balancer(Cisco router)

ANGEL/IIS(Dell server)

ANGEL/IIS,Backup SQL(Dell server)

(Servers spread across two physical rooms)

Oversight of UW-ACEOversight of UW-ACE

UW-ACE Steering CommitteeUW-ACE Steering Committee IST, Faculty Associate Dean of Computing, IST, Faculty Associate Dean of Computing,

DE, LT3, Library, HR, Student and AdminDE, LT3, Library, HR, Student and Admin Significant change and policy issuesSignificant change and policy issues

Informal UW-ACE Ops group (“Aesops”)Informal UW-ACE Ops group (“Aesops”) IST, Distance Education (DE), Teaching and IST, Distance Education (DE), Teaching and

Learning Through Technology (LT3)Learning Through Technology (LT3) Upgrade planning, support, review “other” Upgrade planning, support, review “other”

uses, interface issues, system defaults, etc.uses, interface issues, system defaults, etc.

Sample of Steering Committee Sample of Steering Committee issuesissues

Review of overall upgrade planReview of overall upgrade plan

Policy on “other” uses (recent request for Policy on “other” uses (recent request for Continuing Ed courses in UW-ACE)Continuing Ed courses in UW-ACE)

ePortfolio – integration with UW-ACEePortfolio – integration with UW-ACE

Collaborative SupportCollaborative Support

Information Systems & TechnologyInformation Systems & Technology Training, docs, “2Training, docs, “2ndnd line” of instructor support line” of instructor support Systems support, software upgrades, back-ups, Systems support, software upgrades, back-ups,

integration/infrastructure, etc.integration/infrastructure, etc.

Learning & Teaching Through TechnologyLearning & Teaching Through Technology 11stst line of campus instructor support line of campus instructor support

Distance EducationDistance Education DE instructor 1DE instructor 1stst line, and student support (moving to line, and student support (moving to

IST as differences go away)IST as differences go away)

LibraryLibrary

Things seem great, Andrea!Things seem great, Andrea!

So, why worry?So, why worry?

But, what changes do we anticipate?But, what changes do we anticipate?

WhatWhat are the developments appearing on are the developments appearing on the horizon that affect our LMS? the horizon that affect our LMS?

ImpactsImpacts??

How are we preparing, or how do we begin How are we preparing, or how do we begin to prepare?to prepare?

Standards – What?Standards – What?

Descriptions of data and behaviour, and the basis Descriptions of data and behaviour, and the basis for interoperability.for interoperability.IMS Global Learning Consortium (IMS Global Learning Consortium (http://http://imsglobal.orgimsglobal.org//)) Interoperability; more for static content.Interoperability; more for static content. Common Cartridge*; ePortfolios; Q&TI; Learning Common Cartridge*; ePortfolios; Q&TI; Learning

DesignDesign

SCORM (SCORM (http://www.adlnet.govhttp://www.adlnet.gov ) by ADL ) by ADL To implement reusable web learning objects, content To implement reusable web learning objects, content

and sequencing; dynamic data, between LO & LMS.and sequencing; dynamic data, between LO & LMS.*Content Packaging, Q&TI, LO Metadata, SCORM, etc.*Content Packaging, Q&TI, LO Metadata, SCORM, etc.

Standards – Impact?Standards – Impact?

Helps protect your time and energy, and Helps protect your time and energy, and content investments.content investments. Still vendor specific implementations that don’t Still vendor specific implementations that don’t

quite interoperate.quite interoperate.

An exit from your current LMSAn exit from your current LMS Keep everything, and track the standards that Keep everything, and track the standards that

will allow interoperability.will allow interoperability.

UW: ANGEL contrib member of IMS Global, UW: ANGEL contrib member of IMS Global, esp. CC and eP; SCORM 1.2 compliant.esp. CC and eP; SCORM 1.2 compliant.

Open/free source – What?Open/free source – What?

Software based on open distribution of Software based on open distribution of source code.source code.SakaiSakai Developed by Michigan, Indiana, MIT, Developed by Michigan, Indiana, MIT,

Stanford, OKI, uPortal; funded by grants and Stanford, OKI, uPortal; funded by grants and institution commitments (FTEs, $s), partners.institution commitments (FTEs, $s), partners.

MoodleMoodle Partners contribute to development via Partners contribute to development via

funding or expertise. Large install base in HE.funding or expertise. Large install base in HE.

Open/free source – Impact?Open/free source – Impact?

Sakai and Moodle have potential for more Sakai and Moodle have potential for more growth in the HE market.growth in the HE market. WWariness of WebCT and Blackboard merger.ariness of WebCT and Blackboard merger. ““Free” sounds good to universities (staff time seen as Free” sounds good to universities (staff time seen as

free, whereas license fees are not).free, whereas license fees are not).

May pressure some vendor LMS development.May pressure some vendor LMS development. Potential standards push.Potential standards push. Potential plug and play model to add features.Potential plug and play model to add features.

UW: Tracking Sakai, moodle interest, but no UW: Tracking Sakai, moodle interest, but no plans to use centrally.plans to use centrally.

ePortfolios – What?ePortfolios – What?

“ … “ … archive of one’s work, achievements, ideas, archive of one’s work, achievements, ideas, thoughts and feelings which reflect an thoughts and feelings which reflect an individual’s intellectual, emotional and social individual’s intellectual, emotional and social developments … a document of an individual’s developments … a document of an individual’s learning over time.”learning over time.”

Misunderstood as online CV.Misunderstood as online CV.

Often characterized by competencies that cross Often characterized by competencies that cross over among education, recreation, jobs.over among education, recreation, jobs.

General or specific software can implement.General or specific software can implement.

E-portfolios – Impact?E-portfolios – Impact?

How do they integrate to your LMS?How do they integrate to your LMS? Means keeping course artifacts online and available?Means keeping course artifacts online and available? Introduces “other” uses for your LMS? Are you ready Introduces “other” uses for your LMS? Are you ready

to support those?to support those?

UW: Consider for the UW co-op work term UW: Consider for the UW co-op work term report, become part of programs, etc.report, become part of programs, etc. http://http://eportfolio.uwaterloo.caeportfolio.uwaterloo.ca//

UW: Using KEEP toolkit; ANGEL ePortfolio not UW: Using KEEP toolkit; ANGEL ePortfolio not ready for prime time – yet.ready for prime time – yet.

Learning object repositories – Learning object repositories – What?What?

Reusable content (the Lego of content).Reusable content (the Lego of content).

Small(ish), reused in various contexts.Small(ish), reused in various contexts.

Metatags describe content and use.Metatags describe content and use.

MERLOT, CLOE (Ontario), MERLOT, CLOE (Ontario), PALOMA PALOMA (Montreal)(Montreal), Common Currency. Also, , Common Currency. Also, projects, like projects, like LORNET.LORNET.

Learning object repositories – Learning object repositories – Impact?Impact?

Promise of providing interactive content Promise of providing interactive content integrated into LMS via SCORM.integrated into LMS via SCORM.Searching needs to become “federated” so Searching needs to become “federated” so through a standard query and interface to through a standard query and interface to the repositories.the repositories.SCORM packaging needs to become SCORM packaging needs to become more prevalent in LOR.more prevalent in LOR.UW: Participating in LO creation and UW: Participating in LO creation and projects; new ANGEL version has LOR.projects; new ANGEL version has LOR.

Mobile devices – What?Mobile devices – What?

Laptops and tabletsLaptops and tablets

PDAs, BlackberriesPDAs, Blackberries

Cell phonesCell phones

iPodsiPods

Mobile devices – Impact?Mobile devices – Impact?

Laptops and tablets fit current LMS model.Laptops and tablets fit current LMS model.PDA, Blackberry, cell phone LMS interface PDA, Blackberry, cell phone LMS interface support generally less tested, or ignored. support generally less tested, or ignored. But, more and more students use them.But, more and more students use them. Students respond to LMS survey via cell Students respond to LMS survey via cell

phones instead of clickers?phones instead of clickers? Gaming meets online learning in cell phone?Gaming meets online learning in cell phone?

UW: LT3 collaborating on student survey UW: LT3 collaborating on student survey about use of mobile devices on campus.about use of mobile devices on campus.

Accessibility – What?Accessibility – What?

Ontario legislation phasing inOntario legislation phasing in

US software and 508 legislationUS software and 508 legislation

W3C guidelinesW3C guidelines

Accessibility – Impact?Accessibility – Impact?

Not just for those with disabilities.Not just for those with disabilities.

Supporting different ways of learning, Supporting different ways of learning, which happen to facilitate disabilities.which happen to facilitate disabilities.

UW: Working with Office of Persons with UW: Working with Office of Persons with Disabilities to identify ANGEL Disabilities to identify ANGEL shortcomings. “Power of IDEAS” shortcomings. “Power of IDEAS” conference in August to collaborate, OPD, conference in August to collaborate, OPD, IST, and LT3.IST, and LT3.

““Web 2.0” stuff – What?Web 2.0” stuff – What?

Second generation of web.Second generation of web.Not “walled in” but collaborative.Not “walled in” but collaborative.May include technology such as:May include technology such as: Web service APIsWeb service APIs Ajax (targeted updates to the web page)Ajax (targeted updates to the web page) Web syndication (RSS) and social software Web syndication (RSS) and social software

(blogs, wikis).(blogs, wikis).

Maybe synchronous “presence” Maybe synchronous “presence” embeddings, like live audio and video.embeddings, like live audio and video.

““Web 2.0” stuff – Impact?Web 2.0” stuff – Impact?

Student expectations that what is “out Student expectations that what is “out there” should be in your LMS too.there” should be in your LMS too.

Could be a boon for decisional support for Could be a boon for decisional support for students (more peer and mentor support).students (more peer and mentor support).

SummarySummary

5 or 6 years ago, “Best of breed indiv. tools, or 5 or 6 years ago, “Best of breed indiv. tools, or ‘good’ LMS tool set?” … Still a good question!‘good’ LMS tool set?” … Still a good question! Open source and OKI still evolving (for best of breed Open source and OKI still evolving (for best of breed andand LMS combination); more value-add partnerships LMS combination); more value-add partnerships (Questionmark, WebBoard, Horizon Live, etc.).(Questionmark, WebBoard, Horizon Live, etc.).

Standards still evolving. Content Cartridges Standards still evolving. Content Cartridges more a reality, including from publishers.more a reality, including from publishers.Learning object repositories still a bit more Learning object repositories still a bit more promise than reality.promise than reality.New issues: Mobile devices, ePortfolios, New issues: Mobile devices, ePortfolios, Accessibility, “Web 2.0”isms (podcast, wiki, Ajax, Accessibility, “Web 2.0”isms (podcast, wiki, Ajax, etc.)etc.)

The End!The End!

Comments?Comments?

Questions?Questions?

Other “control points” on the map?Other “control points” on the map?