LMS+Options+Committee


 * LMS Options Committee Report **

Here’s where I think we are on this:

- We were waiting for the ORCA version upgrade to complete. The first phase of that is done; there’s another phase to come. The main reason to wait was so that we might have some of Shellie’s time for evaluating future products from Ex Libris. - We were waiting to see what Orbis-Cascade would do; I’m sure there’s been action on that since the last meeting. - We wanted more information about the ERP timeline. I’d say we have what we need there, given the following: o There won’t be a vendor selected until next summer. The implementation timelines that have been proposed range from 18 – 24 or 30 months. o From what I’ve seen at the ERP demos, in my role on our local implementation team, and at ITC meetings, there’s little reason to think that the ERP project would have a library component other than basic system interaction – authentication and so forth. We should make sure that any sort of single sign-on effort incorporates library resources (and ANGEL / Tegrity / Elluminate / eTutoring etc.) to the fullest extent possible. o The original thinking (proposed by Cable Green) went like this: it’s important to recognize that the funds authorized for the ERP are actually for the whole of the Technology Plan; the ERP is simply the first project. That means that there should be funds in the future for other technology plan – related efforts. - As far as open source platforms, here’s my current thinking: o Based on conversations with Connie, and the fact that her office is working on identifying a new learning management system, it’s not unreasonable to think that we could collaborate. Here’s how that might look § We might select an open source LMS (supported) that could be integrated with the new learning management system. Connie’s office could do some of the integration; the project could tie in with the single sign-on project; there’s already a resource out there that allows multi-site systems to authenticate their users to library databases and other resources (i.e., that addresses the issue that users across our various campuses don’t have access to the same databases). § We would address her need to “unlock” the content in the open course library. Right now, it’s locked up in ANGEL – if she could get the content into an open space, e.g. the web, and we could find a way to catalog and link to it, it would become exponentially more useful. That would be an ongoing effort for us, I presume. This is also, by far, one of the most exciting and productive ideas I’ve come across in looking at the potential of a new library management system for the CTCs. o Funding: § We would have a strong argument for funds from the Technology Plan (once the ERP finishes) if we could say we were collaborating with Connie to create a rich learning environment, one that would make library materials, open course library modules, and other digital content directly available to our faculty and students. § There’s a lot of funding in the system now – we’re all paying something to someone for an LMS.

So … if the LMS Options group wants to continue, I would say that it wouldn’t be too early to put some bones on some of these proposals. It seems to me that we’re looking at two possibilities: a library only environment, or a highly integrated library / learning management system.

<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">- Is Orbis-Cascade an option, and what would be involved in “buying in” to that? What would our next steps be? Do we have the funding we need to buy in? <span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">o Would it provide anything like the rich learning environment we might achieve with eLearning? <span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">- Is expanding ORCA an option, and how would we phase in the various non-Ex Libris campuses? What would our next steps be (tied to expiration of current contract, I would guess)? Do we have the funding we need to support extending it to the entire system? <span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">o Could their new products provide anything like the rich learning environment we might achieve with eLearning? <span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">- What open source LMS would we favor, and would the costs of developing it into the platform we want and then supporting it be sustainable?

<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Again – with the caveat that this is my own thinking – feel free to share / discuss these ideas. Have a good time at the meeting! Here are the folks I have on my LMS Options list: Jeanne Leader, Melissa McBurney, Michelle Bagley, you, Shellie Whittaker (advisory) and Stan Horton.

<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">-Andrew