Faculty Information Session

We’ve had our first faculty information session regarding the LMS Evaluation process and the faculty survey has also been distributed. We have had numerous confirmations that the process is solid and the extra effort we are making to collaborate with our LMS users is greatly appreciated. This has kept me awake at night wondering about the perception of our clients and the effectiveness of our communication plan. To be sure, there have been glitches and there are people who have told us that no communications have ever reached them. All we can do is correct the problems as they arise and learn from the experience. The LMS staff have truly made this a team effort and have worked extremely hard on getting it right. The survey was released late on a Tuesday afternoon and I was very happy to see that over 50 faculty had responded to the survey overnight even though it was very long. This also confirms that our clients take this seriously and want to participate and be heard. So far so good!

- Bart Strong

Agenda for Evaluation Committee

I’ve just spent most of yesterday working on the agenda and handout material for the LMS Evaluation committee meeting on the 16th. It’s amazing how quickly things change in the world of technology. Half of my day was spent reading new vendor information and updating our research on what Ontario Universities are currently using as a centrally supported LMS. Last night I logged in to Second Life and visited a music store where I had a conversation with someone about the best blues harmonica to buy. I’ve invested a good part of last weekend learning about virtual worlds and why they are so appealing to young people. Could second life become the next Learning Management System? Not yet but perhaps someday. There definitely is potential for learning in a virtual environment but I also see some danger zones that need exploring. As in almost everything new that we encounter in life there are good, bad and ugly aspects.

Bart Strong