LMS Update for week beginning 17th October 2016

As reported previously, the learning management system (LMS) will be reviewed over the coming months. A ‘request for tender’ (RFT) was issued in September allowed all potential vendors to respond to our educational and technical requirements. The RFT process closed on 30^th September. The submissions were cut to a list of 3 based on mandatory business and technical requirements. In Phase 1, these submissions were evaluated on a set of education, technical and partnership requirements.

Phase 1 concluded on 13^th October resulting in a shortlist of 3 vendors for detailed evaluation by the wider University in Phase 2.

The shortlisted vendors will be invited to set up environments for demonstrations and scenario testing.

Phase 2:

Phase 2a – the shortlisted vendors will demonstrate their platforms and discuss their vision and roadmap in the week beginning 17^th October. This phase will also involve telephone interviews with comparable universities currently using each platform.

Phase 2b – the shortlisted vendors will set up test environments. These will be used by the Educational Innovation team to set up dummy units of study and scenarios for detailed user testing by 24^th October. An evaluation advisory panel, comprising staff from faculties, central units and a student representative has been convened. These advisors will oversee the evaluation process and assist in the selection of testers for the scenario-based evaluation.

8 scenarios will be developed and tested by small teams from the faculties and central units given ‘build’ level access, from 24^th October – 30^th November:

1. Learning and teaching management
2. Learning activities
3. Assessment and evaluation
4. Group and project work
5. Content creation and re-use
6. Social interaction and communication
7. Mobile experience
8. Innovation

The innovation scenarios will be an opportunity for faculty to provide a scenario or use case they would like tested and have the results included in the evaluation.

Usability and end-user satisfaction will be tested through larger groups of staff enrolled as ‘students’ working through learning scenarios.

Focus groups of students will be invited to similarly test these learning scenarios for usability including mobile and accessibility requirements. These students groups will be selected through an expression of interest process and, to reflect their time commitment and contribution.

The results from these user-based tests will be combined with the phase 1 and phase 2a scores to produce a final recommendation and report in early December.

Timeline:

If you have any questions about the LMS transformation project, please contact your Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching) or email Professor Adam Bridgeman.