Detailed information about the OLT System Review, including key review documentation, can be found throughout the following sections:
Overview
The OLT Review of 2003 identified the need to review the OLT system and to conduct an environmental scan of 3rd party Learning Management System. This project is in response to that recommendation.
- Background
- Project Aims
- Project Outcomes
- Related Strategic Documents & Reports
Schedule
| MILESTONE | STATUS |
|---|---|
| Environmental Scan Report | Completed |
| Internal Feedback Report | Completed |
| Evaluation Criteria | Completed |
| Evaluation reports | Completed |
| Recommendation | Completed Approved by VC on 26/06/06 |
Evaluation Criteria
This document contains the complete set of evaluation criteria and principles to be used when assessing OLT and a number of commercial and open source Learning Management Systems. It also includes a description of the strategies we will use when conducting the detailed evaluation of these systems.
- Evaluation Criteria Document (File Size: 405.50 KB)
Participation
Project Governance
Formally, the project will be governed through the OLT Steering Committee, informed by two advisory groups, one academic and one technical.
The project is owned by TALSS (Teaching And Learning Support Services), and sponsored by Dr Geoff Mitchell (Associate Director, Teaching & Learning Environments) and Allison Brown (Associate Director, Teaching & Learning Resources).
- Technical Advisory Group - Terms of Reference & Membership: (File Size: 53.00 KB)
- Academic Advisory Group - Terms of Reference & Membership: (File Size: 77.00 KB)
Consultation across the University
Apart from representation from the faculties and service groups on the advisory groups and steering committees, the university community is invited to contribute to this review via a number of channels. They include focus groups, individual interviews, and other feedback mechanisms. There will also be presentations across the university at critical points throughout the process.
Focus groups
The focus groups as part of the initial consultation phase have now concluded. Results are available in the Internal Feedback Report in the Reports section. Thank you for your participation and input!
Individual contributions
If you would like to contribute your opinion outside the channels mentioned above, please use the discussion forum on this website.
Reports
Environmental Scan Report
This document reports on an environmental scan carried out for the following areas:
- Learning management Systems (LMS) - their current capabilities and future developments
- The LMS landscape in higher education nationally and internationally
- Emerging learner needs and LMS requirements
- Open Source, e-learning standards, and open architecture.
The attachment profiles a number of Learning Management Systems, which are being considered for a shortlist to be evaluated in detail.
- Environmental Scan Report (File Size: 295.50 KB)
- Attachment - Product Profiles (File Size: 347.00 KB)
Internal Feedback Report
This report is the second deliverable in the OLT System Review. It contains the outcomes of the consultation phase conducted in October/November across the university, including
- the outcomes of the generic focus groups with staff and students
- the outcomes of the specific focus groups with faculties, TILS, and others,
- feedback received through other channels.
The internal feedback report is the basis on which the evaluation criteria have been developed.
- Internal Feedback Report (File Size: 610.50 KB)
- Attachment - Notes from focus groups (File Size: 347.00 KB)
Product Profiles
The Product Profiles summarise the outcomes of the detailed evaluation for each Learning Management System evaluated.
- Product Profile OLT (File Size: 149.00 KB)
- Product Profile Moodle (File Size: 210.00 KB)
- Product Profile Desire2Learn (File Size: 183.00 KB)
- Product Profile Blackboard (File Size: 179.50 KB)
Background Readings
The following documents contain detailed information about the evaluation outcomes and explore some issues associated with the options put forward.
- User Feedback Report (File Size: 442.00 KB)
- Migration and Integration Paper (File Size: 1.13 MB) Updated 8 May 2006
- External feedback on OLT (File Size: 123.50 KB)
- OLT Redevelopment Paper (File Size: 141.00 KB)
Recommendation
- Recommendation - background (File Size: 168.00 KB)
- Feedback OLT Steering Committee (File Size: 133.50 KB)
- Feedback Learning Environments Working Party (File Size: 127.50 KB)
Resources
3rd Party Learning Management Systems
| Commercial | Web site |
|---|---|
| ANGEL | http://www.angellearning.com |
| Blackboard | http://www.blackboard.com |
| desire2learn | http://www.desire2learn.com |
| WebCT | http://www.webct.com |
| Open Source | Web site |
|---|---|
| ATutor | http://www.atutor.ca |
| Ilias | http://www.ilias.de |
| Moodle | http://moodle.org |
| Sakai | http://sakaiproject.org |
Learning Management System Comparisons
- Edutools: provides independent reviews and side-by-side comparisons of a number of learning management systems.
- Eduforge: an open access environment designed for the sharing of ideas, research outcomes, open content and open source software for education.
Frameworks and Criteria
- A Framework for Pedagogical Evaluation of Virtual Learning Environments: (article) describes an approach to the evaluation of Virtual Learning Environments based on Diana Laurillard's Conversational Framework.