This document discusses centralizing LMS services across the California State University system in a "postmodern" context. It provides an overview of the CSU system and campus LMS usage. It advocates a strategy of "coordinated autonomy" to balance campus independence with collaboration. Key steps have included establishing governance, developing shared code and resources, and migrating more campuses to a common Moodle platform. Challenges include sustaining leadership and dealing with dispersed committees, but relationships and communication have helped the collaboration succeed.

1. Centralizing LMS Services in a Postmodern World CSU Chancellor’s Office Kathy Fernandes, Director of System-Wide LMS Initiatives John Whitmer, Associate Director of System-Wide LMS Initiatives Slides available at: http://slidesha.re/dOXVy5

2. “A notion that was once heresy, that the wisdom of a smart group is greater than the brainpower of its smartest member – is increasingly accepted in every discipline and every profession and at every age and stage of life” -Tharp, quoted in Mehaffy, 2010

3. Outline Cal State Overview Postmodernity and Coordinated Autonomy Vision, Strategy, Governance Moodle Services Evolution Challenges and Successes

4. Cal State Overview

5. CSU Demographicshttp://calstate.edu 23 campuses Approx. 433,000 FTE students 44,000 faculty and staff We are the largest, the most diverse, & one of the most affordable university systems in the country We play a vital role in the growth & development of California's communities and economy

9. Humboldt State - 2007

10. CSU Monterey Bay - 2009

11. CSU Maritime - 2009

12. CSU Northridge - 2010

13. CSU San Marcos - 2010

15. The Postmodern Condition Postmodernism “Characterized by the rejection of objective truth and global cultural narrative or meta-narrative. It emphasizes the role of language, power relations, and motivations.” (Wikipedia) “Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism” – Frederic Jameson Relevance to LMS Coordination? One size doesn’t fit all: Moodle instance: educational practices, technology practices, local expectations Problem: lose economy of scale (create redundancy), potential shared expertise, specialization of functions… Need a strategy between top-down and going it alone

16. Coordinated Autonomy1 Focus on social/strategic aspirations, above functional requirements Consistent with higher ed. culture: individualism and autonomy within open, public, and engaged environment Principles: mass individualism, robust flexibility, undirected direction, persuasive standardization, open privacy Approach behind UCLA Moodle Governance 1. Term coined by Jim Davis, UCLA CIO Published writings at: http://bit.ly/h7V4Dc and http://bit.ly/fT4f2W

18. Cooperative

20. LMSS EnvironmentLMSS = Learning Management Systems and Services

21. Evolution of System-wide LMS Collaboration Perform LMS RFI and RFP (2008-2009) Define LMSS Strategy (2009-2010) Implement Governance (2010-2011) Create Collaborative Projects that Benefit Multiple Campuses (2010-)

22. System-wide LMSS Strategy LMS Futures Group (Provosts, CIOs, Faculty) prepared 4 documents: LMS Critical Elements External Scan of Market & Higher Ed Systems CSU System-wide Recommendations LMS Governance Recommendations Organize stakeholders to implement recommendations, starting with Moodle

23. System-wide LMS Governance

24. moodle services evolution

25. Evolution of Moodle Implementation (1) Cooperation (2007-2010) Moodle Consortium (from 4 to 10 campuses) Lynda.com licensed training content External Moodle Hosting MEA & Sandbox Collaboration (2010-2011) Moodle CIG & Standards and Practices Group Quickguides modular tutorial repository CSU San Marcos Migration Tools Shared CSU Code Base

26. Evolution of LMS Implementation (2) Collaboration v2 (2011-) Governance Expansion/Revision Shared CSU Code Base Development Metrics / Analytics MoodleMoot US-West Coast 2011 Distributed help desk?

27. Coordinated Evaluation & Assessment CSU Campus Moodle Assessment – campus validation of strategy and services CSU Campus Baseline Usage – to assess current depth and breadth of adoption Moodle Analytics Development – provide real-time feedback to improve student performance

28. Challenges and Successes Successes Formal strategy and recommendations Cultivate and connect campus leaders Communicate, communicate, communicate Trust yourself. Full consensus is unlikely It’s all about relationships Challenges Anarchistic committees and individuals Governance model ? Phased implementation Sustaining leadership focus and support

29. Contact Information Kathy Fernandes (kfernandes@csuchico.edu)Director of System-Wide LMS Initiatives John Whitmer (jwhitmer@csuchico.edu)Associate Director of System-Wide LMS Initiatives