The document outlines the process undertaken by the University of Texas at Dallas to select a new learning management system (LMS). It describes forming an LMS committee and conducting an instructional technology survey and focus groups with faculty and students. An RFP was issued in March 2011 and the top three vendor responses were brought to campus. The timeline details implementation from 2011-2013, including running the new and old systems simultaneously during transition. Focus group feedback emphasized usability, integrated tools, and additional functionality needs. The outcomes note vendor presentations were made but the decision process and future training are unknown due to office support downsizing.

1. Deciding on a New LMS:An Inclusive RFP and Decision Making ProcessRhonda D. Blackburn, PhDC. Christine Salmon, PhDUniversity of Texas at Dallas

2. What are we going to do?Who we areWhy RFPProcessTimelineResultsOutcomes and Issues

3. Who we areUniversity of Texas at DallasApproximately 15,000 students and 800 facultyFour online programs

4. Why Conduct An RFP?Blackboard Vista end of lifeBuy-in from faculty and studentsTwo systems on campusGo with the best solution for our campus

5. Our ProcessLMS CommitteeInstructional Technology surveyFocus groupsRequest for ProposalReview submissionsBring top three companies to campusDecide on the new LMS

6. TimelineSummer 2010Sent out surveyFall 2010 Reviewed surveyConducted focus groupsStarted writing RFP

7. Timeline continuedSpring 2011Finished RFP, sent it out (March 7)Deadline for proposals (April 4)Develop rubric to evaluate vendorsBring in top three vendors, have faculty and students involvedDecide on new LMS (hosted or self-hosted?)

8. Timeline continuedSummer 2011Begin backend implementation and integration with PeopleSoftBegin building documentationFall 2011Continue backend implementation and integration with PeopleSoftContinue documentation

9. Timeline continuedSpring 2012Complete backend implementation and integration with PeopleSoftComplete documentationBegin training faculty who will use it in SummerBegin migrating content from old LMSSummer 2012Pilot new LMS, run simultaneously with old LMSContinue trainingContinue migrating content from old LMS

10. Timeline continuedFall 2012Add more faculty to the summer pilot groupContinue to run simultaneously with old LMSContinue trainingContinue migrating content from old LMSSpring 2013Any faculty who want to use new LMS canContinue to run simultaneously with old LMSContinue trainingContinue migrating content from old LMS

11. Timeline continuedSummer 2013Everyone is on new system and old system is used only as archive, no one is on old LMSMigrate any additional content from old LMS

12. At large inputInstructional Technology SurveyFocus groups11 focus groups4 faculty (1 online)4 student (1 online)1 instructional designer1 back-end1 accessibility

13. Instructional tech SurveyDesire for more online coursesSingle sign-onEasy navigationReliability and stabilityPrompt support

14. Focus groups processDetermined number and target audiencesDeveloped guiding questionsDeveloped pre-focus group surveyConducted focus groups (audio recorded)Analyzed results from survey and discussion

15. Results – overallStudents

16. Lack of use by faculty

17. Few fully online courses – used as support

18. Concern with stabilityFacultyFaculty unaware of existing featuresFaculty trainingEasy migration to new system

19. Results UsabilityToolsAccessibilityOverall improvements

20. usabilityPowerful but for power usersLearning curve is more work than it’s worthCould look more modern, updated

21. toolsCommunicationCollaborationAssessmentLearning modulesCourse managementIntegrated toolsAdditional tools, functionality

22. Integrated toolsLibrary, library reserves (f)(s)Video server, YouTube, iTunesU (f)Google docs (f)Turnitin, Grademark (f)MuchLearning (calculus) (s)Skype (s)

23. Additional functionalityOnline document editing (f)Push notification for course updates (s)Notification system (missed exam, announcements, discussion, etc) (f)Easily embed videos (f)Web conferencing (s)Resume function on quizzes (s)Picture roster (s)Consistent look among courses (s)Wikis (f)

24. Overall improvementsLoginMobilePublicMigrationListingsmyCourses