Technology evolution drives Purdue to review learning management systems; faculty, staff, and students invited to participate
An evolving landscape in the learning management system environment, including the evolution of Blackboard Learn to Blackboard Ultra, has necessitated a comprehensive review of Purdue’s LMS needs. Faculty, staff, and students interested in participating in the process this fall are encouraged to volunteer now.
The review, initiated by Jay Akridge, Purdue’s Provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity, and Gerry McCartney, Purdue executive vice president and chief information officer, will explore the opportunities for the entire Purdue system.
The review will focus on the changing and diverse needs of the university’s courses and programs, such as large and small residential courses, online classes, and non-credit and massive open online courses. Currently, Purdue’s West Lafayette and Northwest campuses are under contract with Blackboard Learn; Fort Wayne has a separate contract with Blackboard Learn, and Global uses Brightspace Desire to Learn, also known as D2L.
Purdue’s West Lafayette campus last reviewed learning management systems during the 2014-2015 school year. Unlike the last review, the current effort will not be solely a comparison between two competing LMS’s, but rather a comprehensive review of both the University’s needs and all the options available, which have significantly changed since 2014.
An executive steering committee – made up of faculty, staff and students from across the University system – will oversee the review process. Members include:
- Committee chair: Jenna Rickus, Associate Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning
- Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering/Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering
- Alan Friedman, Faculty Senate
- Associate Professor of Biological Sciences
- Bernard Tao, Teaching Academy
- Professor Agricultural & Biological Engineering/Food Science
- Stephen Beaudoin, Purdue West Lafayette
- Professor of Chemical Engineering
- Academic Director, Teaching and Learning Technology
- Heather Zamojski, Purdue Northwest
- Assistant Vice Chancellor, Learning Technologies
- Carl Drummond, Purdue Fort Wayne
- Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management
- David Starnes, Purdue Global
- Chief Academic Officer
- Emma Kaye, undergraduate student representative
- IT Student Advisory Council Chair
- Gary Johns, graduate student representative
- Ph.D. student in Educational Studies
- Jonathan Harbor, Executive Director of Digital Education
- Associate Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning
- Professor, Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
- Donna Cumberland, Executive Director of IT Academic Computing
- Jason Fish, Director of Teaching and Learning Technologies
- Brian York, Project Manager, ITaP
The executive committee is looking for stakeholders – faculty, staff or students from across all campuses – willing to help with the review process by serving on teams that will look at both the pedagogical needs for a learning management system and the technology behind the system.
Review teams – one focused on teaching and learning, the other technology – will conduct the assessment process, which will include system wide listening sessions with faculty students and staff, during the 2018-2019 academic year beginning in August.
Those interested in serving on a review team, or those who would like to nominate someone to serve, should fill out this brief questionnaire.
Writer: Dave Stephens, technology writer, Information Technology at Purdue, 765-496-7998, steph103@purdue.edu
Last updated: May 9, 2018