Spring Break
Univ. plans WebCT end for Fall '08
ELYSE BEASLEY
Issue date: 9/10/07 Section: News
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Fall 2008 will be the last semester University students can log onto WebCT accounts. After that, the University will use a new learning management system, although which system is still unclear.
"We're investigating learning management systems in general, as to what's the best direction to go toward in the future," said Bert DeSimone, IT associate director.
The current version of WebCT will not be available after December 2008, and the Learning Mana-gement System Executive Committee - consisting of representatives from Enterprise Information Technology Services, the Center for Teaching and Learning and various University support staff - is now researching replac-ement products.
The committee narrowed the search to Sakai and Blackboard Vista and is testing the programs in University classes, including introductory biology and chemistry.
Blackboard Vista, formerly WebCT Vista, is the "latest and greatest in the WebCT line," according to Sherry Clouser, chair of the LMS-Executive committee.
Thirty-three out of the 35 institutions within the University System of Georgia use Blackboard Vista, and the University System, which has the license, would determine the cost of upgrading to Blackboard Vista for the University.
Sakai, recently adopted by Georgia Tech, is an "open source" or "community source product," according to Clouser, meaning each institution is able to program it according to its specific needs.
Feedback from students testing Sakai and Blackboard Vista will be considered at the mid-point of the semester and again at the end of the term. The LMS-Executive committee will then submit a report to the Committee for Academic and Instructional Techn-ologies in January.
"We're investigating learning management systems in general, as to what's the best direction to go toward in the future," said Bert DeSimone, IT associate director.
The current version of WebCT will not be available after December 2008, and the Learning Mana-gement System Executive Committee - consisting of representatives from Enterprise Information Technology Services, the Center for Teaching and Learning and various University support staff - is now researching replac-ement products.
The committee narrowed the search to Sakai and Blackboard Vista and is testing the programs in University classes, including introductory biology and chemistry.
Blackboard Vista, formerly WebCT Vista, is the "latest and greatest in the WebCT line," according to Sherry Clouser, chair of the LMS-Executive committee.
Thirty-three out of the 35 institutions within the University System of Georgia use Blackboard Vista, and the University System, which has the license, would determine the cost of upgrading to Blackboard Vista for the University.
Sakai, recently adopted by Georgia Tech, is an "open source" or "community source product," according to Clouser, meaning each institution is able to program it according to its specific needs.
Feedback from students testing Sakai and Blackboard Vista will be considered at the mid-point of the semester and again at the end of the term. The LMS-Executive committee will then submit a report to the Committee for Academic and Instructional Techn-ologies in January.
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