2008 Woodie Awards
Software for Internet courses to be converted
By Will Underhill
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: News
Originally published: 10/25/07 at 4:00 PM CSTLast update: 10/25/07 at 3:59 PM CST
- Page 1 of 1
Internet classes soon will no longer be taught using the WebCT Learning Management system.
The district is in the process of converting to a new software called Blackboard Learning System Enterprises Vista, formerly known as WebCT Vista.
According to the eLearning Management System Project Charter, WebCT Campus Edition 4.1 is no longer capable of meeting distance education standards. The current system is not scalable or feature-rich, and the vendor is scaling down support for WebCT 4.1.
In part, this is because of the merger of Blackboard Inc. and WebCT Inc. under the Blackboard name in 2005. A news release from February 2005 said product lines of both companies were to remain intact and supported.
Over time, Blackboard planned to incorporate the best features and usability characteristics of the two product lines into a new standards-based product set that is today Blackboard Learning System Enterprises Vista.
An eLearning Advisory group was established to explore new learning management systems.
In the Learning Management System Selection Process Report, the group stated that WebCT 4.1 is an older learning management system that does not take advantage of current technologies, hardware, database technologies, security options that support student centered learning, classroom interactivity, discussion group assessments, assignment integration, gradebook access, learning object repository, community branding and content management options.
In the same report, the group looked at six learning management systems before deciding on WebCT Vista, now known as Blackboard Learning System Enterprises Vista. Other systems considered include WebCT CE 6.0 , Course Compass, Angle and the open source system Moodle.
Usha Venkat, client services manager for the district IT department, said the new system will integrate common functions, easing use for students.
The project has already finished its implementation stage, and pilot faculty have completed the orientation period. The next step is to test quality assurance and continue to train pilot faculty.
The pilot program, launching next semester, will assess where the project goes next, Venkat said.
Right now, the pilot faculty and eLearning advisory group "are all working together to create a unified eLearning certification program for the Alamo Community Colleges," Venkat said.
The district has purchased 15 new Intel servers running Red Hat Linux with Oracle databases to house the new system. Blackboard Learning System Enterprise Vista alone cost the district $965,436.80.
According to the project charter, 35,537 students are enrolled in classes online and 2,088 sections are offered. According to Venkat, the college district leads the state in Internet class enrollment.
In the project charter, it states that without this planned upgrade, the quality of the online courses and the student learning experiences would fall below higher educational standards.
The district is in the process of converting to a new software called Blackboard Learning System Enterprises Vista, formerly known as WebCT Vista.
According to the eLearning Management System Project Charter, WebCT Campus Edition 4.1 is no longer capable of meeting distance education standards. The current system is not scalable or feature-rich, and the vendor is scaling down support for WebCT 4.1.
In part, this is because of the merger of Blackboard Inc. and WebCT Inc. under the Blackboard name in 2005. A news release from February 2005 said product lines of both companies were to remain intact and supported.
Over time, Blackboard planned to incorporate the best features and usability characteristics of the two product lines into a new standards-based product set that is today Blackboard Learning System Enterprises Vista.
An eLearning Advisory group was established to explore new learning management systems.
In the Learning Management System Selection Process Report, the group stated that WebCT 4.1 is an older learning management system that does not take advantage of current technologies, hardware, database technologies, security options that support student centered learning, classroom interactivity, discussion group assessments, assignment integration, gradebook access, learning object repository, community branding and content management options.
In the same report, the group looked at six learning management systems before deciding on WebCT Vista, now known as Blackboard Learning System Enterprises Vista. Other systems considered include WebCT CE 6.0 , Course Compass, Angle and the open source system Moodle.
Usha Venkat, client services manager for the district IT department, said the new system will integrate common functions, easing use for students.
The project has already finished its implementation stage, and pilot faculty have completed the orientation period. The next step is to test quality assurance and continue to train pilot faculty.
The pilot program, launching next semester, will assess where the project goes next, Venkat said.
Right now, the pilot faculty and eLearning advisory group "are all working together to create a unified eLearning certification program for the Alamo Community Colleges," Venkat said.
The district has purchased 15 new Intel servers running Red Hat Linux with Oracle databases to house the new system. Blackboard Learning System Enterprise Vista alone cost the district $965,436.80.
According to the project charter, 35,537 students are enrolled in classes online and 2,088 sections are offered. According to Venkat, the college district leads the state in Internet class enrollment.
In the project charter, it states that without this planned upgrade, the quality of the online courses and the student learning experiences would fall below higher educational standards.
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