TEAMWORK PLAYS STARRING ROLE IN DEBUT OF DESIRE2LEARN
Posted on September 2, 2010
Getting Cal U's new learning management system, Desire2Learn,
up and running was quite a production. But thanks to a team of dedicated
faculty members, administrators and staff, the new software platform has been
launched successfully. Representatives from a variety of disciplines cleared their
busy schedules to attend meetings, listen to input from faculty and students,
and facilitate training sessions over the course of the past six months. Desire2Learn, which helps to deliver course content and
other information, takes the place of both the Blackboard and eCollege learning
management systems. During the spring and summer, course shells were migrated
from both previous systems to Desire2Learn, ensuring that course content would
be available in the new system for the start of the fall semester. Face-to-face classes, one-on-one workshops and online
training were facilitated through the Faculty Professional Development Center. Becky Nichols, director of Applications and
Academic Support and coordinator of the Desire2Learn project, said it
really was a team effort. "Everyone worked so hard to meet our deadline and make the
transition as smooth as possible," she said. With one learning management system, students and faculty
will no longer need to learn two different systems. Course content for all
classes, including undergraduate, graduate and Global Online, now can be
accessed through Desire2Learn. Starting this fall, all 14 universities in the
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) will use the
Desire2Learn software platform. "The switch to
a unified learning management system such as Desire2Learn not only provides for
consistency in technological applications for our students, but also opens up
more opportunities for collaboration with other PASSHE schools," said Dr. John
Cencich, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and Research. "To add to this
consistency, we also recently merged all Desire2Learn administration under the
Office of Web-based Programs, which will service the entire University
community."
