Management Advisory Committee
for Academic Learning
Technologies
http://www.mq.edu.au/provost/governance/macalt.html
Members
Prof Judyth Sachs (Chair), DVC (Provost)
A/Prof Maree Gosper, Learning & Teaching Centre
Mr Marc Bailey, CIO
Dr Boris Handal, Director L&T, Faculty of Business and Economics
Ms Maxine Brodie, University Librarian
Prof John Hedberg, Chair ICT in Education
Mr Andrew Burrell, Director COE
Ms Suzanne Kelly, Director Student Business and System Solutions
A/Prof Steve Cassidy, Assoc Dean (L&T), Faculty of Science
A/Prof Ian Solomonides, Director, Learning & Teaching Centre
Mr Terrence Collins, Manager Learning Systems and Services
Prof Julie Fitness, Chair, Academic Senate
A/Prof Sherman Young, Assoc Dean (L&T), Faculty of Arts
In Attendance
Mr James Hamilton, Learning and Teaching Centre
Ms Barb McLean, Executive Officer
Ms Jennifer Peasley, Deputy University Librarian
Apologies
Ms Maxine Brodie, University Librarian
A/Prof Maree Gosper, Learning and Teaching Centre
Prof John Hedberg, Chair ICT in Education
Minutes
2.00p.m.-3.30p.m. Monday 10th May 2010, Function Room, level 2, E11A
Prof Julie Fitness chaired the meeting for Items 1 and 1.1
1. Minutes of the Meeting 6th April 2010 and Business Arising
1.1. LMS Review – Overview and Update
Adopted
JH
Mr Hamilton spoke to his tabled paper on the LMS Review. Since April there
have been 8 staff focus groups and other forms of consultation with users (staff
and students) and other stakeholders. Requirements analysis will conclude at the
end of the week, with a full set of specifications drafted to inform the evaluation
of shortlisted systems.
Last week a Request for Information was released, which will allow respondents
to be short listed. This will ensure any vendor not identified (e.g. companies
offering hosting services) can participate and meets Macquarie’s competitive
purchasing requirements.
Using metrics developed by Arnold as reported at a University of Melbourne
Forum, it is estimated that the LMS implementation will cost $2.83m (at a cost of
$85.68 per student for 33,000 students).
Mr Hamilton informed the meeting that the replacement of the current LMS will
mean that the software that links Blackboard with Student1 (called MUOTF:
Macquarie University Online Teaching Facility management tool) will also
require replacement. MUOTF is an in-house product which has been upgraded in
Management Advisory Committee
for Academic Learning
Technologies
an ad hoc fashion and is the main source of inefficiencies around enrolment. It is
estimated that this will cost the University $210,000 to rebuild.
The next step is the evaluation of the responses to the RFI, including testing
functionality and the arrangement of demonstrations.
The Chair thanked Mr Hamilton for his comprehensive report and called for
questions from the meeting. A/Prof Cassidy asked whether an option for selfhosting should be included in this process. Bandwidth and cost will preclude this.
Mr Hamilton was also asked about management and development of the software.
All solutions will necessarily contain a split between Macquarie and the
host/supplier. Customisation will have to be jointly agreed – ANU have
developed a solution to this.
Mr Hamilton assured the meeting that there will be no flow-on effects to either the
Student or HR systems.
The Chair reported on the Learning Space Consultants currently working in the
University, the complementary nature of the University as a system and the need
to ensure that decision-making encompasses all stakeholders. She will ask these
Consultants to attend the next meeting of MACALT.
2. Report from the CIO
See
MB
CIO Blog http://cio.mq.edu.au/
2.1 Website outage Friday 4th May
The CIO reported that the 5 ORACLE boxes went down. This is not due to
lack of investment or planning (they are powered from different parts of the
power grid). IT Services are swapping equipment in an attempt to isolate the
failure. He noted that the outage has identified that while the University of
Sydney has been designed as a site for disaster recovery, it has not been
designed as a ‘hot spot’ – this will be rectified.
The only pleasing matter coming out of the day is that Gmail and the Help
Desk systems were operational and this allowed hourly updates to Macquarie
IT staff across the campus. However it was identified that student email was
down due to authentication through the student portal.
An MQAnnouncement will be sent once the fault has been identified.
2.2 One Help
The A/V Help Desk is now live on One Help and all the faculties have agreed
to come over. This will allow enhanced tracking of requests and the
transmission of requests to the appropriate system. It was noted the
implementation of the LMS Help Desk will be more challenging as it already
has an online ticketing system.
Management Advisory Committee
for Academic Learning
Technologies
2.3 Gmail
Gmail is now over 50% implemented – 3020 accounts out of 6000. Only 60
of the Gmail users are using Outlook, all the rest are relying purely on the
browser.
The CIO was asked whether Google Docs was going to be enabled. The CIO
noted that this was an “all or nothing decision” with IP implications. Unlike
Gmail where the University insisted on European hosting to avoid the Patriot
Act, Google Docs has distributed hosting. There are other forms of CMS e.g.
Trim, which allow collaboration. As there has recently been a flood in the
University Archives, content management has an increased priority. One way
of responding is to scan all documents and then store in cold storage the
documents designated for retention and destroy the rest. This would overcome
the cost of cleaning (removal of mould spors). Any Content Management
systems across the University should adhere to the CMIS standard.
2.4 One Net
220 new access points have been deployed, with up to 1000 concurrent users.
At the end of May the legacy system will be turned off. MELCOE is the
largest remaining user not yet switched over.
It was noted that students are still complaining that the wireless network still
does not work. It was surmised that they do not know the new address. The
CIO had planned to place stickers or signs around to overcome this, but these
conflict with the University’s Signage Policy. It was suggested that temporary
items such as disposable coffee cups be used to advertise the Web address.
2.5 Staff Wiki
The staff wiki will become available in June. This will provide blog capability
and collaboration without the need to sign up to membership.
2.6 Staffing
By June 3 staff vacancies will be filled – Information Manager, Product
Manager and Engineer.
2.7 Government Information (Public Access) Act (GIPA)
This will replace the FOI Act and will require Macquarie (if we are subject to
this Act) to list publicly all contracts over $150,000 on our website 4 weeks
after the Act is proclaimed.
2.8 Australian Graduate Survey
By the end of April Macquarie had achieved a 52.5% response rate, in
comparison with 2009 where consultants did not achieve the 50% required.
Management Advisory Committee
for Academic Learning
Technologies
3. Learning Systems and Services Usage Statistics
TC
3.1. Learning Systems and Services Statistics
Mr Collins tabled the Learning Systems and Services year to date usage
statistics. Growth continues at 20% as recorded by the Help Desk, with an
anticipated additional 1.5m users in 2010 over 2009. While the number of
iLecture recordings are not growing, the hours of recording are increasing
(with a move away from 1 hour to 2-3 hour recordings).
3.2. iLecture Upgrade
The iLecture Upgrade will be rolled out in the June-July break. This will
mean that all Type 1 and Type 2 lecture spaces (aside from SIBT) will be
enabled. Discussion took place around the compatibility of iLecture, videostreaming and video conferencing technologies (in the context of flexible
offering modes) and whether all CAP rooms should be enabled for iLecture.
3.3. iTunes
In spite of contractual issues, Macquarie is implementing iTunes for all
students – it is hoped that this will occur before the Semester 1 exam period.
This will be accessible through the LMS, providing once only subscription.
3.4. Online Booking Forms
iLecture, LMS and A/V booking forms will go live shortly and it is hoped to
phase out all paper by the end of 2010. The system links to the OFM
Timetabling System, thus allowing continuous update and tracking.
The Chair thanked Mr Collins for his report, noting the amount of new work in
addition to the increasing on-going levels of work.
4. Any Other Business
5. Next Meeting
2.00-3.30p.m. Monday 7th June 2010, Function Room E11A