LMS RFP
(LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM)
The LMS Research Team
Center for Instructional Technology
December, 2011
Purpose of Presentation
• Inform Academic Council of RFP preparation process
• Share general findings
• List next steps
Why an LMS search?
• Blackboard for 13 years
• $ increased 150% in 10 years
• Bb sold to another company
• Dramatic changes in LMS environment
• Bb losing market share
Not necessarily replacing Blackboard
Who is involved?
• CIT staff
• Librarians
• IT leadership
• Procurement Officer
• Faculty (official RFP committee)
• Faculty focus groups
• Student focus groups
How are we doing it?
• Studying LMS “world”
• Analyzing local system data
• Soliciting input from faculty and students
• Reviewing other LMS RFPs
• Recording data on http://sites.jmu.edu/lms
What are we finding?
• LMS environment complex
• Local vs. Hosted/Cloud
• Open source vs. Commercial
• Paid Support vs. Internal Support
• Consortial vs. Non-Consortial
• One Contract vs. Multiple Contracts
What are we finding?
• LMS environment complex
• Local vs. Hosted/Cloud
• Open source vs. Commercial
• Paid Support vs. Internal Support
• Consortial vs. Non-Consortial
• One Contract vs. Multiple Contracts
What are we finding?
• Blackboard heavily used on campus
• Currently, 75% of all courses have an active Blackboard site
• 85% of faculty use Bb
• 99% of all students use Blackboard
• Satisfied with upgrade
Faculty Focus Group #1
• Changing a system would have negative feedback --•
•
•
•
•
faculty don't have time
Want to better know the system that they have
Want Blackboard to function reliably
Generally satisfied with Blackboard
Need more user support
Need additional training
What are we finding?
• Many options for enterprise level system
• Blackboard
• Canvas by Instructure
• Desire2Learn
• Moodle
• Sakai
• Open Class (new)
• Not necessarily replacing Blackboard
RFP: Features and Tools
• Facilitating Communication and Collaboration
• Facilitating the creation, dissemination and consumption
of instructional content in a web environment
• Assessment
• Analytic Capabilities to Support Academic and
Administrative Needs
• Functionality Outside of Direct Instructional Support
• Go to http://sites.jmu.edu/lms/category/lms-features/
Competition
• Free and easily accessible tools in the “public web”
• LMS “bundled” with textbook
Next Steps
• Establish an official RFP committee
• Complete the RFP and issue it mid-January
• Review proposals and select vendors for demonstration
• Invite faculty to demonstrations
• Recommend a solution by July 2012