Assignment #1: Reflection
For the Online Delivery Platform Evaluation Rubric Assignment our group had to develop a rubric to guide the leadership team at BCcampus to decide between two learning management systems. Looking back at the process involved in creating a rubric has been a very valuable experience. It allowed me to apply the Bates (2014) SECTIONS framework as well as the ‘Seven Principles of Good Practice’ discussed by Chickering and Ehrmann (1996) to a specific case scenario. Understanding the readings was one thing but being able to apply them is a different challenge. Each criteria had to be considered and evaluated based on its relevance to the case at hand. Prioritizing the criteria that would be included in the rubric took time but working in a group with diverse educational backgrounds and work experiences enriched the discussion. Listening to other members rationale for their criteria choices broadened my own perspectives on what is considered to be most important. Our entire group had solidified the importance of keeping the pedagogical foundations a top priority and not letting the technical aspects of the technology distract us from focusing on the learners needs.
The one criteria that stood out to me to be most in line with the trends discussed by Spiro (2014) is customization. This feature enables learning to be more adaptive to individual learners, digital information curation to occur and learners to take more control in constructing knowledge that is meaningful to them (Spiro, 2014). This feature will align BC Campus to be more responsive to the needs of current and future learners.
The other five criteria chosen also play an important role in the decision making process. Support, access and functionality serves to make the software application or web-based technology usable without significant stress for the learner such they there distracted from spending time on the actual learning objectives that need to developed. The cost and organizational requirements serve a greater purpose to the leadership team in order for them to be financially responsible in their decision and consistently aligned with existing mandates.
All in all, when making decisions regarding learning management systems many criteria need to be carefully considered. Certain criteria may have greater importance than others but decisions should be made with the flexibility to serve the needs of future learners as well as current ones.
Details of our team’s LMS Evaluation rubric can be accessed here
References
Bates, T. (2014). Teaching in digital age http://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/ (Chapter 8 on SECTIONS framework)
Chickering, A. W., & Ehrmann, S., C. (1996). Implementing the seven principles: Technology as lever. American Association for Higher Education Bulletin, 49(2), 3-6. Retrieved from http://www.aahea.org/articles/sevenprinciples.htm
Spiro, K. (2014). 5 elearning trends leading to the end of the Learning Management Systems. Retrieved from http://elearningindustry.com/5-elearning-trends-leading-to-the-end-of-the-learning-management-system