Goal

The purpose of the Learning Management System Evaluation was to determine the best online learning environment for PCC’s students and faculty. Currently the College is using Blackboard Learn 9.1 SP7.

The evaluation was prompted by the following reasons:

• Our Blackboard contract renewal was fast approaching. The contract ends June 30, 2012.
• A college-wide survey indicated sufficient dissatisfaction with Blackboard, our current LMS, to warrant investigation of alternatives.
• Other, potentially more effective, systems are available at similar or lesser cost.
• New developments in online learning methods and technology suggest a change may be appropriate.
• We need to make the right decision for PCC’s future.

 

Process

The LMS Evaluation Steering Group was formed to systematically evaluate the two highest rated systems in the faculty survey (Canvas and Moodle) plus Blackboard (SP8). Faculty across divisions were invited to participate in this evaluation team, in addition to PCC students, administrators and staff. Thirty-one people accepted the task to represent their divisions/areas.

During the Spring 2012 semester, the group evaluated vendor presentations, migrated courses in each system, and examined additional resources to determine which LMS will best serve student and faculty needs.

The Decision

All processes and voting procedures were agreed upon by the Steering Group:

VOTING PROCEDURE	Anonymous voting using the clicker Decision would be based on a majority vote Everyone would support the group’s final decision
VOTING OPTIONS	OPTION 1: STAY with Blackboard for one more year and extend the LMS Evaluation process through Fall, 2012 with a final decision to be made by December, 2012 OPTION 2: RENEW Blackboard to start July 1, 2012 (3-year contract) OPTION 3: SELECT Canvas to start July 1, 2012 OPTION 4: SELECT Moodlerooms to start July 1, 2012
FINAL VOTING RESULT	Select Canvas to start July 1, 2012

Full Steering Group Evaluation Results

Overall Ratings (On a scale of 1-10)

Canvas — 7.8 ;  Moodlerooms — 5.5 ;  Blackboard –  4.5

Presentations

All three vendors visited PCC to present their products. Faculty were asked to evaluate these presentations and their responses were used to inform the steering group’s final decision.  The presentation evaluations were not comparative.The results represent the initial response to the product after each presentation.

Presentation Evaluation Results