Next LMS

On October 27, 2021 Brock University’s Senate endorsed a plan for Brock University to acquire a new Learning Management System (LMS).

Through a competitive process, we are seeking a modern, cloud-based, Learning Management System (LMS) and corresponding implementation services.

Once selected, Brock University is planning to conduct a phased transition to our next LMS. General availability of Brock University’s next LMS is planned to begin in August of 2022, while maintaining access to Brock University’s legacy LMS during the transition. The transition will start with a series of limited pilot offerings for the new LMS in the second quarter of 2022. Brock University’s current Sakai-based LMS will be fully retired before the end of the five-year contract.

Projected Timeline

Review Spring/Summer 2021​ * Survey​ * Sandboxes in 5 major LMSs​ * Feedback sessions & related community consultation​ ​ What’s Brock’s Next LMS? Fall 2021​ * The review will inform the selection criteria​ * Tender & review submissions​ * Negotiate, contract, privacy, etc.​ * Communicate selection​ ​ Implement Winter, Spring/Summer 2022​ * Iterative configuration​ * Open & closed pilots​ * Phased migration​ * Communications: training & orientation​ ​ Next LMS is Primary: Fall 2022​ *Support resources focus on next LMS​ * Isaak/Sakai phase out begins

Reports

For more information on our LMS Review university-wide consultation activities and results see the three reports linked below:

LMS Review Resource Selection Team Report
Mission LMS - Sandbox Feedback Survey Results
LMS Review Campus Survey Results

Requirements

The Resource Selection Team, created by Senate on March 3, 2021, consulted with the Brock University community, and compiled a list of specific priority and feature requirements of a modern LMS that Brock University’s current Sakai-based LMS does not meet, these are:

A modern, straightforward, familiar interface

The most salient theme across all consultations is the need for an intuitive and user friendly LMS. After experiencing a variety of other systems, the Brock faculty, staff, and students reiterated that the most-liked features are ease of use or navigation (specific to creating and building a course), the aesthetics of the system (desirable layout), and intuitiveness.

 

Ease of content creation

The Brock community desires intuitive and effortless content creation and navigation through prioritizing processes such as: automating tasks, simplicity in completing tasks, and allowing for content and options of their choosing.

 

Integrated and interactive dashboard

The ability to see a snapshot of each course in one place, identify deadlines and outstanding assessments, and view an integrated calendar and checklist, allows students and instructors to stay organized and focus their attention on top priorities.

 

Seamless integration of multimedia

Video and audio content are a crucial aspect of online teaching and learning. The ease of upload of multimedia content (audio, videos, images) into the LMS is the most important feature when it comes to site and content creation for faculty, staff, and students. More specific features such as simple submission of video and audio content for assessments, and providing video and audio recorded feedback to students were mentioned as desirable aspects.

 

Robust grading and feedback tools

The high usage and the importance of these tools supports the notion that a robust grading and feedback feature is foundational to the LMS. This includes annotation, bulk editing, import/export of grades, event log in gradebook, grader notifications and specific file type submissions.

 

Complementary mobile experience

One of the most significant challenges with Brock University’s current Sakai-based LMS is its lack of a platform-specific mobile app. Members of Brock University community expressed an interest in the integration of LMS-based calendars and notifications with mobile phones.

 

Ease of content migration

When considering a change in the LMS one of the most important considerations that faculty, staff, and students have noted is the need for an easy import/export of content between sites, other LMSs, and related technologies. The short-term success of a new LMS will be primarily judged by the migration experience.