NETC08 session 1083

From Extension Collaborative Wiki

Session Name: The Learning Technology Platform: Integrating Academic Technologies for Students, Faculty, and Staff
Session Number: 1083
Location: Tanglewood
Day and Time: Wednesday, 10:45 - 11:30 am
Format: Presentation
Topic: Learning Management Systems
Level: Introductory

Session Abstract:

Students, faculty, and staff are often faced with a bewildering choice of disparate academic technologies and administrative information. The result can be less effective use of educational technology, poor media selection decisions, and significant inconvenience for the learner and instructor. To address these issues, the University of Minnesota has worked with partners across campus to better integrate existing academic technologies. The Learning Technology Platform is based on four key concepts: Aggregation (bringing all of the technology resources students, faculty, and staff need into one location); Personalization (segmenting audiences on the basis of campus, affiliated program, role at the University), Customization (permitting users to have control over the content they want to see), and Collaboration (support for using technology tools to work on joint projects and build online community).

Key components of the Learning Technology Platform include front-end portal functionality (the U of M myU application), Course Management Systems (Blackboard Vista, Moodle, Pachyderm), web conferencing (Adobe Connect), communications and scheduling utilities (email, Oracle Calendar), collaboration tools (TWiki, Jabber, Metadot), online library, student services, technology training, user support, assessment of different learning styles, technology literacy, and faculty development. A critical element in the process has been working to achieve buy-in across campus for this "silo-busting" approach. This session will cover the history of this effort; successes and challenges; current status of the project; and the potential of the approach for Extension non-credit learners, resident instruction, and online and hybrid learners.

Led By: Bob Rubinyi, Extension Professor and Portal Manager, University of Minnesota