Carleton University 2010 Update

From OUCEL Wiki

Carleton University 2010

Triumphs

• Online learning/Distance/Flexible Learning

Senior administration has reaffirmed its support for distance and flexible learning.

• Obtain useful metric data from LMS

Using a simple questionnaire that was customized to each students course registration, we asked students to identify how instructors were using the LMS in each of their courses. The questions were:

1) How often do you log into WebCT? (1=daily, 5=never)

2) Of the courses you are registered in this term, please check each one that is using WebCT: (four more questions will appear for each course)

a) This course uses WebCT for:

Posting course content (Lecture slides, readings, etc.)

Online Tests, Quizzes, Midterms

Online submission of assignments

Discussions

Grades

Email

Other

b) How active do you feel your instructor is in the course?

(posting content, participating in discussions & email, general updates) (1=very active, 5=inactive)

c) How active do you feel your TA is in the course? (1=very active, 5=inactive)

d) This course uses WebCT... (1=very well, 5=very poorly)

3) In general, is your satisfaction with your courses linked to how WebCT is being used?

Yes, Somewhat, No, Please Explain:

4) What message would you like to pass along to the university about WebCT?

• Dramatic improvement to classroom login times

Instructors were losing significant teaching time due to the length of time required for the Windows XP computers to login and reach a functional state (i.e. start a web browser or PowerPoint ). Using information provided by Trent University at an Eastern Ed. Tech meeting and confirmed with our testing that the solution to dramatically reduce login time would be to replace the hard drives with solid state drives (SSDs). Login times in Core Duo 2 machines with 7200 rpm hard drive, running Win XP, went from 2 minutes 45 seconds, to 20 seconds with SSD.

By the start of the Fall 2010 term, all classroom computers will use SSDs rather than hard drives.

• LMS reliability and stability
• Renovation of CUTV student learning centre
• Using the LMS to help identify retention concerns
• BigBlueButton

Challenges

• 5% budget cut
• LMS - moving forward