Interact2

The Interact2 Project at CSU is working on the selection and implementation of a new learning management system (LMS) to replace our current Interact , which is the central component of our online learning environment (OLE).

The SEC agreed on 4th September 2012 that CSU needs to move as quickly as possible in the selection and implementation of a new LMS other than Sakai OAE, to be place for the start of 2014.  The evaluation is in two stages, with four products initially agreed upon:

Stage 1: the i2 project team, with input from the Ed Tech Reference Group, evaluate the products against essential criteria with the aim of eliminating one or more products to create a short-list. This was a short sharp exercise (September/October 2012);

Stage 2: a wider group evaluate the short-listed products against more detailed criteria to lead to an LMS recommendation for CSU.

The essential criteria used in the Stage 1 evaluation included: minimum affordances (what high level functionality the product MUST have); product and vendor sustainability (including support in Australia); standards adhered to (to assist with integration of 3rd party applications); security; supportability; accessibility; learning analytics package; mobile interface; hosting options. Also a quick ‘useability’ trial was conducted by the Ed Tech Reference Group to gauge first impressions of the products (ie was the tool intuitive/ easy to navigate/ encourage a variety of learning and teaching and assessment strategies).

Stage 1 of the evaluation resulted in recommending that Canvas be eliminated from the Stage 2 evaluation. Canvas is a very young company and there is currently no presence (staff, hosting or University use) in Australia. There is thus also no community of practice around Canvas in Australasia.  This was deemed high risk.

Stage 2 began in October 2012 with a 3 week trial of Moodle. Blackboard will be trialled before Christmas and Desire2Learn will be trialled in January/ February 2013. A recommendation on the most suitable LMS for CSU will be made to the ILSCOSC in Q1 2013.

Access to the October Interact 2 newsletter (.pdf)

Who

The project sponsor is Marian Tulloch.

The i2 Project Team comprises:
Dawn Calvert - Project Manager
Mavis Jenkins - Business Analyst
Dave Roma - Solutions Coordinator
Gary Lipscomb - Solutions Architect (Infrastructure)
Greg Hardham - LTS business expert focusing on professional development 
Janet Buchan - LTS business expert focusing on change management, and providing PD support
Stewart McKinney - Academic Support (Dean of Studies) business expert focusing on communications
Paul Bristow - Enterprise architect - applications
Mark Walsh - Programmer
Beren Walters - Programmer
Greg Fry - Library business expert
James Sloane - Programmer
Philip Uys – i2 Project Lead

How

The i2 Project Team have developed a comprehensive professional development plan, change management plan, communications plan and student support plan in close cooperation with the Educational Technology Reference Group. The plans will be made available to the CSU community.


A distributed approach to i2 change management is being adopted. Each area of the University which has an engagement with Interact, and will thus be involved with i2, will be asked to form an i2 Guiding Team to help facilitate the implementation of i2.  The ILSCOSC, which is also the i2 project steering group, will serve as a reference group for the Guiding Teams. The i2 Change Management Team will take a proactive support and mentoring role for the Guiding Teams.


An i2 Guiding Team is defined as a group of people with responsibility around supporting the change management associated with the implementation of i2 and the transition from Interact to i2 in a specific University area. An i2 Guiding Team will have important strategic, motivational and in some cases, operational roles. Guidelines will be provided for developing the i2 Guiding Teams.


The diagram below provides a summary of work flows and relationships associated with the i2 project.

i2 teams

During 2013/14 staff from the Division of Learning and Teaching Services will be working closely with Schools/ Faculties, Institutes and Divisions to provide professional development, technical, educational design and media services support both in transitioning from Interact to i2 and in the creation of quality sites within the enhanced i2 environment. The i2 release to students will be supported by an Academic Support information program.

Regular project developments will be posted to the Yammer i2 project group at https://www.yammer.com/csu.edu.au/groups/i2project#/threads/inGroup?type=in_group&feedId=315775