Comments on: CMS Cont. http://blog.brettmoller.com/2005/09/23/cms-cont/ Technology Resources for Educators Thu, 30 Sep 2010 03:25:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: csessumshttp://blog.brettmoller.com/2005/09/23/cms-cont/#comment-38 csessums Sun, 25 Sep 2005 16:38:56 +0000 http://blog.brettmoller.com/?p=46#comment-38 Our institution took the deep plunge into CMS course cultivation. We bought the one-size-fits-all mammoth aka WebCT Vista. I argued for a smaller, customizable system that would ease instructors into the world of teaching and learning using technology. As things go, faculty have been slowly adopting Vista but only in limited capacities, i.e., distributing lecture notes, articles, and posting syllabi. A few adventurers have wholly integrated their courses and content into Vista with mixed results.I found this link the other day after talking with a colleague re: VLE/CMS/LMSs-- http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_moreequalssimpler/index.htmlThe upshot reported by the authors: the more users, the simpler the system should be.Currently, I am investigating the use of weblogs as means of enhancing the classroom experience. I am debating wether I should show and tell the students what to do vs. letting them learn and play on their own with a little guidance.Again, at my institution, instructors have an option whether they want to use a CMS to enhance their f2f courses. WebCT is powerful but not a very enticing, exciting environment. For purely distance learning courses, instructors are required to work in WebCT unless their department has adopted a different platform (i.e., Moodle or Blackboard).I think a question to ask might be how will we use the CMS. What is our goal in delivering instruction/training online?Of course our faculty always ask: What's in it for me? Will I get support in this task? Will I receive adequate training and preparation time?I'm curious to see how things work out for you. Our institution took the deep plunge into CMS course cultivation. We bought the one-size-fits-all mammoth aka WebCT Vista. I argued for a smaller, customizable system that would ease instructors into the world of teaching and learning using technology. As things go, faculty have been slowly adopting Vista but only in limited capacities, i.e., distributing lecture notes, articles, and posting syllabi. A few adventurers have wholly integrated their courses and content into Vista with mixed results.

I found this link the other day after talking with a colleague re: VLE/CMS/LMSs–
http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/cmb_moreequalssimpler/index.html

The upshot reported by the authors: the more users, the simpler the system should be.

Currently, I am investigating the use of weblogs as means of enhancing the classroom experience. I am debating wether I should show and tell the students what to do vs. letting them learn and play on their own with a little guidance.

Again, at my institution, instructors have an option whether they want to use a CMS to enhance their f2f courses. WebCT is powerful but not a very enticing, exciting environment. For purely distance learning courses, instructors are required to work in WebCT unless their department has adopted a different platform (i.e., Moodle or Blackboard).

I think a question to ask might be how will we use the CMS. What is our goal in delivering instruction/training online?

Of course our faculty always ask: What’s in it for me? Will I get support in this task? Will I receive adequate training and preparation time?

I’m curious to see how things work out for you.

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