implementing e-learningPlanning Phase |
Planning: Resources
A brief scan of any of the special interest group mailing lists reveals that at any one time a sizeable percentage of the UK's colleges and universities are somewhere in the process of selecting a new system or set of tools to support one or more of their processes, whether these are for business, learning or both.
System change is often prompted by seemingly insoluble problems with existing hardware and software and is often unwelcome both to those who have to cope with it and those who have to fund it. One of the themes running through the infoKits is the opportunity afforded by system change to add value to not only the business but to teaching, learning and research. This depends, of course, on selecting the right system in the first place.
Buying new software to support institution-wide goals can be a major undertaking and it's an area where it's all too easy to be taken in by the hype. Most products look very good at face value, especially if you are moving from an outdated system, but how do you tell if the functionality will really meet your needs?
Analysis of the market shows that there is a considerable range of software and software bundles in use, and so the System Selection infoKit offers a simple five-stage approach to choosing new software. The emphasis is on putting you in the driving seat and allowing you to set the agenda for potential vendors to follow. The scalable model is applicable to any type of application and any scale of implementation and has been successfully used by a number of institutions. It gives guidance on testing out functionality against your own specific requirements so that you can be confident the system chosen is right for your purposes and not the result of being bowled over by a slick marketing demo.
A complementary infoKit on Contract Negotiation provides straightforward advice on how to steer through the legal minefield of negotiating contracts with suppliers.
For those involved in integrating e-learning tools and systems with their business systems further information is available in the sections on Gathering Requirements and Technology Options from the MLE infoKit.
