Sinclair’s current learning management system, Angel, will be replaced on May 18 with eLearn, a customized version of the same system Wright State University and Ohio State University use.
After considering four different systems and conducting surveys of students and faculty, the decision was made to switch to Desire to Learn or D2L. This system gives each school the opportunity to create a look and feel that works for them.
“It wasn’t really a decision that we said, ‘Oh let’s go find a new system,” Jennifer Davis, an instructional designer in the Web Course Development department, said.
The Angel system was bought out, and will not have updates available.The new system will have a more modern look, have a few updated features, and is more conducive to mobile device.
“I think students are going to find it to be a little more familiar if they do any kind of social media,” Amy Hartman, an online academic coach, said. There are a few updated features and adjustments made to eLearn after receiving the feedback from surveys. In hopes that it will enhance the student online experience a separate grade tab has been added, making it easier to check grades.
All course calendars will be consolidated to one calendar that will display information from all currently enrolled courses.
“Once students get familiar with the layout I think they are going to like it a lot better,” Davis said.
Resources will be available to students to assist in the transition from Angel to eLearn. There will be a Sinclair Talk on May 17 detailing the switch, and the faculty has been learning the new system for months.
The “How to Succeed in an Online Class” course will be called “How to Succeed” when the new system goes live. This and all courses will have instructional information on how to use eLearn.
“The How to Succeed [course], even if they have taken it before, it might be good for them to take it again so that they can learn the new system,” Hartman said. “Especially if they are hard-core online students.”
Change is not always an easy thing for all. Davis reminisced back to when Microsoft Office had a major change some years ago.
“I could not figure out how to print a document,” Davis said. “I was so frustrated.”
Marketing materials will be distributed around campus to inform and help students and faculty with the switch.
“With anything else, any new system, and new software, any new app, anything you do, it’s just a matter of getting in there and playing with it,” Hartman said.
“Hey we’re going live May 18 – it’s coming,” Davis said.
Matt Sells
Executive Editor