EDT-8140: LMS Evaluation

WEEK 2

LMS EVALUATION INTRODUCTION

This week's evaluation is providing step-by-step tutorials for performing the following tasks. The evaluation provides a recommendation based on the ability to of two learning management systems, Desire2Learn (D2L) and COURSEsites by Blackboard to create a social presence, teaching presence and cognitive presence allowing for a more enjoyable learning experience for both the instructor and the student.

Create electronic gradebook category/items.
Create groups.
Create group discussion topics.
Create synchronous web conference session.
Quality check as demo student.

Man in a suit with connection graph to computer, ipad, world, and people.

D2L LMS EVALUATION

CREATE ELECTRONIC GRADEBOOK CATEGORY/ITEMS

To create an electronic gradebook, click on "Grades", then hit "Settings" on the upper right side of the page. Select "Personal Display Option". Click all boxes in "Display Grade Details" and "Repeat Final Grades". Change the "Start Page" to "Manage Grades" and hit "Save". Next, click on "Org Unit Display Options" in the top menu bar. Click all options in Student View Display Options for Grade Details to show Points grade, Grade scheme symbol, and Grade scheme color. Click "Save". Lastly, click on "Calculations Options" in the top menu bar. Select points under Grading System and select "Calculated Final Grade". under Grading System. There is an option to Drop ungraded items under Grade Calculations. Check the box next to "Automatically keep final grades updated", then hit the "Save". On the popup, hit "Yes" to save your changes.

To organize the grades into categories, click on "Grades" in the top menu bar, then select "Manage Grades". Click on "New" and select "Category". Type in the name and hit "Save and Close". Then, select "New" again, but choose "Item" and choose a grade item type. Type in a name, choose a category, type in the points, select a grade scheme and choose display options. Hit "Save and Close".

Setting up and managing grades was very confusing and required many steps in D2L. The structure for giving feedback from the teacher is adequate. However, it does not allow for the student to respond to the feedback. The grades are easy to find and viable to the student. Students are able to see their progress in the course.

CREATE GROUPS

To create a group, click on the down arrow next to "Communication" in the top menu bar and select "Groups". Click on the blue box "New Category Folder" and enter a category name. Click on the drop-down arrow in the box under Enrollment Type and select "# of Groups". Type a number in the box under Number of Groups. There are additional options including; set up discussion areas, set up lockers, and set up dropbox folder. Hit "Save".

There are no students listed in the newly created groups. To enroll the students, click on one of the groups. Select "Enroll Users" at the top of the page under Edit Group. Select the box next to the student's name and hit "Save". The number of students in each group appears next to the group name.

Creating groups and enrolling students was intuitive and easy in D2L. There didn't seem to be many options to communicate and collaborate with members of the group. There is no sense of connectedness. However, students are now able to email each member in the group.

CREATE GROUP DISCUSSION TOPICS

How To Create Group Discussions.mp4

Creating an area for students to have discussions is essential in creating an environment for social interaction and collaboration similar to being in a classroom. Click the down arrow next to "Communication", then select "Discussions". Click on the blue box "New" and select "New Forum". Type in a "Title" and make it visible to the student. Click the blue box at the bottom of the page "Save and Close". Next, click on "Communication" then select "Discussions". Click on the blue box "New" and select "New Topic". Choose the "Forum" from the drop-down arrow. Next, give it a "Title". Select to make it visible to the students. Click on the blue box to "Save and Close".

The two-step process of creating a forum and then creating a topic could be confusing, but setting up a group and group discussion was organized and straightforward.

CREATE SYNCHRONOUS WEB CONFERENCE SESSION

Desire2Learn (D2L) does not come with web conferencing. Using web conferencing with D2L, you must purchase a web conferencing system from a third-party such as BB-Collaborate and integrate it into the LMS. Adding a web conference session, click on the down arrow next to "Communication" in the top menu bar, then select "Pilot Live". Click on "New Room" and give the room a name. Change the setting so that it is visible to the students, the start and end dates correspond to the semester, and other advanced properties such as attendees join as moderators, early room entry, archive mode, and email notifications. It allows you to add attendees from this setup page. Then, click "Save".

Setting up a room was functional and straightforward. The process was well laid out and visually organized making it very intuitive.

BB COLLABORATE FULL.mp4

QUALITY CHECK AS DEMO STUDENT

To create a Demo Student, click on the down arrow to the right of "Classlist" and select "Create Demo Account". Click on "Classlist" again and select "Classlist". Identifying the student by the last name ZZ at the bottom of the "Classlist" verifies the student has been added. To log in as the student, click on the down arrow next to the student's name and select "Impersonate". Hit "Yes". You see the Demo Student's name in the upper right of the page showing the Demo Student is logged in. Click on the arrow next to "Communication" and select "Discussion". Post a thread to Week 1, and Group 1 allows testing of the student site.

To take you back, clicking on the red X next to the student name from the drop-down arrow in the upper right side of the page. Customizing the Update Widget was comfortable and allows the instructor to know of any changes in the LMS. Click on "Home", then click on the drop-down arrow next to "Update". Select "Customize this widget". Check any of the boxes and hit "Save".

To post a grade to the demo student, click on "Grades" on your top menu bar. Click on the down arrow to the right of the WK 1 Discussion and select "Enter Grades". Type the grade in the box next to the student's name. The total points for the assignment are next to the box. You can click on the callout icon under Feedback to provide the student feedback on their grade. Click "Save and Close".

Creating a demo student and posting a grade was very intuitive and easy. Testing using the Demo Student allows the instructor to check the quality of the course and make sure the student's have access to the discussions and grades allowing for clarity of progress and social presence.

LMS-2 COURSESITES BY BLACKBOARD LMS EVALUATION

CREATE ELECTRONIC GRADEBOOK CATEGORY/ITEMS

From the course page, click on "Grade Center" then select "Full Grade Center" located on the menu bar on the left side of the page. In the top menu bar select "Create Column" and enter the column name. Choose how you want the score displayed, points possible, a completion date, options to calculate the grade in the final grade, visibility to students and/or show statistics. Hit "Submit" in the upper or lower right side of the page to save.

Adding columns is similar to a spreadsheet in Excel. There are many features to customize the look of the gradebook. Creating many columns could make it difficult to see the gradebook as a whole, but filters are available to make it more accessible.