Why is LIS considering an upgrade?
Last September (2008), the Information Technology Services Committee agreed to consider upgrading Dickinson’s LMS. The LMS is a central element of LIS’s virtual presence. The LMS Dickinson currently uses is Blackboard Basic. Although useful for its core purpose of centralizing resources, it lacks key features, such as integrating information resources and providing a more active, student-centric IT experience. For example, Blackboard Basic does not allow us to create courses created automatically from registrar data, and professors must either enroll students in classes themselves or else have students self-enroll. This is a time-consuming and error-prone process. It also does not allow us to take advantage of Dickinson’s investments in enterprise applications such as Banner. Blackboard Basic also lacks essential tools for collaboration and communication that students and faculty now expect from a web application, such wikis, blogs, and podcasts. Moreover, Blackboard Basic is showing i
