Your Logo Here An Administrative Framework for the Blackboard Academic Suite Presented By Chris J Jones University of Oklahoma HSC April 13, 2005

Session Overview: The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) has developed a comprehensive framework for managing Bb that enables growth while maintaining customer service.

An Administrative Framework Session Objectives: –Introduce a framework for supporting teaching & learning with effective course management services –Discuss implementation & responsibilities that make it work Innovation –Course management as an enterprise solution

An Administrative Framework Session Objectives: –Introduce a framework for supporting services –Discuss implementation & responsibilities that make it work Innovation –Network learning environments as an enterprise solution networked learning environment

University of Oklahoma HSC Comprehensive health sciences center 3000 students, 800 faculty Medicine Nursing Pharmacy Dentistry Allied Health Public Health

HSC Blackboard Learning System™ & Community System™ 228 active courses, 15 communities 291 instructors, 1447 active users 85,810 average page views –258,495 most active day ~250% Growth this year 0.75 FTE administration…seriously

Key Objectives GROWTH CUSTOMER SERVICE CUSTOMER SERVICE

How? Models & Processes Fundamentals –Online, distributed, distance & “learning space”-based environments are academic, not technical goals. –“Bb is an enterprise system architecture, not a software application…” There & Back Again (C. Jones, BbUC, 2004) E-Learning 2.0 –“Networked learning environment” vs. “putting courses online” Enterprise solutions require: Administration (i.e., leadership) Business processes

Administrative Framework Every course management system must address these issues to be effective: –Strategic Development vision & direction –Business Management licensing & relationship –System Operations day-to-day processes –System Development new opportunities –Infrastructure boxes, wires, nuts & bolts

CMS Framework Matrix

Business Processes: the Work of Learning Managing Users –Creation –Assignment (roles, not enrollment) –Authentication Managing Courses (& Communities) –Creation –Copy, Export/Import –Templates

Business Processes: the Work of Learning Enrollment –Instructor(s) –Students –TAs, Developers, Graders Managing Content –Instructional design –“ in-sourced ” to CHaLK

CMS Business Processes: Continuum

HSC CMS Framework Matrix

HSC Business Processes

Bb System Administrator (Operations) Job Description The administration of the enterprise course management system, Blackboard (Bb), requires Strategic Development, Business Management, System Operations and System Development activities. The Bb System Administrator (Operations) supports System Operations and System Development activities as described below. –System Operations (60%) –System Development (40%)

Strategic Development Roles & Responsibilities DirectorOperations Admin Other Negotiate and maintain an independent HSC Bb installation  Coordinate / Manage Bb administration resources  Develop & coordinate processes that integrate enterprise data sources  Authorize & coordinate system upgrades  Develop & support strategic support model 

Business Management Roles & Responsibilities DirectorOperations Admin Other Identify and advocate required licenses and service contracts  Coordinate & manage license agreements and contracts with business and approval units  Evaluate future license needs and service options  Secure budget funding and procurement  Maintain business relationship with Blackboard and Blackboard ASP 

System Operations: General Roles & Responsibilities DirectorOperations Admin Other Develop & Implement Policies & Procedures  Administer Bb Test Server  Coordinate / cooperate with other institutional resources  Establish & maintain Bb calendar  Develop and implement an “operations workbook” that documents all critical administrative settings and management procedures 

System Operations: Users & Course/Org Roles & Responsibilities DirectorOperations Admin Other Create / coordinate HSC users as needed  Set required course & portal roles for users  Process new course / organization requests  Develop & Maintain course templates  Process / update course administrators requests & changes 

System Operations: Enrollment & Community Roles & Responsibilities DirectorOperations Admin Other Develop & maintain course request master database  Coordinate semester student enrollment  Deploy & update modules  Establish role-based views & portal tabs 

System Operations: Support Roles & Responsibilities DirectorOperations Admin Other Support and develop resources for CHaLK team  Provide End-user support [2º]  Coordinate HelpDesk integration & support  Develop & Deliver Bb Training  Provide direct communication to Bb users, as necessary  Setup and implement 3rd-party resources and support  Develop, update and maintain online support resources 

System Development Roles & Responsibilities DirectorOperations Admin Other Implementation of new tools, application packs, etc.  Identify and establish roles  Create & maintain role-specific portal modules  Create & maintain role-specific portal tabs  Configuration / Training materials for 3rd-party applications 

Infrastructure Roles & Responsibilities DirectorOperations Admin Other Web server(s) administration Outsourced to Blackboard ASP Application server(s) administration Database administration ? ?

Metrics & Measurement February 2005 “information technology” campus survey…

Avg-Good

What’s Next? We are clearly not covering every area with planned and intentional support We have a tremendous opportunity for greater integration, functionality, training & support

Services Life Cycle

MOF & ITIL Processes

Innovating Together in ‘05 Innovating Together in ‘05: –CMS services (i.e., Blackboard Academic Suite™) are not product implementations only, but require systematic & intentional planning in all key process areas to be successful Strategic Development Business Management System Operations System Development Infrastructure Management Follow up Contact(s): –Chris J –Frank

Your Logo Here How do you manage your enterprise “networked learning environment”?