Learning Management System and Learning Technology Support Group (OP Memo, 14 May 2020)

14 May 2020

I am pleased to announce that for the tertiary school units we will be conducting a limited pilot run of Canvas, a new Learning Management System (LMS), this coming Intersession in preparation for a full roll-out in the First Semester of the School Year 2020-2021. Upon the recommendation of the IT Advisory Council, we have opted to offer only one LMS primarily in response to feedback from our students. Canvas will be largely implemented in Loyola Schools and parts of the Ateneo Professional Schools.

With this decision on the LMS, I am also announcing the formation of the Learning Technology Support Group (LTSG). The LTSG will focus on the delivery of the university’s mission to deliver quality education, which includes the tools that enable our educators to develop and deliver content. The LTSG will be a cross-functional team with skills that include not just the technical, i.e. nuts and bolts of the LMS platform, but also the adaptive and pedagogical competencies of educators.

As a separate application/user support group, the LTSG is expected to liaise with the Information Technology Resource Management Office (ITRMO). It is the ITRMO that ensures that our network and database connections, and IT administrative systems/protocols are sound and secure. To clarify the relationship between the ITRMO and the LTSG, the ITRMO shall focus mainly on the underlying core infrastructure (i.e. network, core applications and databases) that enables all the user-based functions of the University to operate.

On the other hand, the LTSG is tasked to support our educators with the tools and services they need to develop and deliver quality education to our students. The LTSG will ensure that all IT support (including helpdesk support) is in place for the operation of the LMS and of other possible learning tech-related programs. It does not act in parallel to the ITRMO but operates as a layer or shell above the ITRMO (which is the core), functioning more as the University's interface with our educators, the LMS provider, and with other potential stakeholders.

Given the urgency of forming the LTSG, in the transition, I am assigning JP Gregorio of the LS Office of Management Information Systems to head the LTSG for now. Other members include: Den Jaramilla and Carlo Sanchez of DISCS, Renan Sulit of AGSB, and Galvin Ngo of SALT. Galvin shall act as the liaison of the LTSG to the LMS provider.

On behalf of the Ateneo de Manila, I thank the LTSG members for their generosity in taking on this important mission during these times of transition.

With the selection of our official LMS and the creation of the LTSG, we eagerly look forward to the intensive staff training and preparations for the coming academic year.

DISCS and SALT will soon announce the schedule of LMS training not only for Canvas, but also for those who wish to continue using Moodle.

We shall soon issue a separate memo on this matter for Basic Education.

amdg,

(signed)
Jose Ramon T Villarin SJ
President