E-Learning Upgrade
By Doug Johnson
E-Learning Support Services
The new E-Learning system finally launched on August 17th, 2007 for the Fall term, after months of behind-the-scenes hard labor. This project was completed in record time, and under budget, as the result of effective collaboration between support units in AT, CNS and the Blackboard Company. An upgrade is always disruptive, and the Vista upgrade project was no exception. In this case, the changes from Vista 3 to E-Learning were magnified because the changes entailed upgrading the hardware and software for the Vista course management system, the authentication system and the LSS web site. This raised the question, why upgrade the system at all? Here are a few of the key reasons why this upgrade project is worth the disruption:
Software:
- Vista 4 has been out for two years or more and is now a stable product.
- We have gained improvements in system performance and stability available with the new product.
- We have taken advantage of new features and functions available with the new product.
- We have ensured the best support from Blackboard, which is typically provided to their newer products.
- Vista 3 is moving toward being phased out by Blackboard, possibly within the next year.
- To keep the UF Community up to date on supported services and systems.
Hardware:
- The hardware reached the end of its service and support life.
- Technology changes made new hardware available that is easier to maintain and provides better overall performance.
- We have implemented shut-down free maintenance -no more periodic 17 hour maintenance windows.
- Funding is now available to build the high quality system needed and desired. This includes full redundancy and failover to protect data and remain in operation if some of the hardware should break down.
The main enhancement is that the users of E-Learning will see improvements to the web interface as well as some new tools and functions. Behind those visible enhancements there will also be more robust hardware that will provide greater redundancy in order to improve performance and minimize downtime. Furthermore, response to Vista 4 in our transition workshops and training has been very positive, and we are convinced that most users will be very pleased overall with the new system.
Tags: E-Learning Course Management
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Posted on Tuesday, September 18th, 2007.