To better meet the needs of faculty and students, UGA is preparing to transition the eLearning Commons software platform from Blackboard Vista to Desire2Learn.
eLearning Commons is UGA’s online learning management system, jointly supported by Enterprise Information Technology Services and the Center for Teaching and Learning. It is used by faculty and students for communication, assessment and sharing course documents. The new platform will be called eLC-New during this transition.
UGA students are automatically enrolled in eLearning Commons based on the enrollment data in OASIS. Once logged in, they have access to learning material, quizzes and other resources created by their instructors. eLC-New will expand the existing toolset and provide more user-friendly features.
These new features include audio embedding, email or text notification options, home page customization using news and photos, better browser compatibility, the ability to open multiple windows at once, drag and drop capabilities, conditional release allowing extra time for assessments, mobile Web access, an assignment grader mobile application and the use of rubrics across multiple courses.
“The faculty currently in the early adopters program are enthusiastic about eLC-New,” said Sherry Clouser, coordinator of instructional and distance technologies and the implementation of eLC-New. “The software is more user-friendly and includes a number of new features our faculty and students have been requesting.”
This fall, 95 faculty are participating in an early adopters program. They are receiving training in the new software and will teach using eLC-New in the spring 2013 semester.
The CTL is currently seeking a second group of early adopters who will receive training in the spring and teach with eLC-New in summer 2013. By fall 2013, eLC will no longer be available. Course migrations from eLC will be completed, and all courses will use eLC-New.
Faculty interested in participating in the second round of early adopters for training spring semester should complete the application form at http://bit.ly/eap2-app or contact Clouser at sac@uga.edu or 706-542-0525.
