Delivery System

Last week I narrowed down my choices from two LMS this week to one.  The two LMS choices are Schoology and Teamie. The Important elements that I had selected were: Technology Access and Requirements; Classroom Management; Community; Assessment ; and Provide Support. 

In my research of an external site I found an article by Canvus that evaluates 6 LMS and breaks the elements down into three categories with sub categories in relation to pedagogy, instructors, and students.  See the table bevlow.

The first element that I evaluated was technology access and requirements. Over the last few years I have noticed a shift in the technology access of my students.  They have gone from a laptop or desktop at home to a tablet or chrome book.  So it was important that there be an app or mobile browser capability.  Both LMS have a mobile app in the Google Playstore and the Apple App store.  I downloaded both to my iPad for testing.  It was also important that I be able to access these on the go as well.  There are times when I do not have access to my computer but my iPad and can work in the LMS with students.  The apps were simple enough to download. Schoology was easy to access just like in the web browser on the computer.  Teamie was another story.  I had to search the Help and FAQs  to see how to log in with a free account.  There was no documentation.  I had to email them.  Because the support center is in India ad we are in different time zones I didn't get a response right away.  It was several hours later.  Strike one for Teamie.  West, Waddoups , and Graham state that Instructors are more likely to adopt an LMS if they can overcome the technical challenges of it and usually start to adopt it due to one or two features they can use.

The second element evaluated was classroom management.  Similar to Edmodo, students need an access code to join the class in Schoology.  In Teamie an email is sent. Batch setup of students cannot be done in Teamie. Both are able to monitor student activity and track progress.  Strike two Teamie.

The third element evaluated was community. Creating groups is very similar to Edmodo with the option to select user types.  Teamie was also similar in this respect.  Both  LMS would allow social presence for student and instructor success.

Assessment was evaluated in both and seemed simple enough. All test question types can be added in both.  They were simple enough to create. 

Providing support is another extremely important element for me for my students.  It is also important for me as well.  Schoology is extremely similar to Edmodo and seemed easy enough to support my students and myself instruction.  Teamie is another story. The FAQs and help were simple enough but not as well developed for the free version.

I am early adopter of technology that will allow my students success in the content I provide.  However, it is important that I to can access and manipulate the technology for this success. It also has to be free due to budget constraints.  My school currently offers Moodle, which is similar to blackboard bit at time can be cumbersome. Edmodo is too simple and Teamie is a little complex.  Teamie also only allows one class on the free account.  I need to create 4 classes for each one I teach in a term.  I teach a total of five classes a year.  That means I need a total of 5 classes. Teamie would not work for me.  I was excited about Teamie and the potential that it has but Schoology is going to be my choice for this project. West, Waddoups , and Graham refer to Everett Rogers model for the adoption of new innovations.  The stages are knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation, confirmation.  Based on these stages, I am at the decision stage ready for implementation.

West, Richard, Gary Waddoup, and Charles R. Graham. "Understanding the Experiences of Instructors as They Adopt a Course Management System." Educational Technology Research and Development 55(1): 1-26. 5 Feb. 2007. Web. 14 Nov. 2015.<http://www.jstor.org/stable/30221227>

Cavus, Nadire, Teyang Zabadi. "Comparison of Open Source Leaning Management Systems." Procedia-Social and Behavorial Science 143(2014): 521-526. 14 Aug. 2014. Web. 14 Nov. 2015. <http://www.sciencedirect.com.cmich.idm.oclc.org/science/article/pii/S1877042814043584 >