The overall goal of the Learning Management Systems (LMS) project is to provide education staff with a vehicle to link staff to professional development opportunities to meet their needs in order to enhance student learning.

During year two of the grant, two specific goals have been identified:

• By June 2004, provide education staff with a vehicle to link staff to professional development opportunities to meet their needs in order to enhance student learning through the integration of technology.
• Build internal capacity for the effective use of learning management systems.

The LMS project is working cooperatively with the Online Profile for Teachers and Administrators Consortium and Project OPEN to accomplish these goals. Currently, the online profile is being developed and a listing of courses is being compiled.

The LMS is piloting two systems- Blackboard (being used in Baltimore City, Frederick, and Prince George’s County) and Desire2Learn (being piloted in Allegany, Baltimore, Carroll, Queen Anne’s, Washington, and Wicomico counties).

One system administrator and two Desire2Learn (D2L) training sessions for instructors were held in January and February. Heather Baker and Kate Olijnyk from Desire2Learn provided instruction on the key components of the software. Approximately 26 people attended the sessions. Each LSS from the D2L pilot group, Prince George’s County, and Charles County (who is not currently a member of the consortium but is using Desire2Learn) were represented.

Visits to Baltimore City, Frederick and Prince George’s County were conducted to observe how they are currently utilizing the Blackboard platform. Two components of the Bb system that the counties want to address are the user management and the content management system piece. A meeting of the LMS members using Blackboard will occur in March after the content management system has been purchased.

A contract for Desire2Learn is being reviewed. It provides funds for seat licenses and funds for each LSS to customize their portal. A line item of $15,000 has also been contracted to pilot an integration project involving user management software. We are now currently working with each LSS and Desire2Learn to begin the customization process.

Lead County: Carroll County
Grant Director: Rob Caples
Grant Facilitator: Bob Cole RACOLEJ@k12.carr.org
MSDE Facilitator: Liz Glowa lglowa@msde.state.md.us

For more information about LMS, contact Bob Cole.