Desire2Learn Again - Learning Management Systems Revisted

Learning Management Systems Revisited...

I will admit that in the past couple of years I've begun to feel like a Learning Management System (LMS) is perhaps not what our school needs. There are so many wonderful free products that patched together, they really can do much of the same thing.

However, after my week of learning I am re-enthused about our school's use of Desire2Learn (D2L). When we initially went down the LMS road with this product about 8 years ago, we were looking for a "one stop shop", a virtual "shopping mall" of sorts that could bring consistency and reliability to our staff and users.

We are a K-Adult school serving fully online learners, learners using both paper based and online courses, and learners taking just one or two courses with our school while attending another school. Trying to bring all of those needs together into something that works, is needless to say...an art.

As much as I am somewhat cheap...and like a good deal...I have never felt "ripped off" with this product. We have experienced a high level of support when things go sideways and we have never had the feeling their staff are doing things "off the side of their desks". At the annual conference this week, Fusion, it was abundantly apparent that this is a company that walks the talk...and won't be stopping anytime soon.

Evidence??

• In every session I was in, the presenter noted ANY feedback about the product and feature requests users may have had. In my experience, D2L has always responded positively to requests and the input can often be seen in their version upgrades (ready for version 10 in a few weeks - whoot ;))
• Technology is integrated in meaningful ways. To go along with the conference, D2L created an awesome app containing all of the conference information (including a personal schedule that I checked 3 million times...no exaggeration).
• Opportunities to network and connect were EVERYWHERE. There were whole group activities such as the Padres-Astros game at Petco Stadium, and Sunset Cruise/Casino night, and Team competitions giving points for Tweets, photos of the day and other various activities. If you did not connect with anyone it was your choice! 
• Thoroughly organized and totally focused on users' real time experiences (e.g. speakers set up with mics regardless of room size, laptops ready to go, food/drink=happiness, etc.).
• Focusing on the strengths different individuals bring to the table. This is an "All Kinds of Minds" kind of company in my opinion. They have "mined" the spark of individuals in their organization to help the company, and individuals within it to reach personal and company goals and it shows. Presentations were effective because they included both an individual coming at a concept from a pedagogical point of view and a technological point of view. It was a perfect combo for answering questions, making suggestions and supporting each other.
• Asking "How can we do it?" rather than "We can't do it." Everywhere I went, people were engaged in discussions around how to make things better. There was recognition that change is a given. There was no fear associated with change. It only solidified my feeling that this is a company focused on what is best for the user...not just for the provider. There was a feeling of flexibility and fluidity that I so often don't feel in other realms of education.

This is a company that begins with the end in mind and is steadily working toward a vision centred on learners, whether those learners are adults or children. CEO John Baker shared the vision of the company in his keynote, and the inspiring talk from  Rafe Esquith only backed up that vision further with a focus on the learner and our role as educators.

As much as I loved my stay in beautiful San Diego, I am more than ready to get home and focus on how we can make the use of D2L the best it can be for our learners, families, and staff in the upcoming year.

(photos taken at FUSION) PS - Loved the stick on decals everywhere!

Getting to Know You

At the beginning of this year I made a conscious decision to figure out what it means when one says they "know someone". I would love to say "I know" the people on our staff and the learners and families that are a part of our school.

However, I have found I look at each person as a kajillion piece puzzle and I realize there is no possible way I can ever claim to know them all, to know all of the pieces that make them who they are in our world.

So...the question then becomes, "How much do I need to know to feel I know them?" What is my role as an educator and leader in discovering and exploring who these people are? What questions can I ask? Where do I need to be? What do I need to see?

Here are a few thoughts:

What questions can I ask? What do I need to listen for?, What do I need to look for?:

• Ask questions that are deeper than "How are you?" or "How was your weekend?"...Often the responses are similar to what you get when you ask a child "So, what did you do at school today?". Instead, I like to ask things like "What was your day high/low?" "What was the part of your weekend that made you smile most?" "When do you feel you matter most?" "I noticed...and wondered how you felt about that?"
• Listen for the excitement when someone shares his/her passion or his/her low moments, learn more about what is motivating or demotivating for the person.
• Watch interactions and ask questions e.g. "I noticed when you are reading to the kids you are so expressive. Do you have a background in drama or storytelling?"

Where do I need to be?

• I easily have enough work to keep me in my office glued to my computer until I'm 100 years old. For that reason, I figure I may as well leave some of it until later :-) Instead, I feel that although answering the 100+ emails in my inbox would bring a certain level of satisfaction it would not have the overall effect and result I'm looking for.  I'm looking to build relationships so I can understand, support and serve the people that surround me. To do that I need to know them...and to know them I need to spend time with them. So...I try to have informal conversations wherever...in the photocopy room, in the staff room, hallway, classrooms etc.
•  I also try to get out on as many field trips as I can  because it is a great opportunity to see people interact with kids in a different environment. I also get to experience the camaraderie that comes with working together to create something kids love to do. There are also usually a lot of parents on the trip as well so I get to know more about them - which in turn helps me to know more about their children and the needs in their families.

What do I need to see?

• I need to see people in a variety of settings and doing a variety of things. This means I need to help create these opportunities and be a part of them myself. I need to see how they react or feel in different situations to know how I can support and serve them best. 
• I need to spend time in people's personal spaces with them...pictures, quotes, screensavers, books, etc. can all be clues as to what the person sees as important in his/her life and can be conversation starters. Not everyone likes to share about themselves but I at least want them to know I am interested.

It would be much easier to sit in my office, answer my emails and complain about how busy I am...instead, I plan to continue my vision to know the people that surround me each day, that are a huge part of my life and life's energy and to hopefully say I know them better than I did before.

Waiting for the bus...

Image credit I'm surprised I even noticed the man on the side of the highway as I drove in sideways rain and wind trying to suck me off the road. He was standing at the end of his driveway, looking down the highway...waiting...

Being a teacher, and well aware of the time (late to an after school meeting again), I knew he was waiting for the school bus to arrive, delivering his children home after their day at school.

I smiled as I thought back to my own bus days. My Mom was always waiting at the end of our driveway...waiting to hear about my day at school and what experiences I had. Really, I cannot remember anything specific I told her, but I know most days I "bounced" off the bus full of smiles, chatter and excitement about new things I'd learned and what my friends and I had done that day. I remember my Mom's peaceful smile as she realized all was well with my world.

One thing about me is that I seem to have thinking that spins quickly. After I reminisced about my own positive experiences getting off the bus in a pretty positive light I started thinking about the kids that get off the bus with tears in their eyes and a drag in their step after yet another difficult day.

I remember those kids. They looked out the window the whole way home on the bus. They slumped in their seats and no one ever sat with them unless they had to...I wonder what they told their parent(s) when they got off the bus...
Did they burst into tears? Did they share what pain they really felt? Did they tell about how they didn't really connect with anyone or feel they were learning? Did their parent feel their heart squeeze with agony at the sight of their child's crushed expression?

Then...as my mind spins yet again, I think about my own daughter starting school next year. She, as I did, will more than likely take the bus to school. I will wait for the bus wondering what she will look like when the doors open each day. I will read her face and body language and will hope that I see a look of contentment to be home and that she "spills over" with excitement as she tells me about her day.

As an educator I plan to continue to work toward creating a space for all learners...so when they exit the bus they are proud of themselves and feel they belong...