Fall 2006 Implementation a.k.a Roll-out: Communication Strategy and Goals
Note: Revised schedule says that we are expanding the pilot program to
more faculty this fall and are NOT doing a full roll-out.
- Gradually introduce the new online collaboration and learning system to UC Davis faculty, students, staff, and other affiliates. (The campus is moving forward with the 'enterprise version' of Sakai.)
- Focus initially on three areas: a) existing users of the MyUCDavis CMS, b) small classes, and c) support for multi-level research /and collaboration among students, instructors, and other academic partners.
- Position the system in support of pedagogy, research, and collaboration needs.
- Diversify the communication approach to include a variety of partners, enablers, and communication tactics.
- Draw on pilots and other campuses' implementations to illustrate the system's easy-to-use features and potential uses.
- Launch first major phase of communications in Spring 2006; target support groups in summer; launch second major phase in preparation for Fall 2006. Ongoing communications thereafter.
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- Functionality now provided through the MyUCDavis course management tools will be part of the new system, and new features will be introduced. Like MyUCDavis, but richer and more flexible.
- Ease of use and stability.
- Integration with major campus systems and data sources.
- Need for a change in pedagogy towards inquiry and collaboration. This is an opportunity for faculty to change how they conceive their teaching - much more as a process of inquiry and less purely as a means of information dissemination.
- Availability of training program and support resources to ease faculty adoption of the new system (before, during, and after Fall 2006).
- Benefits of transitioning from other cm systems (MyUCDavis, homegrown, etc.).
- Focus on WIIFM (What's in it for me?). Includes specific concrete examples of how the tools can be used in support of teaching, learning, collaboration, and research; user-friendly descriptions and explanations for new tools and their functionality.
- Both MyUCDavis and the new system will run concurrently for at least a full academic year to allow faculty ample time to familiarize themselves with the new system and to make the transition.