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Streamline Your Institution’s Edtech
Get a Learning
Management Platform.
1Why Higher Ed Institutions Need a
Holistic Solution for the Future
Technology has impacted our lives in ways we never Otherwise, institutions will be forced to switch
imagined, both inside and outside of the classroom. technologies regularly, and pay dearly with wasted
Faculty must learn to not only coexist with ever-
changing tech, but to leverage it to engage with
today’s students and maximise learning outcomes. choices at the high cost of negatively impacting
learning outcomes and student retention/recruitment.
A lack of options isn’t the issue—institutions are
drowning in a sea of edtech choices. With far-reaching Yet, suitable edtech solutions aren’t the only issue
consequences, they must focus on the long-term institutions face on any given day …
vision and goals of their institution and focus on long-
term solutions that can evolve alongside faculty and
student needs.
Table of Contents
Challenges in Higher Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Trends in Higher Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
How a Learning Management Platform Approach Addresses Today’s Challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The Learning Management Platform Approach
Delivers Choice and Scalability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Prioritises Student Achievement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Promotes Openness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Simplifies Teaching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Accelerates Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Creates Long-term Partnerships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
2Challenges in Higher
Education
For modern institutions, there’s a tidal wave of
higher ed students harder than ever, including:
NE ED FOR STR O N G , R E S PO N S I V E
INF ORM AT I ON S E CUR I T Y
There is pressure for institutions to prioritise
efforts to address today’s technology threats
and challenges 1
FO CUS ON ST UD EN T S UCC E S S I N S I DE
AN D OUTS I DE T HE C L AS S
Seventy-four percent of higher ed institutions in the
PER CEIVED LACK OF CAREER AN D JO B
US alone1 have honed their focus on student success,
READINESS
streamlining learning initiatives and considering the
entire student experience, from application through When it comes to employment outcomes, there is
to alumni. pressure on universities to “ensure that their graduates
meet employers’ expectations.” 4 Employer perception is
that candidates lack the ability to perform in important
areas at a high standard.
T EC H NOLOGY ST R AT E GY
While IT functions may have been siloed in the past,
2
an institution-wide strategy is imperative to attaining
strategic objectives related to students, faculty, and
the institution as a whole.
INST I T UT I ON
Access to data has never been greater, but a culture
that includes proper management, governance,
and analysis of this information2 must be adopted to
make the most informed strategic decisions. “An
education system can transform itself from being
data-rich to data-driven, and thus better able to
3
meet its goal of learning for all.”
3Trends Shaping Higher LMS
Learning
To further complicate the learning landscape, current
trends are forcing institutions to adapt much quicker to
change. Trends impacting higher education include:
• Student-centered institutions - colleges
and universities are using tech to go beyond
transactional functions to provide a more holistic
approach that enhances each student’s experience
and outcomes.2
• Personalised learning, competency-based, and
outcomes-based assessments - technology is
enabling institutions to think about shifting from
time-based/seat-time structures to those that focus
CH AL LENGES TO OVERCOME:
on how students “show what you know.” 5
• Micro-credentialing- Badges, portfolios, and Need for strong, responsive information security
alternative evidence of learning are a new means
Focus on student success inside and outside the class
of demonstrating comprehension. The emergence
Implementation of an institution-wide IT strategy
of micro-credentials provides insights beyond
degrees and transcripts.” 6 Transition to a data-driven culture
• Blended Learning - With over 1,000 online Perceived lack of job and career readiness
education providers in Australia alone, generating
over $3.3 billion in revenue, blended learning is
T RENDS TO EMBRACE:
becoming big business.7 Blended learning skills
are likely to create practices vital to students Student-centered institutions
thriving in the workplaces of the future.
Personalised learning, competency-based, and
• Improved access to data faculty can actually use -
outcome-based assessments
accessibility to valuable data empowers institutions Micro-credentialing - Badges, portfolios, and alternate
to leverage analytics to enhance learning outcomes evidence of learning
and continuously improve.2 Blended Learning
Increased demand for online and distance learning
Better access to (and use of) data and analytics
T U RN OBSTACLES INTO OPPORT UN IT Y
What do many of these challenges and trends have
in common? They can be addressed (and even
leveraged) with a holistic approach to learning
management technology.
4Meet Today’s Challenges 3 . PROMOT ES
Head-On With a Learning OPENNESS
Management Platform Interoperability among edtech tools reduces
costs, allows institutions to customise the learning
Approach experience, and prepares students for the next
There is no one product that will magically solve the stages of learning via balanced exposure to the latest
myriad of challenges and trends modern institutions learning technologies.
must navigate. However, there are steps higher ed
institutions can take to streamline and accelerate 4. SIMPL IFIES
TEACH ING
The right edtech tools fight attrition by making
With the proliferation of edtech tools, apps, and
teaching easier for faculty through streamlined
digital resources available, too much tech leads to
workflows and a single login. A platform enables
lost learning opportunities.
reasonable timeframe, and gives faculty access to
the data they can actually use to provide targeted,
When institutions take a comprehensive, learning
responsive instruction.
management system approach instead of cobbling
together a disparate set of tools, they can harness the
power, flexibility, and potential for elevated learning.
5. ACCELERAT ES
LEARNING
Consistent, familiar learning environments (physical
A single learning management platform acts as
and digital) improve the classroom and distance
the hub for additional tools and resources used in
learning experiences. Seamless integration of multiple
and out of the classroom, eliminating technology
tools goes a long way in reducing obstacles to
roadblocks for faculty and students.
learning, but achievement is even greater when those
tools share consistent user experiences. Students
A PL AT FORM A P P R OAC H: should spend time learning content, not how to
navigate yet another software application.
1 . DEL I V E R S CHO I C E
A ND SCA L A BI L I T Y
6. CREATES LONG TERM
Budgets need to go further, and a unified platform PARTNERSH IPS
delivers the flexibility to pay only for what’s Challenges and trends institutions face will continue
needed now, craft the tech unique to your learning to evolve, and keeping up requires a partner that will
environments, yet still adapt to future needs without help them to respond, adapt, and thrive. This way,
having to change providers. colleges and universities can remain at the forefront
of learning technology while keeping the focus firmly
2. PRIOR I T I SE S ST UD E N T rooted in student achievement.
ACH I E V E ME N T
Many platforms expand into diversionary solutions,
seemingly more for tech’s sake and less for learning’s.
The right edtech platform maintains the focus on
student achievement, influencing the inclusion or
5
exclusion of additional edtech tools.A Platform Approach:
1. Delivers Choice and
Scalability
Every institution has its own priorities, goals, and
needs. The right learning management platform can
be tailored to where you are now, and scale as your
needs, class sizes, and learning initiatives grow.
A platform made up of a powerful set of highly
integrated learning products enables institutions
to get all the features and functions they need,
while eliminating those they don’t. When budgets T H E PLATFORM APPROACH VERSUS
are already spread thin, why spend resources on a STANDALONE TOOLS
platform that’s way more than you need?
There’s no shortage of standalone edtech tools that
provide needed functionality. However, a hodgepodge
It’s easy for educators to get excited about the
of tools can create more problems than they are
next big thing and lose sight of the most important
thing: the students. But in the education industry,
time to less-than-ideal outcomes.
initiative overload can hinder the transformational
change most institutions need. When nearly 70%
When weighing the status quo of existing tools against
of corporate change initiatives fail,8 shortening
a more comprehensive approach, consider the
the list of initiatives and focusing on one—student
following:
achievement
get there.
• If your current system doesn’t allow for
customisation, how much are you paying for the
Of course, no college or university can predict the
bells and whistles you don’t need or use?
many priorities that may shift over time. It’s imperative
to think through how new trends and technology,
• If a platform can’t grow with you, what are the
costs associated with having to change later on?
changes in legislation, and major shifts in student
enrollment can impact the overall strategic vision (as
• Is your current system holding your institution,
your faculty, and worse yet, your students, back?
well as student learning outcomes).
• If you don’t have a platform in place, how much
is that costing you each year in faculty frustration
and lost learning opportunities?
Last, but not least, are the licenses you have now
even being used?
6UN US E D S OF T WA R E L I CE N S ES R E A LLY
AD D UP
9
According to a four-year study on unused software
“Underutilisation/Non-utilisation
that covered 3.6 million seats and 1,800 software
titles across 129 leading corporations, the education is the number-one culprit that
industry was the worst offender of all 14 sectors
studied, with an average of 47% waste, compared to drives up education costs and
an average of 37% in other industries.
weighs on student success.
Because educational software licenses are re-issued
more frequently, the opportunity for software sprawl,
When these activities are not
or the overlapping and non-use of licenses, is more
fully utilised, two unfortunate
prevalent than in other industries.
things occur. First, money is
In addition to wasted dollars, not keeping close tabs
on software licenses and usage can also lead to wasted. Second, and most
increased data security risks. Many IT departments
must reference multiple tools and reports just to get importantly, student
an idea of software usage and deployment. And since
the average cost of a data breach in Australia was
achievement suffers.”
$2.51 million in 2017,10 institutions should prioritise close
-Adam Pearson,
management of their software usage and security. Co-Founder of Glimpse K12
11
When a significant chunk of licenses go underutilised,
it’s hard to make the case to invest in a new platform.
But the increased exposure to cyberattacks alone
should be motivation enough to consider a learning
management platform approach.
When evaluating potential solutions, the likelihood
that it will be fully used must be considered
carefully. In addition, the platform’s ability to adapt
along with an ever-changing landscape should be a
deciding factor for any edtech solution.
To help assess the utility and ease of tech, some
institutions try the pilot program approach. Digging
into a platform’s track record with other colleges and
universities can also shed some light.
7Do you know whether your platform is supporting or
restricting student achievement? Can you connect the
dots between your edtech and learning performance?
The more tools you use, the more challenging it may be
to track (and influence) positive change.
SO MANY TOOLS, SO L IT T LE FOCUS
All it takes is a simple search for educational
resources in the App Store to see more than 75,000
apps12 that cover a wide range of subjects, grades,
and learning styles. Combine those apps with
online courses, learning management systems and
immersive tech providers, and it’s clear the edtech
industry is saturated, with 813 funded companies and
$9.52 billion USD in global investments as in 2017. 13
A Platform Approach:
2. Prioritises Student With an endless supply of à la carte options, it’s easy
to lose sight of the common goal. Partnering with a
Achievement learning platform that uses student achievement as its
True North ensures achievement trumps the trendiest
features of the day.
There are many means in education, but there
should only be one end: student achievement. In
higher education, this success often means going
T ECH NOLOGY ALONE WIL L NOT S O LV E
beyond keeping students on track to graduate, TH E CH AL LENGES EDU CATORS A N D
especially if their courses are online. It also means STUDENTS FACE.
providing them with the skills and credentials required
Only when the right platform is coupled with
for the modern workplace.
professional development for teachers, thoughtful
implementation, and consistent engagement will
As education edtech evolves, it’s tempting to want
change be possible.
to use the newest, shiniest solutions on the market.
However, a disjointed approach can lead to disjointed
results.
When considering potential edtech platforms,
institutions should begin by evaluating how well a
new education management platform will support
its primary function—improving learning. A robust
platform enables districts to become hyperfocused
on improving student outcomes that drive career
readiness by streamlining education.
8THE GRA DES A R E I N : E DT E C H A Platform Approach:
ENH A NCE S L EA R N I N G
Edtech can improve student success in a range of
3. Promotes Openness
ways—from flipped classrooms to blended learning
Open architecture may be a buzzword, but it’s also a
that utilises digital and in-person instruction.
must when it comes to getting the most mileage out of
an institution’s edtech budget.
Multiple studies have been conducted on whether
online learning can enhance student achievement.
Without open edtech solutions, colleges and
Its effectiveness has been proven significant in
universities are restricted by the platform (or even,
courses, including:
their own developers), in their ability to implement
the right tools, access the right data, and ultimately
In a research article entitled “Evaluating the flipped
create a precise learning environment unique to their
classroom approach in Asian higher education:
needs.
Perspectives from students and teachers”14 The results
suggest that the flipped classroom approach has
An open learning platform enables educators
substantial potential to fulfil the three basic cognitive
to leverage their favorite tools that use industry
needs among university students in the field of education.
standards like Learning Tools Interoperability® (LTI),
including all edtech solutions listed in the popular Edu
English as a second language (ESL) - more than App Center.17
5,000 university students were evaluated using
15
blended learning and traditional face-to-face
approaches. ESL students who took a blended WH AT DOES “OPEN” MEAN?
learning approach had better outcomes than those
who were taught face-to-face. Open source is the practice of making program source
code openly available to users and developers. In
stark contrast to closed, on-premise software, open-
W H AT ST U D E N TS HAV E TO SAY A BOU T source code can be edited and shared with other
DIGI TA L LE A R N I N G T E C H
users and developers.
Test scores aren’t the only proof positive of digital
learning’s impact... Open-source platforms provide18 :
• Flexibility - open-source solutions provide
A recent McGraw-Hill survey of 1,005 college students developers with free underlying code they can
enrolled at a U.S. University found the following attitudes customise to create a tailored piece of software.
about digital learning technology (DLT): 16 • Quality - the open-source community is one that
works together to identify bugs or software issues,
then shares them with the entire network.
60%
“It improved my grades”
• Ability to start small - you can build on existing
“It made me better prepared for classes” 48% community versions of software to customise what
you need instead of committing to more bells and
47%
whistles.
“DLT is easy to use” 71%
It is “very helpful” or “extremely helpful” in retaining new concepts 65%
9Look for an open platform that also supports the ANOTH ER PLAT FORM ALTERNAT IV E :
latest LTI standard, which enables developers, CLOSED, PROPRIETARY TECH
faculty and students to easily and securely connect
Closed edtech platforms are manually installed and
learning applications and tools with platforms
housed on a local server instead of the cloud. These
like learning management systems (LMSs) in a
solutions have several drawbacks:
secure and standard manner, without the need for
expensive custom programming.
• They require on-site tech support and ongoing
maintenance.
Open source does have some drawbacks. You must
host the platform yourself and use developers to
• The institution must maintain data security.
create and customise what you need. In addition,
• Accessibility is limited to devices that have the
software installed on them, compared to a cloud-
you’ll need to invest significant upfront time and
based solution that can be accessed on any
capital for development and testing.
device.
SA AS : A N A LT ER N AT I V E TO O P E N
S OU RCE TH E GOLDILOCKS APPROACH TO
L EARNING MANAGEMENT SOFTWA R E?
In addition to open-source tools, institutions can use
OPENSAAS.
proprietary, software-as-a-service (SaaS) platforms.
With a SaaS solution, colleges and universities “OpenSaas” learning management platforms combine
typically pay a subscription or per-user fee and speed of implementation with the flexibility to
receive a ready-to-go solution. customise. For example, a SaaS platform that also
includes an open-source API and works seamlessly
Benefits of a SaaS platform include19 : with LTI Advantage can provide the best of both
Speed - The solution is ready to deploy without worlds in a single, scalable solution:
significant upfront development time.
Low upfront cost - There’s no upfront development or • Fast implementation
testing, and the vendor handles hosting. • Proven functionality
Scalability - Since costs are typically per license or • Low initial costs
user, districts have the ability to scale up or down as • Total customisation and scalability
their needs change. • Low to no maintenance
Experimentation - In contrast to open-source solutions • Vendor tech support
that require a lot of early testing and investment, SaaS • High reliability
allows for quick testing and the ability to cancel your • Security
subscription if the solution isn’t a good fit.
Does your current edtech make it easy to take
Some SaaS platforms feature integrations to customise advantage of all the benefits of open? If not, your
the tools and experience, but there are usually
limitations. Having an open application programming
interface (API) allows reliable and flexible access to
the LMS data, while seamlessly integrating with other
interactions such as student information systems (SIS),
automating reports, and more.
10HOW CLOUD UPT IME T RANSLAT E S TO
ANNUAL DOWNT IME 21 :
Open, cloud-based edtech
platforms seamlessly integrate
with the tools your teachers
and students use every day,
like Google Apps, Windows,
YouTube, and even Alexa. When the power of the cloud is combined with
the flexibility of an open SaaS platform, institutions
can take advantage of the reliability, flexibility,
and customisation that go a long way in enabling
learning.
EDTECH FORECAST: I N CR E AS ED CLOUD
COV E RAG E
According to a recent MeriTalk survey,20 only 39%
of applications used at colleges in the US are
cloud-based. However, that number is projected to
climb to 62% by 2021.
Cloud computing provides benefits near and dear to
an institution’s objectives, including:
• Reduced cost of ownership
• Greater use of analytics
• Increased adoption for mobile learning
A cloud-based platform is the clear choice when
99.95%
reliability, schools will experience total annual
downtime of just 4 hours and 3 minutes.26 Cloud-
based solutions use automation and fault tolerance
to maintain reliability rather than having to wait on
troubleshooting by internal support teams. In some
cases, this adds up to annual downtime figures that
11A Platform Approach:
4. Simplifies Teaching
Chances are, your faculty members didn’t go into A platform approach is key for giving educators
teaching for the heavy non-instructional workload more time to do just that—providing the flexibility
of grading quizzes, handing out tests, and other to add features and integrations to personalise
administrative tasks. They chose this profession to their content while enjoying a single sign-on and
better students’ lives. consistent user interface (UI).
Modern tools and priorities can either get in the way
Plus, using a cloud-based platform will allow anytime,
of their mission, or they can simplify how your faculty
anywhere access to students who may need to use
works and amplify the results.
their own devices at home to complete assignments
or distance learning coursework.
A learning management platform minimises the
number of digital tools an instructor must access
daily, adding less work and more flow to the workflow.
Less time spent signing on to multiple devices and
entering information into disparate systems means
more time for personalised attention to student needs
and learning styles.
Professors and instructors see the value in edtech
solutions, and delivering a single solution that ties
all of their tools together is a great way to help them
help students learn. The right platform also supports
their unique instruction styles and choice of materials
rather than hindering them.
How would you rank your current edtech when it
comes to simplifying teaching? How about its ability to
allow faculty to customise learning in and outside of
their classrooms?
12Australian Higher Ed Students
Crave A Digitised Experience
American Faculties Give Survey findings from more than 1,000 Australian
university students show: 24
Tech Props
Which of the following would be your
One survey of faculty members at colleges and preferred way to attend university?
universities throughout the U.S.22 found that nearly
two-thirds of respondents (73%) believe technology
has made their jobs “easier” or “much easier.” And
85% feel it’s made a positive impact on their teaching
Educators and students already see the value of
21% • Virtual campus - completely online
edtech in the classroom, yet there’s some work
48% • Blended Learning - a combination of
left to do. Especially since educational institutions face-to-face lessons and online delivery
in the US squander 15 hours a day 23 (that’s almost 31% • On-campus - all course content delivered
via on-campus lectures or tutorials
two full workdays!) due to poorly integrated software.
How important is your ability to access
course resources and materials from
According to a 2015 survey by the Instructure Research anywhere, at any time, from any device
and Education team, 23 US educators believe technology (phone, tablet, PC, smart TV, etc)?
is making a positive impact in metrics that simplify
their jobs.
SAY IT MAKES THEM A
81% MORE EFFECTIVE
37% • Extremely important
BELIEVE IT MAKES MORE
66% STUDENTS ENGAGED
31% • Very important
19% • Important
11% • Somewhat important
SAY IT HAS MADE EDUCATION
84% MORE EFFICIENT 2% • Not important
How important is your ability to access
2 in 5 SAY IT SAVES THEM AT LEAST course resources and materials from
3 HOURS PER WEEK. anywhere, at any time, from any device
(phone, tablet, PC, smart TV, etc)?
17% • Yes
39% • No
37% • Maybe
13
7% • Don’t knowA Platform: Why is this important? A consistent learning
5. Accelerates Learning environment provides students with friction-free
learning daily, with a single sign-on and familiar
(on a personal(ised) level) UX throughout every tool and application. When
everything looks and works the same way, the tech
Because there are only so many hours in a day, a
becomes second nature and learning becomes front
unified edtech platform helps educators provide
and center.
personalised learning that wouldn’t be possible
otherwise. Learning objectives, pace, and content can
26
all be tailored to the individual, which can enhance
• Be easy to use and navigate
outcomes for students of all levels.
• Provide ongoing feedback
• Keep students engaged with use of visuals
The right learning management platform enables
• Evoke positive emotions
teachers to take a personalised approach that can
help all students achieve more.
If you’re unsure whether students are experiencing
consistent, familiar learning environments, try these
CONS I ST ENT E N V I R O N ME N TS I M P ROVE
techniques:
L EA RNI NG OUTCO ME S
With so many other things competing for students’ •
attention, disparate edtech tools can only add more used in the classroom. Do any of them share the
distraction. Research shows that consistent, familiar same functionality or interface?
learning environments increase student achievement. • Assess common questions and sticking points.
Are you getting a lot of similar questions on how
In a US study published by the Journal of Technology, to use the applications? Are there certain places
Learning and Assessment, students were given a where learners are getting stuck?
math test using either a computer or pen and paper. • Enlist the help of an objective third party. Ask
Students who used pen and paper scored higher a friend or colleague to play the role of student,
than the computer users. The study suggested that then note how much they struggle with edtech
“familiarity with computers may matter when taking tools.
a computer-based mathematics test.” 25
Edtech tools can help or hinder learning, but at what
cost? Valuable student attention spent navigating
UN I F ORM DES I G N = UN L I MI T ED
LEA RNI NG POT E N T I A L disparate tools, or the institution’s investment in a
consistent platform?
While technology can enhance learning, there may
be a slight learning curve. Using a unified learning
management platform with a consistent user
experience (UX) allows students to become familiar
with a learning technology platform once, then
carry that knowledge through to graduation without
having to learn an entirely new platform or set of
tools.
14WH AT TO LOOK FOR WH EN CH O O S IN G
A PL ATFORM PARTNER
There are many costs that go beyond the initial price
tag of a new edtech platform. Carefully weigh the
costs of a successful implementation and ongoing
support by asking:
A Platform Approach:
6. Creates Long Is there a sandbox environment where
Term Partnerships faculty can test-drive the platform in real-
world scenarios?
Higher education looks vastly different than it used Is the pricing clear and transparent?
to, yet the cored needs for effective intruction isn’t Do you feel confident the implementation
going anywhere. will be successful?
Will the vendor be there to support you
As postsecondary schools—and life in general— post-implementation?
become more digital, it’s imperative to partner with What is the guaranteed reliability or uptime
a learning platform vendor that can help you adapt of the platform?
as challenges and trends do. Choosing the wrong Does the vendor have a vision and long-
platform (or no platform at all) can result in wasted term viability?
budget, time, faculty frustration, and loss of student Does the platform have happy customers in
engagement. higher education?
Can the platform scale with your institution
Selecting a learning management platform is a time- and its goals?
and resource-intensive task. Because the decision has Will it actually get used by faculty and
far-reaching implications, you’ll need to make sure students?
there’s an infrastructure in place to ensure support
long after the sale.
Trust, transparency, and collaboration should also be
considered when weighing learning platform partners.
15W H AT ’ S AT STA K E ?
Research conducted in collaboration with the
University of Oxford found that nearly half of all large
IT projects fail during implementation, with 45% going
over budget, 7% missing desired timelines, and 56% H OW CAN INST ITUT IONS ENSUR E A
falling short of predicted value. 27 SMOOTH , SWIFT IMPLEMENTAT I O N ?
• Work with your platform vendor to set key
milestones that are relevant to your organisation.
% of IT Projects with Given Issue (For those with Often, it’s the evaluation of LMS solutions that
Budgets >$15 Million in 2010 dollars)
causes delays.
PROJECT AVERAGE COST AVERAGE SCHEDULE AVERAGE BENEFITS
• Ensure your internal review process has realistic
TYPE OVERRUN OVERRUN SHORTFALL
milestones and accounts for the unexpected.
• Clearly communicate these milestones with the
SOFTWARE 66 33 17
learning management platform provider.
NONSOFTWARE 43 3.6 133
• Ask to see a track record or speak with previous
TOTAL 45 7 56 higher ed clients about their implementation
experience.
PROJECTS
However, wasted time and money are only a fraction
of what’s at stake. The edtech decisions you make
impact the learning outcomes of your students for
years to come.
Due diligence in selecting a solution is vital for such a
substantial financial commitment as implementing new
edtech.
16Conclusion
The host of challenges and trends modern Choosing a platform that can adapt, scale, and provide
institutions must navigate aren’t going away seamless integration with open third-party tools can
anytime soon. Nor can edtech solve all of them. help institutions leverage the same platform as they
However, when institutions take a more holistic, grow and shift priorities.
platform approach to their learning management
tools, they attain benefits that cannot be leveraged If you’re ready to evaluate edtech platforms, download
using disjointed edtech applications or a standalone the “Higher Ed Institution’s Guide to Choosing a
LMS. Learning Management Platform,”28 or ask Canvas
for additional resources.
A platform approach helps faculty elevate learning
while simplifying their administrative tasks, all while
providing:
• Simple, intuitive interface - students can learn
the platform once, and carry that knowledge
throughout their entire undergraduate (and even
graduate) programs.
• Single sign-on - only one password to remember
allows faculty and students to seamlessly tap into
countless educational resources.
• Open software - ability to hit the ground running
from Day 1 and customise the platform to suit their
needs over time.
• Cloud-based platform - nearly 100% uptime
without the need for onsite tech support or
maintenance.
• Scalability - flexibility to pay only for what you
need and quickly adapt in an ever-changing
landscape.
17Endnotes
1 https://itbrief.com.au/story/education-prime-target-for-cyber-attacks-report-finds
2 https://er.educause.edu/articles/2018/1/top-10-it-issues-2018-the-remaking-of-higher-education
3 https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/toward-data-driven-education-systems.pdf
4 https://www.qs.com/bridging-skills-gap-australian-universities-still-hold-keys-employability/
5 https://www.gettingsmart.com/2019/08/four-mega-trends-reshaping-global-learning/
6 https://about.unimelb.edu.au/teaching-and-learning/innovation-initiatives/pedagogy-and-curriculum-innovation/micr
o-credentialing
7 https://www.instructure.com/canvas/en-au/pdf/2020-vision-edtech-trends-watch.pdf
8 https://hbr.org/2000/05/cracking-the-code-of-change
9 https://iaitam.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/The-Real-Cost-of-Unused-Software.pdf
10 https://www.ibm.com/downloads/cas/6GW7BYZZ
11 https://www.glimpsek12.com/blog/schoolsoftwarespending
12 https://www.apple.com/ca/education/ipad/apps-books-and-more/
13 https://medium.com/the-edtech-world/edtech-landscape-743716608675
14 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/2331186X.2019.1638147
15 https://eric.ed.gov/?q=blended+learning+college+achievement&id=EJ1175017
16 https://s3.amazonaws.com/ecommerce-prod.mheducation.com/unitas/highered/explore/sites/study-trends/2017-dig
ital-trends-survey-results.pdf
17 https://www.eduappcenter.com/
18 https://enterprisersproject.com/article/2015/1/top-advantages-open-source-offers-over-proprietary-solutions
19 https://www.answercart.com/blog/opensource-vs-saas
20 https://www.meritalk.com/study/destinationcloud/
21 https://itnext.io/if-youre-serious-about-availability-cloud-is-the-only-option-f8cb142fecda
22 https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/08/23/most-faculty-say-technology-has-made-their-jobs-easier.aspx
23 http://www.nsip.edu.au/uptake-sif-usa
24 https://www.technologyonecorp.com/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/108274/DSN19_146_Student_Survey_Results_
Report_04.pdf
25 https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ838621.pdf
26 https://www.gettingsmart.com/2019/04/how-user-design-can-impact-engagement-and-learning-for-k-12-students/
27 https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/delivering-large-scale-it-projects-on-
time-on-budget-and-on-value
28 https://www.instructure.com/canvas/en-au/landing/higher-ed/downloads/get-your-higher-ed-guide2
18Additional References
• https://www.aacu.org/leap/public-opinion-research/2015-survey-results
• https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/01/28/slowgrowth-competency-based-education-survey-findsinterest-a
nd-optimism-about-it
• https://challengemap.digitalpromise.org/assessment/21st-century-skillsassessment/
• https://er.educause.edu/blogs/2018/8/from-vr-and-ar-to-our-xr-futuretransforming-higher-education
• https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/article/2018/01/05/new-us-data-show-continuedgrowth-college-
students-studying
• http://esheninger.blogspot.com/2017/08/avoiding-initiativeoverload.html
• https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/article/2018/07/10/canvas-catches-and-maybe-passesblackboard-
top-learning
• https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2018/10/31/campus-itleaders-face-continued-budget-challenges
• https://library.educause.edu/resources/2016/3/2015-cds-benchmarking-report
• https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/technology-and-learning/how-much-does-higher-ed-spend-it
• https://www.campuscomputing.net/content/2018/10/31/the-2018-campus-computingsurvey.
• https://hechingerreport.org/college-students-predicted-to-fall-by-more-than15-after-the-year-2025/
• https://library.educause.edu/-/media/files/library/2018/10/studentitstudy2018
• https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alpaslan_Sahin/publication/280945591_Flipping_a_College_Calculus_
Course_A_Case_Study/links/55cdfa7108aee19936f97c21.pdf
• https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/171512/.
• https://www.instructure.com/canvas/pdf/effective-use-technology-education.pdf
• https://blog.cengage.com/college-studentsuse-of-digital-learning-tools/
• https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator_cga.asp.
• https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions
19Instructure.com/Canvas/EN-AU
TeamAPAC@Instructure.com
© 2019, Instructure Inc. All rights reserved.
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