Learning Management Systems (LMS) constitute a package of tools to deliver knowledge, grading, communication, and evaluation of individual progress. Blackboard is one of the most popular LMS in the US, as it provides an intuitive interface along with all of the necessary parameters required for teachers and students, such as Announcements, Calendar, Tasks, Grades, Addresses, and Personal Information, which could be utilized to facilitate learning process effectively (Nyabawa, 2016). The project management plan for the implementation of Blackboard in a school setting will include the following:
– Project initiation: The objectives would include the improvement of the learning experience for teachers and students and the creation of a more transparent process. The requirements for software chosen are cost-efficiency, ubiquitousness, and simplicity of use for teachers and students. Blackboard satisfies these requirements.
– Scope planning: During this phase, the work that needs to be done will be identified (Watt, 2014). It will involve software and learning materials procurement, installation of Blackboard on all relevant computers, and teacher training.
– Schedule planning: Time and human resources will be allocated towards specific tasks in this phase (Watt, 2014). The IT department will be assigned to installing Blackboard and rearranging the computers and infrastructure to ensure access in all classrooms. Teachers will be tasked to learn the system and transfer their knowledge to students.
– Resource and budget planning: Certain material resources would need to be allocated to implement the project (Watt, 2014). Blackboard software will need to be purchased; learning materials shall be provided to teachers. Additional expenses would involve rearranging and upgrading the existing IT structure to fit the new, digitized form of education.
– Change management. Teachers, parents, and students must be explained why Blackboard is an improvement in both the short-term and long-term perspectives. Transformational leadership is considered to be an appropriate approach (Watt, 2014).
Project Proposal
Project Objectives
The objectives of the proposed project are as follows:
- Improve the learning experience by providing convenient access to tasks, materials, schedules, and homework for students and teachers;
- Enabling transparent communication visible to everyone, ensuring a lack of bias when grading;
- Reduce homework tardiness and increase the levels of engagement found in students.
- Streamline and simplify the distribution and grading work for teachers.
- Make full use of the IT resources available to the school.
Scope of the Project
The purpose of this project is to introduce Blackboard LMS as the primary studying, grading, and information communication tool for students, teachers, and parents alike (Ensminger, 2016). Blackboard is one of the most recognized LMS tools available to the US market. As it stands, the following actions have been identified in the scope of the project:
- Software procurement. Purchasing a perpetual license for Blackboard can cost around 20,000 dollars in order to cover all computers connected to it (Nyabawa, 2016).
- Software installation. Integrating the new LMS into the school’s system requires effort and money. The installation fees are estimated at 25,000 dollars (Nyabawa, 2016).
- Teacher training. This step involves distributing learning materials to teachers and practicing using the new LMS in order to then be able to educate students in its implementation. Estimated costs for this step are at 2,000 dollars.
Schedule Planning
The adoption of the new LMS system is estimated to take three months. The evaluation and procurement of Blackboard would take less than two weeks required in order to analyze and compare the system to other potential products on the market and make sure that it suits all of the school’s predetermined parameters and budget constraints. The installation of Blackboard across all computers, the rearrangement of the IT architecture, and the upgrading of available systems to the required standard of performance will take up to 2 months. During the installation period, it would be possible to run localized versions of the LMS in order to educate teachers to use the program. Overall, it is estimated that the LMS would be fully operational in 3 months, making it possible to finish the process during summer vacations.
Resources and Materials
As it was previously mentioned, the total costs of purchasing and installing the LMS would amount to 45,000 dollars (Nyabawa, 2016). Additional charges would include buying and printing learning materials, buying new computers, and upgrading the servers in order to handle the extra information load placed upon them by the LMS. These additional expenses are estimated to be 25,000 dollars for the hardware and installation (Nyabawa, 2016). These costs are justified by the need to provide backup servers and additional memory storage for video materials, virtual lessons, and homework depository.
Change Management Strategy
Since the proposed change is coming from top to bottom, the principal would be required to take the primary role in guiding this innovation (Hawkins, 2017). Members of the IT department will provide technical experience, but it is the principal’s job to get teachers on board with the program. They would be required to explain and demonstrate the benefits of the new LMS and rationalize its implementation in the school setting (Hawkins, 2017). Teachers would be expected to become transformational leaders themselves and change the opinion of parents and children from neutral to positive, encouraging the use of new technology.
References
Ensminger, D. C. (2016). Technology planning in schools. The Wiley Handbook of Learning Technology, 1, 455.
Hawkins, P. (2017). Leadership team coaching: Developing collective transformational leadership. London, UK: Kogan Page Publishers.
Nyabawa, R. F. (2016). Technology in Learning: Blackboard usage & its impact on academic performance; a case for universities in Lesotho. International Journal of Humanities and Management Sciences, 4(5), 455-461.
Watt, A. (2014). Project management. Fort St. Victoria, Canada: BC Campus.