The WebCT Replacement Project team has arranged demonstrations of the three learning management systems (LMSs) that are on the short list to replace WebCT at SFU. All members of the SFU community are invited to attend these presentations, which will provide a sense of the exciting capabilities and user interfaces offered by each LMS. To help us with seating arrangements, please RSVP to replacewebct@sfu.ca if you plan to attend.

The demonstrations will be conducted by someone from an educational institution that already uses the featured platform. Here are the dates and details:

Canvas

When: Tuesday, August 14, 10 am–11:30 am
Where: Diamond Alumni Centre (DAC), Fraser Room
Presenter (via video): Andrew McAllister, manager, academic computing, OCAD University

Moodle

When: Tuesday, August 14, 1 pm–2:30 pm
Where: Diamond Alumni Centre (DAC), Fraser Room
Presenter: John Nesbit, associate professor, SFU Faculty of Education

Blackboard

When: Wednesday, August 22, 10 am–11:30 am
Where: Diamond Alumni Centre (DAC), Fraser Room
Presenter: Blackboard Inc. will co-present with Emily Renoe, senior trainer for UBC's LMS implementation project

The product demonstrations were announced by Bill Krane, acting vice-president, academic, and provost, on August 8. Here is the full text of his announcement:

"The project to replace WebCT has been a broad, consultative, community-based initiative, and we are moving forward with product demonstrations for the university community. These demonstrations will focus on "end users" and should provide engaging and constructive illustrations of how each product under consideration can be used in the academic context, including teaching and learning. All demonstrations will be given by experienced practitioners/users/implementers from educational institutions, including OCAD University, SFU, and UBC.

"The demonstrations will all be held in the Fraser Room at the DAC. Canvas will be demonstrated on Tuesday, August 14, 10–11:30, by Andrew McAllister, Manager, Academic Computing, for OCAD University. Moodle will be demonstrated also on Tuesday, August 14, 1–2:30, by John Nesbit, Professor, Faculty of Education, SFU. The presentation of Blackboard from representatives of UBC is still to be determined, and the notice of schedule is forthcoming and will be posted on the project web site (www.sfu.ca/replacewebct).

"Please email lmsinput@sfu.ca to RSVP your attendance at these sessions. We understand the challenges of scheduling in August, but the timeline for this project is particularly pressing. The demonstrations are open to faculty, staff, and students, and all are encouraged to attend. The replacement of WebCT is critical to the university, and these demonstrations offer an opportunity to learn about the candidate systems in operation, and in relevant and comparable academic contexts."