EDUCAUSE's 7 Things You Should Know About LMS Evaluation describes the process many institutions take to evaluate what is likely to be their most significant enterprise application for teaching and learning. It also notes that many institutions are upgrading their first generation LMS that have been around for five or more years to adapt to a changing teaching and learning context. The white-paper is relevant at Columbia since we join numerous universities considering or making a change away from their first LMS in 2011. Columbia is moving to Sakai starting in the fall 2011.

The white-paper describes the LMS as the linchpin of the the teaching and learning enterprise and that the decision can be an undertaking that has a steep learning curve. It also warns that we may be approaching a need to have a more frequent re-evaluation of the LMS to stay abreast of pedagogical changes.