Charge: Learning Platform Group

Background 

Since the summer of 2016, the scope and purpose of this subcommittee has existed in the various forms of Learning Management System (LMS) governance used to date (Launch team, LMS transition).  Early on, there was an immediate need to make informed platform decisions to support the UMN transition to Canvas.  As the transition concludes, the need for platform decisions remain, as the UMN use of the LMS expands and the technology landscape changes.  It is a shared belief of those involved that better learning platform decisions are possible when they include the collective expertise of collegiate staff, provost office, AT-OIT, system campuses, collegiate IT directors and key integration partners making up governance.   

Purpose

The DiaLOG Learning Platform subcommittee is responsible for ensuring that the learning platform meets the needs of the University’s teaching and learning goals, operates reliably and is managed in conformance with technology, privacy, and policy standards. The four committees (Course Content, Learning Analytics, Learning Platform, and Learning Tools), as well as the steering committee will work closely together to help to surface issues that need attention and support initiatives.

Scope

The scope of the DiaLOG Learning Platform subgroup concerns the learning management system and key integrations that make up the platform to support teaching and learning goals, ensure the system operates reliably and is managed in conformance with technology, privacy, and policy standards.

Charge

The DiaLOG Learning Platform subcommittee is charged to:

  • Determine the direction for learning platform development to advance teaching and learning goals.
  • Gather information from stakeholders to guide the development of the learning platform.
  • Provide guidance on the development of the Platform roadmap and help identify strategic priorities.
  • Receive suggested tools from the Learning Tools subcommittee and make decisions and recommendations related to technical vetting and integration. 
  • Coordinate with other DiaLOG subgroups on issues that span the purview of more than one subgroup via the DiaLOG steering committee
  • Surfacing and managing issues related to the Instructure 3 week release cycle
  • Provide guidance on what projects are selected for development
  • Make recommendations about the implementation of operational system configurations
  • Provide guidance about the Unizin Data Platform (UDP) for approved UMN use

Dependencies and Related Groups

Meeting Schedule

  • Monthly 

Sponsors

  • Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost (Emily Ronning)
  • Office of Information Technology (Donalee Attardo)

Chairs

  • Kara Hanson, Manager of Academic Technology, University of Minnesota - Duluth
  • Jeff Weber, Service Owner, Academic Technology Tools, Office of Information Technology

Chair Accountabilities:

The chair plays an important role in coordinating group meetings and activities and has a responsibility to:

  • Manage meetings (schedule and communicate meeting logistics, prepare meeting agendas, assure appropriate meeting planning and follow-up, and chair meetings).
  • Assure preparation of action plans and the completion of action items and project deliverables.
  • Keep group sponsors informed on progress and request meetings as needed.

Group Member Accountabilities

Each group member has a responsibility to:

  • Attend group meetings, actively participate in meetings, and promptly complete assignments.
  • Participate in framing up recommendations and prepare deliverables.
  • Provide representation for the member’s respective department as well as other groups to which the member belongs; solicit input and communicate information and feedback.
  • Work to ensure group effectiveness and adherence to committee ground rules
  • Support group decisions and actions.

Ground Rules

  • First and foremost, all group members will participate in a manner that embraces the spirit of the DiaLOG charter: finding and embracing the healthy tension that is inherent to our work, talking through the tension in order to understand the issues, making sure everyone is heard and understood, and then finding a way to move forward as a group.
  • Start on time and work to stay on schedule.
  • Come prepared.
  • If you must miss a meeting, you are responsible for all information and assignments. Contact the chair.
  • Post meeting notes within one week following meeting.
  • Monitor digressions and refocus the discussion.
  • Handle disagreements. Poll other co-workers on controversial decisions. Treat all members with courtesy and respect – regardless of opinions.
  • Honor confidentiality if requested. Otherwise, communicate with staff.
  • Take issues that involve a few people or further investigation offline.
     

Last edited February 2021