Publication Date

2008

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Luetkehans, Lara M.

Degree Name

Ed.D. (Doctor of Education)

Legacy Department

Department of Educational Technology, Research and Assessment

LCSH

Management information system--Evaluation--Case studies; Educational technology--Evaluation--Case studies

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the processes of evaluation, selection, adoption and diffusion of a Course Management System (CMS). This study incorporated two institutions, each having six participants. The participants were placed into three categories: faculty, staff, and administration. Each participant was either a faculty member, who was also an early adopter of the institution's CMS, a staff member, or an administrator. Each participant was involved in part or all of the evaluation, selection, adoption and diffusion processes. The outcome of the study indicated that the participation of these individuals helped the institutions evaluate and select their CMS. In addition, the study indicated that each institution arrived at their decisions through different evaluation and selection processes. University #1 consisted of a committee to evaluate and select their system, while University #2 comprised members of the Technology Department and utilized the input of faculty members to help select a system. The findings also recommended that the participation of these individuals influenced others to adopt the system. Each university, however, provided different incentives to entice the adoption of these systems. The study recommends that institutions with the resources might be more suitable to adopt open-source systems than smaller institutions without adequate resources to maintain these systems. Furthermore, the research suggests that additional studies are needed to analyze how many small institutions are using open-source systems and to what extent are they using these systems.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages 96-100)

Extent

xi, 142 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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