In this Newsletter

• A Message from the Project Manager
  
• ELMS Training Bite
  
• What’s New
  
• Project Status
  
• ELMS Questions and Answers
  
• Upcoming Demonstrations Reminder

A Message from the Project Manager

What’s Happening Vol 3 began a series of articles on implementation best practices. The following are some additional best practices to ensure a seamless launch: 

Actively lead and manage the process. Like any other project management implementation, your agency’s LMS initiative needs to be lead and managed. It is helpful to have and cultivate internal champions who will support the initiative along the way.

Practice strong process management techniques and document along the way. Standard, proven process management techniques are equally effective in LMS implementations. Documenting the various stages of your LMS implementation will provide you with the information needed to leverage the various aspects of the implementation with various stakeholders as it is being developed. 

Emphasize the value-add elements of the platform to drive acceptance. Spend time stressing the benefits that will be gained by the various groups in your organization in relationship to specific aspects of the technology as it relates to job performance. For example, highlight the blended learning functionality with your organization's trainers who run traditional training programs so they can begin to visualize how they would incorporate the LMS into their training events.

Consistent Project Tools. Using consistent tools to prepare for the agency implementation is critical to ensure continuity across all enterprise project teams. The following documents are primary tools the agency project managers and implementation teams will use as they prepare for the LMS.

• Agency Implementation Guidebook – This Agency Implementation Guidebook identifies key activities and responsibilities of the agencies prior to and during the implementation of the LMS. This Guidebook has been divided into four main sections:

o Agency Implementation Team (AIT) Roles
o Agency Implementation Activities and Tools
o Coordinating the Implementation Process
o Appendices

• Agency Implementation Team Facilitators Guide - This guide is a navigational tool to help each agency project manager facilitate their way through the Agency Implementation Guidebook.  It is meant to answer the question: “How do I put into practice the Guidebook Tools in a professional and effective way in my organization?” The Facilitator Guide can help each AIT achieve success by aligning the following three elements:

o  Purpose:  Reason for being/goal to pursue (answer’s the why).
o  Process:  Methods to achieve the Goal/Purpose (answer’s the how).
o  People:  The role the facilitator and the participants’ play in the Process which will lead them towards achieving the Purpose.

ELMS Training Bite

The ELMS Training Bite is designed to provide you with a summary of key functions of the LMS.  This month’s topic – LMS features.
 
The following features are integrated in the new LMS version – Meridian Global. 

• The Learning Center allows users to locate facilities and access learning activities including courses.  This area contains:

o  Course Catalog – search and enroll in courses
o  Tests – search for, view information about,  and take tests
o   Training Facilities – search for training facilities and view information about them  

• My Workspace – is your personal area where you access your account, transcript, calendar and other items. 
• My Learning Plan is where you view all current training activities in which you are participating or required to complete.
• My Transcript is a list of all content items that you have started or completed.
• My Calendar is where you may add, edit and delete your appointments, meetings, or training events.
• My Shortcuts contains a list of direct links to content and information of interest to you.  
• My Contacts is where you may quickly access users or groups of users
• My IDP is where you manage information that pertains to your Individual Development Plan.
• My Dashboard is where you view a collection of small reports specific to a user role. Each report is displayed in a panel.  You control what panels appear on the dashboard and their location.

What's New

The Parks process pilot is in full gear!!
The AIT team at Parks, led by Chet Houser is diligently working through the Guidebook – most recently completing the workflow and role analysis. Future work will include reviewing all agency protocols and domain related decisions. Way to go TEAM!

Meridian Global
Our LMS vendor has recently launched a new version of the software – Meridian Global.  The Enterprise Project Team will be launching this version of the software to the state enterprise.  Some of its features include:

Professional Networking Communities	Peer to Peer Collaboration Peer Rating of Content Formal & informal collaboration spaces to create virtual workspace: Content Sharing Real-time Knowledge building tools E-mail & Team Calendars Expert locator and related knowledge sharing tools Social Networking based on content ratings
Content Creation and Management	True Blended Learning support Prescribed learning Knowledge capture & creation Content Authoring and/or import for 3rd party tools Collaborative Content Development Blogs Robust search engine with filters by peer rating Multiple Domains or “Portals” to support different organizations or groups of learners
Dynamic User Preferences	Configurable interfaces based on user preference On-the-fly multi-lingual interfaces Role-based custom end-user experience Tag groups and peer contacts and content favorites
Advanced Workflow Analytics	Executive Dashboard for workforce metrics Admin Dashboard for usage and ROI metrics Real-time flexible reporting Custom ad hoc graphical presentations Analysis Grids to drill down into data Dynamic creation of calculation and summary tabs One touch exporting to MS Office®, PDF, or XML

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Project Status

The ELMS project is moving ahead.  For a complete update on the ELMS project including current status reports and “What’s Happening” archives, check out our web-page at:  http://www.oregon.gov/DAS/HR/e-lms.shtml.      

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Questions and Answers

The Enterprise Project Team would like to invite you to ask any questions you may have on the ELMS initiative through the ELMS e-list.  Just send your questions to elms@listsmart.osl.state.or.us.  All questions will be responded to by one of the Enterprise Project Team members.  All questions and answers will eventually become a Frequently Asked Questions section of the ELMS web site.

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Upcoming Demonstrations Reminder

The ELMS Forum provides an overview of the ELMS project. Attendees will learn what a Learning Management System is and its value to the employee, agency and state-wide enterprise. Attendees will have the opportunity to see the system and ask questions about the enterprise implementation plan.
Register Here
 
Contact Information:
 
Theme Grenz
ELMS Project Manager
DAS/HRSD - Training and Development Services
155 Cottage St NE, U-30
Salem, OR 97301
E-mail: Theme.Grenz@das.state.or.us
Phone: (503) 378 6213

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