Delaney Juliet
News Reporter
Mesa State has used WebCT as a learning management system since 2004-05. WebCT is an online domain for students which allows teachers to create an online portion of their class by designating quizzes, assignments, and other learning resources. However, WebCT was purchased by another company, and is being phased out of production. WebCT did not keep up with the latest advancements in the industry, so as the interest in online learning continues to grow at Mesa State, the college began identifying the next generation of learning management systems.
Next school year, Desire 2 Learn, an advanced innovative learning program, will take place of WebCT. Last spring, a group of faculty and extended studies staff met to assess how students and faculty use WebCT, and to identify what additional capabilities are desired for teaching or learning. Based of the results of that process, another group of extended studies staff, information technology staff, and faculty, was formed to guide the selection process.
A “request for proposal” was distributed, and the college received bids from a number of learning management system companies. After an extensive review process, the list of prospective vendors was narrowed to four companies. Each of the companies came to campus this past fall to present their system. Each system was scored by the committee. At the end of the committee scoring process, Desire 2 Learn (D2L) was at the top and was recommended to President Foster. The first major transition of courses will occur in the Spring 2012 semester.
Coordinator of Distance Education Kristyn Rose agrees that the transition will be a positive step forward for the college. “From the faculty perspective, having pedagogically-based course design wizards will help them in their course development,” Rose said. “D2L also includes tools that help facilitate better communication between faculty and students, to help students be more successful in online learning.”
Desire 2 Learn has abilities that WebCT does not yet provide, including analytics, ePortfolios, easy navigation, and better communication resources for students and teachers.
Javier Leung, a faculty member of MSC, explained more details about features of D2L. “It has a step by step course development process and placeholders for instructional components. You drag boxes for modules and discussions to see instructional sequence without developing content,” Leung said.
For further questions or information about the new informational learning system taking place at MSC, contact Ben Keefer at keefer@mesastate.edu, or refer to Desire 2 Learn’s website at www.desire2learn.com.

djuliet@mesastate.edu