Pearson’s announcement of its technology partner (here) carries an innovative tone. OpenClass integrates with CourseSmart, ProQuest, Panopto, Kaltura, Respondus, Turnitin, Learning Objects, SoftChalk, Foliotek, Biometric Signature ID, SmarterServices, Acxiom, OpenStudy and Smarthinking. The business model, however, feels more like a la Blackboard mode. That is, similarly to Building Blocks, activating these “plug-ins”/integration tools in an institutional instance requires an extra cost (even though some of BB’s building blocks are free) – a license purchase with third-party vendors is required. This isn’t news so far.
So what’s different? OpenClass’ licensing and hosting is free which is already a big bonus compared to other LMS vendors. The cost, nonetheless, of a back-end administrator with Google API experience is required. Additionally, integration of student information systems, and other ERP tools, also require work from the institution and third-party vendor’s end. Where will that cost come from? How long will it take?
In seeking to answer questions on the OpenClass model, Pearson’s Senior VP Adrian Sannier answered Inside Higher Education’s Joshua Kim’s questions that helps those who have not yet had the opportunity to pilot the LMS. Among the fifteen answered questions, Sannier points out “OpenClass is easy to use and completely free. There are no hardware, licensing or hosting costs”. True. A Moodle/Sakai déjà vu where customization, SaaS application and license purchase for third-party integration, and technical support are required, a cost that is a responsibility of the hiring institution. It’s like buying an electric car (super innovative) but without automatic shift. If you want it to be best suitable for your needs, there’s a cost.
Another detail worth highlighting is LMS reporting. A critical feature for higher education institutions for many purposes including accreditation, reporting is accessible at a cost. OpenClass per se doesn’t possess this feature. Institutions, however, Sannier adds “[…] will also be able to access for fee services from Pearson for expert analytics consulting and data analysis tools.”
Google Apps Integration
For higher education institutions who had previously signed up for Google Apps, OpenClass will be immediately available at the Google Apps Marketplace, according to Pearson. If your institution is interested in piloting OpenClass, and do not currently utilizes Google Apps, there are three options for signing up.
One, setup a domain with Google Apps for Education that requires a technical liaison assigned by the institution to implement APIs and manage the domain. The second option is to contact Google’s Sales and hire their services. And three, hiring a Google Apps partner for email migration, single sign- and third-party tools integration, and technical support for faculty, staff and students.
Once OpenClass is available and setup within the institution’s GoogleApps, users they can go to and fro their Gmail area to OpenClass, Google Docs, Calendar without having to re-login, a feature called single sign-on.
Another perk about OpenClass is that Google Docs, Calendar, and other Google Apps can be accessed from within OpenClass.
Blackboard can also be integrated with Google Apps, but in a different way
Bboogle, an open-source project developed at Northwestern University, lets users to access Google apps from within courses in Blackboard with sngle sign-on. Watch videos of how it works: webinar with both Google and Northwestern developers here and a video of how it is used at Northwestern U here. A number of faculty have been using Google tools with their courses in Blackboard and have shared the how-tos here. A student at Northwestern University has shared his experience with such integration. A report released in March 2010 by the piloting team at Northwestern University can be found here.
OpenClass is part of a milestone towards a new vanguard of learning management systems. Its announcement to the public without the possibility to sign up for sandbox accounts unsettles some dust and leaves questions in the air. The moment, however, is opportune and as per Phill Hill’s closing note on his Judge It As Disruption, Not As Status Quo guest blog post:
“we should judge OpenClass for what it is and whether it serves higher ed needs, not whether it can fit in the box we’re used to.”
I’m still waiting for a pilot account…
