LMS Weekly Update: Brightspace Ambassadors prepare for next challenge
Posted on Thursday, October 18th, 2018
The success of the Brightspace implementation this semester can be measured in part in the small number of students still seeking help, says Justin McCaffrey, LMS project coordinator in charge of the Brightspace Ambassadors program.
“We are dealing with around 12 to 13 students a week in person and via email, McCaffrey says. “Students know how to use the program for the most part — they picked it up really quickly — and support levels are good when people have questions.”
McCaffrey’s role in the implementation process was to put together the Ambassadors program, which placed trained volunteers on campus to help students with the new Brightspace Learning Management System. Originally, around 100 people said they were interested in participating. Thirty-three showed up for Brightspace training and 30 worked shifts.
“A conversion rate of about 30 per cent is amazingly good,” McCaffrey says, “and I have to say they were a really dedicated group. I couldn’t be happier with how good my key students were. I’ve worked with students for seven or eight years, and it’s a good message to send when you give them some responsibility and let them run with it. They flourish. You see how people grow and it’s just awesome.”
McCaffrey balances his time between his duties as the Brightspace LMS project coordinator in charge of the Ambassadors program and studies in project management.
“I’m a project management student managing a project. Things I’m learning in class we’re actually going through here. I said I wanted to give my students experiential learning but I’m actually getting it myself. It’s turned out really well.”
While continuing to work with the current crew of volunteers and sitting in on some shifts at the Ambassadors desk in Student Central, McCaffrey is already thinking ahead to January. There will be a new influx of students needing training in Brightspace and he will need to assemble another group of Ambassadors. Eighteen of the fall volunteers have expressed eagerness to return.
He canvassed the fall volunteers for their thoughts about gaps in the initial training and what will be needed for the new term. A knowledge base is being assembled for future volunteers by ITS student Kevin Perkins, who is working with McCaffrey, comprising data about virtually everything the Ambassadors encountered in their sessions with students this fall.
How does McCaffrey feel about redeploying the Ambassadors on campus in January? “I don’t want to be overconfident, but I think January will be the cherry on top of the process we accomplished this term. By the end of week three in September, it looked good, and with our new knowledge base to add to the Brightspace Essentials course, we’ll have even more to work with. It’s never easy in customer service, but we’ll be as prepared as we can be.”
Brightspace Ambassadors are available to offer LMS help for students in Student Central (Lower Level, DARE District) Monday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Dec. 13.
Faculty members are encouraged to add their voices to a discussion about the revised Learning Management System Policy (AA42) in C122 on Friday, Oct. 19 at noon. Lunch is provided. Learn more and register for the event here.
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