We did a survey of students after the move to all online mid March regarding this transition. ncluded in this survey were questions regarding the use of the LMS on Populi for the courses. For many of our faculty, this transition was the first time they utilized the LMS feature of Populi beyond the gradebook and attendance features. As a result, this was also the first time for students to work with this feature as well. While many of the survey questions overall received positive comments, one issue arose from both students and faculty alike.
The issue had to do with the course menu on the left side of the screen. After reviewing all the qualitative responses, it is quite evident that the order of these features played a primary role in the confusion of everyone. Both students and faculty alike naturally progressed to the Assignment feature before the Lesson feature because of the order it is listed. While I understand the process of setting up assignments before you build your lesson as a faculty member with experience building courses in Populi and other LMS, this flow is actually a road block for both students and faculty when it comes to accessing the Lessons that provide the rhythm and flow for the course.
What happened in this quick transition is that students would go down the list of the menu and get lost in the assignment listing, not knowing where to start. Faculty as well had trouble even recognizing the Lesson feature and function because it was below the Assignment tab. Intuitively, both students and faculty were looking for lessons to provide the structure for assignments.
When working with new faculty, it was actually easier to get them to understand how to lay out the Lesson content first and then add in the assignments to complete it, rather than build the assignments first. As for students, faculty that learned to use the Lesson feature, such as myself, had to repeatedly remind students to Start at the Lessons, not the assignments. Confusion regarding assignments was the number one negative comment across the board on the surveys.
My request, therefore, is that the Lessons feature be listed after the Syllabus and before all other features. Our survey clearly shows that changing the order would aid first time users tremendously when entering the LMS for each course and reduce the lost feeling it creates.
