About the SPARK Migration Project
As of Fall 2007, all courses formerly taught on WebCT Campus Edition will move to the new SPARK system. SPARK is the new name for OIT's Learning Management System (LMS) service for on-campus courses and is run on Blackboard Learning System Vista Enterprise software.
The decision to upgrade our software came after a careful comparison of WebCT’s product line and an examination of the needs of the campus. Blackboard Vista is currently used by UMass Continuing & Professional Education for fully-online courses offered through UMassOnline. OIT’s implementation of this software is separate from Continuing & Professional Education’s and will be specially configured for on-campus courses.
Specific questions about the transition should be directed to Academic Computing’s Instructional Media Lab. (instruct@oit.umass.edu | 545-2823).
SPARK Migration Timeline
Key activities by semester
Summer 2006
- Vista 4 hardware and software purchased and installed (June)
- Workshops and consulting offered to Pilot Phase I participants (June)
Fall 2006
- Pilot Phase I Begins (September) - 12 faculty using Vista 4 for one or more courses
- All faculty invited to join Pilot Phase II. Pilot size limited depending upon response from faculty (October)
- Vista 4 demonstration offered to all faculty (November)
- Workshops and consulting available for Pilot Phase II participants (December)
- Pilot Phase I ends (December) – review and incorporate feedback
January 2007
- WebCT CE workshops discontinued – individual consultations still available
- Spring 2007 on-campus faculty who have never used WebCT given Vista 4 courses
- Workshops and consulting available for Pilot Phase II participants
- Campus Edition to Vista 4 conversion drop-in consulting sessions available
- Name for OIT's Learning Management System (LMS) changed from Vista 4 to SPARK
Spring 2007
- Pilot Phase II begins (February)
- SPARK demonstration offered to all faculty (April)
- Campus Edition courses can no longer be requested online (April)
- Fall 2007 on-campus faculty encouraged to begin moving their courses from Campus Edition to SPARK (April/May)
- Pilot Phase II ends (May) – review and incorporate feedback
Summer 2007
- SPARK available to all faculty
- Summer 2007 courses created in SPARK
- Fall 2007 on-campus faculty expected to move their courses from Campus Edition to SPARK
- Workshops and consulting available throughout the summer
- Campus Edition to SPARK conversion drop-in consulting sessions available
Fall 2007
- All fall 2007 courses created in SPARK
- Campus Edition server no longer available for teaching. Server will be available for those who need to retrieve course content
- Spring 2008 on-campus faculty encouraged to begin moving their courses from Campus Edition to SPARK (October/November)
- Campus Edition to SPARK conversion drop-in consulting sessions available
January 2008
- All winter 2008 courses created in SPARK
- Spring 2008 on-campus faculty expected to move their courses from Campus Edition to SPARK
- Campus Edition to SPARK conversion drop-in consulting sessions available
- Campus Edition server no longer available for teaching. Server will be available for those who need to retrieve course content
Spring 2008
- All spring 2008 courses created in SPARK
- Campus Edition server no longer available for teaching
- Campus Edition server will be available for those who need to retrieve course content through 2008
