In 2017, Colleague 2 Colleague offered its first-ever LMS Preconference.  

The inspiration came from attendees to prior SIDLIT conferences, who mentioned an interest in learning more about learning management systems (LMSes).  A group from Butler Community College hosted a special interest group (SIG) lunch about Canvas.  The participants at that lunch session expressed their continuing interest.  

To meet this need, Brian A. Dye and a steering committee of fellow volunteers led an effort to offer the inaugural LMS Preconference in 2017, just prior to the two-day SIDLIT conference.  The event cost $10 per participant and included three presentations and snacks! 

This photo essay provides some highlights from that event.  

Figure 1:  “Zoo Plastic Angler” by Edward Tajchman from the Sustainability Sculpture Series at JCCC 

Figure 2:  The JCCC CoLab 

Figure 3:  Catching Up on Work 

Figure 4:  Brian A. Dye and Beth Ramirez Help Sign In LMS Preconference Participants 

Figure 5:  Participants Reconnect between Sessions

Figure 6:  Susan Stuart and Ed Lovitt Talk in the Foreground 

Figure 7:  There Were Snacks Aplenty 

Figure 8:  April Robbs Presents in the Blackboard Track 

Figure 9:  Marty Crossland Presents in the Moodle Track 

Figure 10:  Clay Threlkeld and Ben Hooper Engage a Rapt Audience 

Figure 11:  Alice E. Anderson Showcases LibGuides, Used Around the U.S. 

Figure 12:  Bethanie O’Dell Explains Why “Quality Matters”

Figure 13:  Brandy Diltz Shares Collaborative and Cooperative Learning Strategies in Canvas

Figure 14:  Canvas Meets Zoom Recording with Rob Gibson

Figure 15:  Anna J. Catterson Kicks Off the Panel Discussion 

The panel members are, from left to right, Scott Finkeldei, Rob Gibson, Ed Lovitt, Marty Crossland, and Meg McGranaghan.  Brian A. Dye is standing in the foreground.  

Figure 16:  The Panel Takes on Wide-Ranging Topics, Many from the Audience 

Figure 17:  Meg McGranaghan Makes a Point (as Marty Crossland Looks On)

  

The members of the LMS Preconference Steering Committee for 2016 - 2017 included the following:  Brian A. Dye (lead), Marty Crossland, Rebecca Gould, Shalin Hai-Jew, Bethanie O’Dell, Paula Phelps, April Robbs, David Swisher, and Linda C. Wapelhorst.  Presenters included Christopher Murad, Anna J. Catterson and Kathrine O’Meara, Ed Lovitt, Rob Gibson, April Robbs, Robert Allen Moody and Elodie Jones, Alice E. Anderson, Clay Threlkeld and Ben Hooper, Shalin Hai-Jew, Brandy Diltz, Bethanie O’Dell, and Marty Crossland.  

David Swisher currently serves as the Learning Management Systems Coordinator at Tabor College, and prior to this role, he was a classroom technology specialist and instance manager for Axio Learning on the Salina Polytechnic campus of Kansas State University (K-State).  He has a Masters in Instructional Design & Technology from Emporia State University and recently completed his doctorate in Semiotics & Future Studies at George Fox University.  Dr. Swisher has been managing LMS platforms for the last 16 years (Moodle, Canvas, and Axio Learning) and enjoys integrated marketing communications.  

His email is davids@tabor.edu.