The evolution of an LMS

Cecil fifteen years on

Abstract

"Cecil, the First Web-Based LMS" (ASCILITE, 2002) described how The University of Auckland's home grown LMS originated. Now - fifteen years on we describe the challenge of maintaining such a system given of the evolution of computer hardware and software and the increasing sophistication of its users. Over time we have made the transition to the latest processors and database architectures and at present we are running a pilot to replace a significant a amount of our own code with Microsoft Office SharePoint Services (MOSS) - while seeking to retain the original functions and features including a bodies of knowledge (taxonomy), gradebook, assessment engine and communications modules. One important outcome of the pilot is to relieve our team of developers, who have ‘grown up’ with Cecil, from legacy code maintenance. The SharePoint pilot has proved that moving to a higher level of abstraction will position the University to deliver core functionality ‘out of the box’ freeing resources for integrating new computer supported learning features. Innovators in the teaching and learning ‘space’ may find the history of Cecil useful as they prepare for fearless change.