Winona State University students will be using a new program called Desire2Learn when the university’s contract with the Blackboard system expires in July.

The program has been available to faculty since the beginning of the fall 2004 semester.

By waiting until July, e-Learning Director Ken Graetz said he and other e-Learning staff members were able to work out any problems and become more acquainted with networking the program.

“Anytime you are dealing with the Internet there will be problems, but so far D2L has been quite stable,” Graetz said.

The program is similar to Blackboard, so students should not have a problem navigating the program, Judy Euller, e-Learning course management coordinator, said.

“Desire2Learn will offer students and faculty more options than Blackboard,” Euller said.

One-click e-mail, an instant messaging system, instant access to grades and a Web page creator are just a few of the benefits of Desire2Learn according to program users. 

Fifteen courses at Winona State University are currently using the program.

Tammy Swenson-Lepper, a communication studies professor, began using the Desire2Learn program two years prior to her start at Winona State in fall 2004.

“I like the program a lot because it allows me to do things more efficiently than other programs,” Swenson-Lepper said. “Grades, for example, can be done quicker and more accurately with D2L.”

Winona State senior Laurie Simon used the program last semester.

“(Desire2Learn) is more user-friendly than Blackboard. Blackboard is archaic in comparison to the Desire2Learn program,” Simon said.

“I like Desire2Learn because it lets me do things more efficiently than other programs. For example, grades, tests and e-mail are easier to use,” Steve Juarie, physical education and recreation professor, said. “There are fewer loops to go through to get things done.”

The new program is being paid for by Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, and will not have an impact on student’s tuition. 

“We believe strongly that we are saving a great deal through central hosting and moving to a single platform,” John O'Brien, associate vice chancellor for instructional technology at MnSCU, said.

MnSCU is not forcing any universities in their system to adopt D2L.  However, O’Brien said, “moving toward a single system is a benefit to all students.”

The Desire2Learn program will open doors for online learning that Blackboard was incapable of achieving, Graetz said.

Desire2Learn is a gateway program designed to help further MnSCU’s Minnesota Online program, which provides online courses to students throughout the state, Graetz said.

“Minnesota Online has been supportive of the move because a single platform keeps students from having to learn how to use more than one platform as they move from institution to institution or take courses online from multiple institutions,” O’Brien said.

Training for Winona State faculty and staff members began this spring.

Both Swenson-Lepper and Juarie have volunteered to assist their departments in learning the new program.  Additionally, the university’s technical support staff will organize optional student information programs and training.