e-Learning Framework

Easy access to high quality online resources is important to maintaining and improving the quality of educational programs, reducing preparation time, eliminating the duplication of effort for authors of materials, attracting and retaining high-quality faculty, and satisfying requirements for institutional and program accreditation. Also critical is the presence of a sustainable, accessible, usable and reliable 24x7 technical infrastructure and operational support for systemwide academic technology applications.

Aggregating and analyzing the needs for digital academic content and technology services across CSU campuses is a required process for coordinating the development and delivery of shared, systemwide academic resources and services. A variety of systemwide academic technology projects address these needs:

Learning Management System (LMS) Strategic Planning
The goal of the LMS strategic planning process is to develop a shared vision of LMS use within the CSU, and to support and promote campus LMS strategic planning efforts so that campuses are best able to provide the infrastructure to support e-learning needs.

MERLOT
The purpose of the Multimedia Educational Resource for Learning and Online Teaching (MERLOT) is to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning by increasing the quantity and quality of peer reviewed online learning materials that can be easily incorporated into faculty designed courses.

ePortfolio
Online digital portfolios (ePortfolios) provide authentic assessment of student competencies and improve career development and planning. E-Portfolios can be a marketing tool for the student as he or she seeks employment and/or admission to graduate school. Additionally, e-portfolios provide faculty and administrators with role-based access to programs, services, learning resources, and information.

Unified Information Access System
The California State University Unified Information Access System is part of a trend in the library world to economically build resource sharing systems for a growing number of expanding library consortia.

Library Resources / Electronic Content (SEIR)
Systemwide Electronic Information Resources (SEIR) conducts a program of cooperative buying which leverages the purchasing power of the largest system of higher education in the United States.