Flip it Good!

Flipping the LMS with an
Open and Collaborative Web Platform

EDUCATOR AND EXPERIENCE DESIGN CONSULTANT

Paul D Hibbitts

@hibbittsdesign

hibbittsdesign.org

What is a Flipped LMS?

What is a Flipped LMS?

“A flipped LMS approach is where an open platform,
in the control of course participants,
serves as an alternative front-end to the institutional LMS.”

Why “Flip” the LMS?

Why “Flip” the LMS?

• To support pedagogical goals unmet by the current LMS
• To deliver a better student (and facilitator) experience
• To increase capability of access, sharing and collaboration

What to “Flip” the LMS With?

What to “Flip” the LMS With?

An open and collaborative platform!

What is a flat-file (no database) CMS?

What is a flat-file (no database) CMS?

A flat-file CMS is where all content is stored as files and folders, rather than in a database like traditional CMSs and LMSs

Fall 2015 CMPT 363
Course Companion Hub

Flipped-LMS approach using Grav CMS as an open and collaborative platform, along with the Canvas LMS

But What Did the Students Think?

But What Did the Students Think?

• When asked if they would like to see the overall Course Hub
  design used for other courses:
  • 81.5% indicated 'yes'
  • 12.5% indicated 'no' (they would prefer everything in Canvas)
  • 6 % were undecided

So, what did updating this
course hub site look like
for the instructor (i.e. me)?

How long would that
update take?

How long would that
update take?

~ 30 Seconds
(your mileage may vary)

Open Source Course Hub

To help other instructors use Grav CMS for flipping their LMS

Downloads and tutorials:
hibbittsdesign.org/blog/

Online demo:
demo.hibbittsdesign.org

Course Hub Highlights

• A complete ready-to-run Grav Skeleton Package (open source)
• Blog-format, with 'featured' (sticky) posts
• Important reminders & class preparations areas
• Additional site pages can be easily added
• Image header area above site navbar
• Sidebar is a simple markdown file, which can also contain HTML
• URL flag to only display page content (for display within LMS  )
• External links are automatically opened in a new Tab/Window
• Built-in support for entire site to be maintained on GitHub
• Since everything is built with Grav it can be entirely customized

Want more details? github.com/hibbitts-design

What Skills are Required?

What Skills are Required?

• Intended for 'Tech-savvy' educators:

  • Text file editing

  • Markdown or simple HTML formatting

  • Web server access (i.e. FTP)

Thank you! Questions?

• Contact Info  
  • Blog: hibbittsdesign.org
  • Twitter: @hibbittsdesign
  • Email: paul@paulhibbitts.com
• ​Grav Resources
  • Website: getgrav.org
  • Twitter: @getgrav
  • Documentation: learn.getgrav.org (built with Grav)
• Course Hub 
  • CMPT-363 Fall 2015 Website (built with Grav)
    paulhibbitts.net/cmpt-363-153/
  • Grav Course Hub Demo
    demo.hibbittsdesign.org
  • Grav Course Hub Getting Started Guide
    hibbittsdesign.org/blog/getting-started