Denison University announces that social learning platform Notebowl will replace the university’s current learning management system (LMS).
“Notebowl’s vision for the future and their agile, scalable platform is a perfect match for the strategic direction of Denison’s technology ecosystem,” said Dena Speranza, chief information officer at Denison. “Their vision for improving student engagement and deepening student learning by leveraging the social styles of today’s student body brings an innovative approach that we expect will enhance the liberal arts experience here at Denison in a cost-effective and responsive manner.'
The university is rolling out Notebowl in three phases. The first phase is well underway and early feedback from faculty and students is very positive. “Notebowl is much more user-friendly. I find myself not dreading using it,” said Bill Kirkpatrick, associate professor of communications. “The user friendliness of the platform makes me more willing to try new things in the classroom.” Denison students say the new social learning platform allows them to “communicate with anybody and everybody in the class, making sharing information, such as questions, really easy and user friendly.” Other students have stated Notebowl is “way better,” “easy to navigate,” and “less confusing” than the university’s old LMS.
Speranza goes on to state, “Notebowl has embraced the needs of Denison University and our small student-to-faculty ratio. Unlike large institutions running huge online courses, our distinctive approach stems from the rich, personal relationships that are developed throughout a student’s time at Denison. We expect our technology platforms to enhance the learning experience, and ideally, lessen administrative burdens.” In the near future university leadership will explore the possibility of expanding use of the platform to areas such as campus groups, extra-curricular activities and career exploration.
“We are excited,” says Notebowl founder & CEO Andrew Chaifetz, “to collaborate with Denison University to showcase the power of a social, student-centric learning experience. We’ll be working alongside Denison to not only enhance the learning experience and increase engagement in the classroom but also to better connect the campus experience outside the classroom. Ultimately, we’ll be helping Denison University to set the standard for student-centric learning environments in higher education.”
