Equivalent to a 125-page workbook or a two-day workshop, this Web Tool lays out 12 major action steps, specific recommendations for a range of circumstances, and guidance for planning and implementing any educational initiative that involves technology. You also get a dozen planning forms and four spreadsheet templates for key aspects of the decision-making process, plus links to vendor sites, software reviews, comparison sites, potential funding sources, and an annotated book list hot-linked to Amazon.com.

Nothing in the Web Tool advocates for any particular brand of course management software. Rather, you use the tool to develop your own thinking, address your own needs and preferences, and make selections that are appropriate to your school.

Web Tool Features 

When you purchase this FutureU Planning Tool, here is what you get:

• A comprehensive definition of course management software, broken down by feature to help sharpen your own understanding and give you some language for educating others at your school.


• An in-depth look at technology-enriched education itself, again to help you articulate your plan, including:


• An electure written by FutureU founder Claude Whitmyer, one of the early pioneers in the field.
• Links to several respected research sites that explore the impact of technology on learning in a way that allows you to compare the experiences of other schools to yours and to the decisions you face.
• Online access to a well-written case study involving seven instructors at a major American university.
• An introduction to seminal books in the field, for a historical and theoretical perspective.


• A comprehensive checklist of potential outcomes, to help you identify precisely what your school is committed to delivering with technology, so that you don't end up buying more software or hardware than you actually need.


• A checklist of potential audiences to help you further define the scope of your plan.


• A procedure for determining the likelihood of your plan's success based on your school's past experiences with technology-mediated education or communication and on the role of technology in your school's overall mission and goals.


• Three comprehensive tools for assessing your stakeholders' readiness in terms of their need, their technical skills, and their attitudes. These tools will help you plan the timing of your purchase and avoid buying software too early or too late.


• A checklist for determining whether your school has all the hardware and ancillary software necessary to use course management software.


• A checklist to help you estimate your staffing needs.


• A checklist for determining whether you have the necessary funding for everything else involved in technology-enriched education besides the software itself.


• A hot-linked list to more than a dozen Web sites associated with potential funding sources for technology-enriched education.


• A checklist to help you identify all the time constraints that could influence your plan and the timing of your software purchase.


• An Excel spreadsheet for organizing your thoughts around all the resources of technology, staffing, funding, and time.


• Descriptions of the dozen or more likeliest scenarios at your school, each hot-linked to a recommendation from FutureU to help you clarify and commit to your purpose for technology-enriched education. One of the most popular parts of the entire Web Tool.


• An Excel spreadsheet for helping you clarify which of more than 100 possible features you want from course management software and how soon you should buy.


• A questionnaire to help you determine what to look for in a course management software vendor.


• A hot-linked list to more than a dozen vendor Web sites and their demonstration sites, to help you easily compare products.


• Hot links to a dozen web sites where course management software is reviewed and compared.


• Two Excel spreadsheets to help you match your needs to the available products on the market.

Web Tool Benefits 

• Greater likelihood of making the best possible choices for your school.


• The confidence that comes from taking a well-organized approach to an important project.


• Greater clarity about both the big picture and the smallest details.


• Broader support from stakeholders.


• Greater clarity about future needs for funding and training.


• Multiple chances to prevent or eliminate errors or omissions in your thinking (Have you really weighted all the factors in choosing software?).


• Enhanced results at every stage.


• The security of knowing that you always have easy access to advice and support from peers involved in the same process.


• A much easier experience overall.


• Continued reassurance that you're on the right track.

Web Tool Price 

Retail: $500
Full refund if not completely satisfied within 30 days of your purchase.

On sale now for only $50.00 Buy Now using your personal or departmental credit card. Just $50.00

For quantity purchases call 415-824-7726 or send an email query specifying the quanity you wish to purchase.

Technical Information 

This Decision Makers Planning Tool by FutureU consists of a password protected, dynamic web site so that we can easily update the content and links making the most current information available to you. To access it, you'll need a standard browser such as Internet Explorer and a dial-up or high-speed connection to the Internet.

About FutureU 

FutureU publishes Web books, provides online and face-to-face learning experiences, consults with institutions, and studies the fields of online education and communications.

Visit the FutureU Web site for more information or for access to books, tapes and other resources.

For more information, please contact Gail Terry Grimes, CEO, at 415/824-7726 or Claude Whitmyer, Chief Information Officer, at 415/648-2667.