Plymouth University - SharePoint 2010 from SP 2007 Upgrade Case Study epc group,errin oconnor,gartner,sharepoint 2010,sharepoint consulting firm,sharepoint consulting services,sharepoint experts,sharepoint upgrade,sharpoint case study

1. Microsoft Server Product Portfolio
Customer Solution Case Study
University Integrates Social Networking and
Online Learning Tools into Curriculum
Overview ―Users were starting to ask us to look for other
Country or Region:United Kingdom
Industry:Education—Higher education providers for blogs and wikis, so the increased
institution
functionality of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010
Customer Profile was timely.‖
Plymouth University is the fifth-largest
Mandy Goss, Web Services Manager, Plymouth University
university in the United Kingdom, with
30,000 students. Known as ―the
enterprise university,‖around 12,000 of its
students undertake work experience each
Plymouth University is renowned for its strong commitment
year. to using the latest technology to enhance the learning
Business Situation
process. Since 2006, Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007
The university wanted to expand the way has been at the heart of a university project to update its
information was shared by incorporating
the social networking tools used by
web-based services for staff and students. Now it is adding
today’s students. more value to the teaching and learning experience by using
Solution
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 to improve collaboration
It updated its online portal by deploying and encourage students to take a proactive role in their own
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010,
incorporating blogs and wikis into the
education. Enhanced social networking capabilities help
tools available for teaching and learning. create a sense of community wherever students are located,
Benefits
while harnessing the communications tools they use in their
Better educational resources everyday lives and expect to be available at university.
Stronger sense of community
Improved revision resources
Streamlined coursework submission

2. Situation technical lead. When Microsoft Office
With 30,000 students and 3,000 staff, SharePoint Server 2007 became available,
―We needed a system Plymouth University is the fifth-largest the university quickly implemented it to
university in the United Kingdom (U.K.). It create a collaborative web-based teaching
that was wider than a describes itself as ―the enterprise and learning environment—called Tulip—
university,‖ and focuses heavily on skills supporting all programmes and modules.
learning platform—and a that will make students more employable, This was integrated and accessed through
bit more flexible—giving as well as being useful to them in the the university intranet.
workplace. In addition, it offers a range of
control to the owner of courses and qualifications across the arts, In 2010, the group wanted to add to the
education, health, science, and technology. success of the portal by expanding the way
eachsite.‖ The Peninsula College of Medicine and information was shared in line with
Mandy Goss, Web Services Manager, Dentistry and the Plymouth Business teaching and learning at the university.
Plymouth University School are part of the university. Goss says: ―We needed a system that was
wider than a learning platform—and a bit
About a quarter of the students attend more flexible—giving control to the owner
classes at the Plymouth University Colleges, of each site.‖
a network of partner providers serving local
needs in towns and communities across the Solution
south-west of England and the Channel The arrival of Microsoft SharePoint Server
Islands. This geographical dispersion and 2010 provided the university with an
the university’s emphasis on enterprise opportunity to meet increasing
mean that a proportion of the student expectations. This involved improved user
body is off-site on placement at any given interface and social computing features—
time, sometimes in mainland Europe and blogs and wikis—to create a truly
beyond. collaborative web-based teaching and
learning environment, integrated with and
For the seven years prior to 2007, academic accessible through the university intranet.
staff used Microsoft Exchange public Goss says: ―Users were starting to ask us to
folders to give students access to look for other providers for blogs and wikis,
information, such as lecture notes and so the increased functionality of Microsoft
presentations. This was well used and SharePoint Server 2010 was timely. On the
provided a good basic repository for other hand, the product wasn’t available
students. until May 2010, so having it up and running
for the start of the 2010–2011 academic
However, the folders were not collaborative year was a huge challenge.‖
spaces, and, by 2006, students expected
more online engagement with their The Plymouth University team rose to the
lecturers. As a result, a university-wide Web challenge. ―We worked against a tight time
Strategy Working Group was formed, scale and were under pressure to migrate
through which a five-year Intranet and sites and ensure that the underlying
Extranet Replacement Project was launched applications we’d built in Office SharePoint
with the aim of producing a single Server 2007 worked in SharePoint Server
technically integrated infrastructure. It is 2010,‖ says Goss. ‖But we met the
chaired by a member of University deadlineand the initial feedback from
Chancellery, with Mandy Goss, Web students and staff has been very positive.‖
Services Manager as project manager and

3. Benefits students is that they want staff to use it
Plymouth University is adding value to the more,‖ says Goss.
―Enthusiastic staff are teaching and learning experience by using
SharePoint Server 2010 to improve Social Networking Promotes a Stronger
already embracing all of collaboration and increase interaction Sense of Community
the new tools available between staff and students. It gives staff
the ability to manage and supplement their
By supporting the use of social networking
tools, such as blogs and wikis, SharePoint
to them, while others are teaching electronically, while students can Server 2010 encourages students to
use social networking tools, and, more connect with each other, a challenge for
using the basics.‖ importantly, take ownership of their own any learning institution. ―Students can
Mandy Goss, Web Services Manager, learning. The university expects its new create their own sense of community,
Plymouth University solution to boost productivity and create a encouraging them to engage fully in the
sense of community. ―We’re supporting learning process,‖ says Goss.
staff by giving them the tools they require
to work in a new way,‖ says Goss. Tools such as blogs and wikis ensure that
more subjective topics can be discussed
University Provides Better Educational and debated, with a level of moderation
Resources from staff members when required.
Lecturers can use the portal in a number of Presence awareness also builds the
ways—for example, they can post lecture cohesiveness of the group, with members
presentations, share information, manage able to chat and collaborate easily with
tasks, and run discussion areas. More than colleagues who may be using the site.
70 per cent of staff are using it to enhance
the teaching and learning experience for At the beginning of the 2010–11 academic
students. This will increase over time as year, Plymouth University had 700
Goss and her team collate development programme websites and 3,000 module
requests and evaluate which resources are websites owned and managed by lecturers.
most useful. ―Enthusiastic staff are already In addition, all staff and students have the
embracing all of the new tools available to opportunity to have a My Site, with
them, while others are using the basics,‖ approximately 15,000 student My Sites in
says Goss. ―Those who are more resistant operation at the end of 2010. In total, there
will most likely come on board as we are around 30,000 students and 3,000 staff
support their preferred approach. using the system. Initial measurement of
Transparency, openness, and visibility are use across all faculties shows that
the keys to success. The more staff have the approximately 60 per cent of
opportunity to understand what’s programme sites and 65 per cent of
happening, the more they engage with and module sites are in use. Staff say it’s too
support change.‖ early to measure teaching and learning
benefits, but there is continuous evaluation
By contrast, students have automatically through staff and student committees.
adapted to new technology. When logged
on, students can see all modules associated Wiki Helps Build Revision Resources for
with their courses. They also like the fact Students
that the courses they’re enrolled on are One example of assistance to students is
highlighted, streamlining usability. ―The where a wiki was used to build revision
most common feedback I get from resources. Staff posed questions and
students responded with practical

4. For More Information solutions. The wiki generated a thorough up to the due date
For further information about Microsoft discussion of possibilities and views, and
products and services, please visit: the resulting asset is now a revision SCOLAR is fully integrated into the
www.microsoft.com/uk resource for others. university’s processes for coursework
submission. It removes a host of
or call 0870 60 10 100* The sites regularly include links to possibilities for error, misunderstanding,
information for students to supplement and dispute, and staff say it is a positive
For hearing impaired customers with a lectures, and for them to investigate step towards setting the university’s
Minicom, contact: 0870 50 30 400* further. academic process on a more secure and
*Lines are open 8am–6pm, Monday to professional foundation.
Friday. Please note, numbers prefixed Online Application Streamlines
0870 will be charged at national call Coursework Submission
rates. For details of national call rate An important part of Tulip—the university’s
charges, please contact your web-based teaching and learning system—
telecommunications provider. is the university’s coursework submission
and assessment system, Submission of
For more information about Coursework Online and Remotely Microsoft Server Product Portfolio
PlymouthUniversity, call or visit the (SCOLAR). For more information about the Microsoft
website at: server product portfolio, go to:
www.plymouth.ac.uk Some students live far from Plymouth, so www.microsoft.com/servers/default.mspx
SCOLAR removes the need for them to
travel to campusto hand in and pick up
assignments. One student says: ―This is a
great idea, especially for students living
outside Plymouth, who have to travel to the
university just to submit work.‖
Coursework counts towards the students’
final grade, so carefully managing it online
removes many areas of uncertainty and
potential for error. For example, the system
automatically sends an email to confirm
successful submission.It also:
Handles group as well as individual
assignments
Allows guidance to be attached to an
assignment
Permits marking by more than one
marker
Provides for moderation procedures
Allows students to resubmit at any time
Software and Services
Microsoft Server Product Portfolio
− Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010
This case study is for informational purposes only.
MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.
Document published October 2011