We explain why and how the Teaching Management System (TMS) is being improved as part of Oxford’s Digital Transformation programme.
What is TMS?
TMS is a digital application used by academic and administrative staff involved in undergraduate teaching at colleges and departments across the University of Oxford. Its primary purpose is to administer tutorial reports and payments related to undergraduate tutorial teaching provided by or on behalf of colleges. The system was designed to streamline teaching-related processes and make it easier for educators to manage their teaching responsibilities.
What’s the story so far?
TMS was built internally in 2019-21 and made available to staff for day-to-day use. Since launching, TMS has been developed further in response to user feedback, but there was limited capacity to take on major changes. The feedback collected over the last three years has identified changes that are needed over and above standard support issues.
Why are improvements needed?
Feedback from end-users showed that the overall TMS user experience needs to be improved, alongside some performance issues.
What is being done?
TMS has been prioritised as a digital product to benefit from the new approach to Continuous Improvement being introduced as part of Digital Transformation. A pilot of this approach will run for an initial period of 6 months (until September 2024). Towards the end of this period, the Education Portfolio Committee will assess the progress that has been made and will consider how to take forward further improvements.
Alongside TMS, three other education systems (SITS, ADSS, Canvas) are also being improved by delivery teams (aka squads) using the Agile system development methodology, focusing on incremental delivery and ongoing improvement.
When will we start seeing results?
The TMS squad’s approach means end-users can start seeing valuable updates and get hands-on with improved features quickly and regularly rather than having to wait months until the end of a long system development phase. The first improvements are being released to ‘live’ TMS in June 2024, with continual incremental updates for the duration of the pilot.
Who benefits and how?
The improvements to TMS will benefit teaching and administrative staff by giving them a better end-user experience, saving time, and making the process of logging and processing tutorials more efficient.
Who decides which improvements are made first?
Given the agile approach of the squad, the list of changes and their priorities is being reviewed continuously. In addition, the TMS squad has started to engage with the TMS Management Committee and the TMS User Group to discuss priorities and focus areas. You can contact Femi Akinyemi (femi.akinyemi@it.ox.ac.uk) Business Change Manager and Jamie Taylor (jamie.taylor@it.ox.ac.uk) Product Owner (interim) to discuss this further.
How can staff and students get involved?
Many colleagues who use TMS (from colleges and departments) were asked to complete a survey last year; this provided a list of priority areas for the squad to focus on. On an ongoing basis, representatives from colleges and departments will meet as part of a TMS user group, from June 2024. When needed, students will also be given an opportunity to provide feedback via Student Digital Voice. When there is a set of new releases, email updates will be shared via TMS ‘change partners’ (a nominated individual for each department and college) for onward dissemination amongst their administrative and teaching colleagues.
If you would like to get involved in shaping TMS improvements, please contact the Digital Transformation Team by email: digital.transformation@admin.ox.ac.uk.
How can I find out more?
Find out more, here:
Staff - Teaching Management System | Academic Support (ox.ac.uk). and
Students - Teaching Management System | University of Oxford
