One day Workshop/Conference at De Montfort University Leicester City Campus Kimberlin Library 14 August 2002 22/11/2018

MLE (JCIEL) and ANGEL (DNER) Welcome John Eyre Project Manager MLE (JCIEL) and ANGEL (DNER) 22/11/2018

People to talk to John Eyre - Project Manager Roy Adams – Director of Information Services and Systems Ian Bloor – Dissemination and Promotions Mark Simpson – Usability and Evaluation Alan Glover – Developer (Back-end connectivity) Steve Beech – Developer (ANGEL middleware) Jason Ferguson – Developer (MLE core system) Sonya Osborne – Administration 22/11/2018

Schedule for the Day 22/11/2018

Information Services and Systems Introduction Roy Adams Director of Information Services and Systems 22/11/2018

The MLE Concept DMU, MLE project (virtual desk): about 3 years ago Information Services & Systems Learning Technologies Electronic Library about 3 years ago 22/11/2018

The Drivers Learners Efficiencies Effectiveness Next step Widening participation New learning styles Study times Study options Efficiencies Effectiveness Next step 22/11/2018

Virtual Desk Demonstrator A prototype developed using Perl & Apache Web Server Student login and be presented with pages that reflected their course and modules Allowed searching of some resources (e.g. previous exam papers) 22/11/2018

Related Initiatives Student Records Finance Curriculum Database Timetabling Library resources Smart Cards Human resources Directory Service 22/11/2018

The JCIEL Project Bid Ideas from groups create MLE bid Project start 1st Sept 2002 Senior Management Group Project reporting to University Executive Committee Currently led by PVC for L&T Project sustained at time change 22/11/2018

Student focused Relationship between student and staff needs Expectations staff – deliver University IT configuration Track record Extent versus depth Deliverables for JISC 22/11/2018

Project Team Senior Management Group Internal Steering Group 4 Senior Staff plus Project Manager Internal Steering Group 12 Senior Staff, 2 Students plus the SMG Project team Project Manager, Promotions Officer, User Issues Researcher, 2 Developers and Administrator 22/11/2018

Aims Demonstrate how MIS and Learning systems can be brought together Usability, Security, Robustness, Extensibility, Open Develop a generalisable model Produce guidelines and disseminate 22/11/2018

Post Project University MLE Implementation Group early 2002 Replace existing VLE environments The Project Team retained until Jan 2003 internal funding First stage release version October 2002 Define development programme Feb 2003 onwards 22/11/2018

Staff Portal Parallel development Access to business systems Web applications / Citrix Web Virtual private networking 22/11/2018

Future Integrate service – students / staff? MLE Students / Staff JISC projects Virtual learning environment E-Directory IMS 22/11/2018

Aims Demonstrate how MIS and Learning systems can be brought together Usabaility, Security, Robustness, Extensibility, Open Develop a generalisable model Produce guidelines and disseminate 22/11/2018

and Ian Bloor (costs/benefits) MLE Management Issues John Eyre Overview followed by demos and Ian Bloor (costs/benefits) 22/11/2018

Outline for this session Definitions / Characteristics of V/MLEs MLE Architecture – Introduction only What, Who, Why, Where, When and How Demonstration of current prototype Some of the Costs / Benefit Issues Questions and Tea/Coffee Break 22/11/2018

Managed Learning Environment Other name: “Student Portal” not equivalent Joined-Up Software Applications You can’t buy one Examples include: Commercial Oracle Portal VLE Vendors claim MLE features University developed – uPortal (starting to “Join-up” some things -WebCT) 22/11/2018

Managed Learning Environment Characterised by: On-line: Internet access Single-sign-on (almost) Personalised interface Secure access to all back-end systems and services Supports off-line systems Educational Support Features: Better access to administrative data Course-level rather than Module-level features Communications: email, discussions, groups Tracking and Reporting 22/11/2018

Virtual Learning Environment Other name: Learning Management System Single Software Application Examples include: Commercial – WebCT, Blackboard, Fretwell Downing Wolf > Granada Learnwise University developed – COSE, Colloquia, Bodington 22/11/2018

Virtual Learning Environment Characterised by: On-line: Internet, Intranet (sync, async) Academic management of module materials Electronic delivery of module materials Usually web servers with file upload Educational Features: Interactive learning? Question and Test, Assessment, Feedback Communications: email, discussions, whiteboard Tracking and Reporting 22/11/2018

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So, What is an MLE? A Complete on-line Support System for the Student’s Learning Experience, while associated with an Educational Institution Covers Social and Welfare issues as well as Administration, Learning and Teaching Provides Staff interfaces 22/11/2018

Why would you need one? Helps to focus institutional IT developments Takes pressure off Admin Services Delivers a consistent on-line service Growing user expectations Costs and Benefits are difficult to quantify (Ian will discuss further) 22/11/2018

Who needs to be involved? Pretty much – everyone Or at least a rep from each area Information Services, Learning & Teaching, Library, Student Services, Disability Unit, Student Union, Senior Management Group Core team – skills needed Project Management and Promotion, User Requirements and Evaluation, Technical Development, Design, Educational 22/11/2018

Where to locate the Core? Needs to report to senior management Should be promoted as “Independent” Relates well to IS and L&T functions Give them a big office with an ice-cream machine 22/11/2018

When should you start? Haven’t you started yet? The tools are available now There is a growing base of expertise Most institutions are re-assessing their IT infrastructure, support services, L&T strategies and data management 22/11/2018

How? We’ll be looking at this in more detail Define what you want it to do Design a user interface and navigation Test the interface with potential users Choose development tools Choose hardware platform and staff Create a prototype and test it Build the production system and test it 22/11/2018

Demonstrations 22/11/2018

MLE Management Issues Ian Bloor Costs / Benefits 22/11/2018

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