What is a VLE? The Ferl Practitioners’ Programme Transforming Teaching and Learning with ILT U4.3a

What is a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)? U4.3a What is a VLE?

U4.3a A VLE is an integrated system for delivering and/or supporting distance and flexible learning using web technology What is a VLE?

A VLE must provide controlled, secure, access to the curriculum U4.3a User login and password via a standard web browser What is a VLE?

A VLE must provide a content management system U4.3a Support various file formats, ie Microsoft Office documents, web pages, pdfs etc. Make uploading materials uncomplicated Allow the easy assembly of programmes of learning What is a VLE?

A VLE must provide assessment features U4.3a Variety of assessments Tailor content in response to tests Ability for users to work off line What is a VLE?

A VLE must provide a variety of communication options U4.3a Discussion forums Chat What is a VLE?

Using the VLE’s system U4.3a should be accessible from any Internet-connected machine Messages are recorded within the VLE, rather than outside it in a separate package - useful for portfolio and assessment purposes The administrative overhead of setting up VLE is zero - learners have access a soon as they are given a VLE account What is a VLE?

Using the VLE’s Discussion and Chat U4.3a Ability to set up closed or open discussion groups or chat Messages are recorded within the VLE which is useful for portfolio and assessment purposes Like , the overhead of setting up VLE discussions is zero - learners have access a soon as they are given a VLE account What is a VLE?

A VLE must offer tracking of learners’ activity and achievements U4.3a offer comprehensive programme administration offer on-going tracking and monitoring of progress offer progress reports on both the individual learner and on groups of learners VLEs should: What is a VLE?

A VLE must provide links to other administrative systems, both in house and externally U4.3a Communicate with the MIS Share data with other electronic packages such as e-portfolios or electronic records of achievement What is a VLE?

A VLE must be customisable U4.3a Allow users to change the look and feel of the environment - change colours, insert a college logo, alter fonts and images to make them larger or smaller Allow users to create programme templates What is a VLE?

U4.3a User system Discussion group system Content-delivery system Assessment and tracking system Instead of many separate systems: MIS links which all look and feel different... What is a VLE?

U4.3a User discussions content assessment We have: tracking MIS links secure login An integrated package that includes all the functions What is a VLE?

U4.3a This integrated environment makes it easier for practitioners, learners and managers to engage with the teaching and learning process What is a VLE?

Advantages for practitioners Quicker to learn to use Ease of administration Automatic marking of assessments Better support for learners Easy to upload content U4.3a What is a VLE?

U4.3a Karen Bryan, Internet Development Supervisor. “In the past staff had to send content to us to put on the intranet and that could take weeks or months, and people didn’t use it. The main thing for me now is that people do now use it, they put their own things on there, they do feel ownership. ” “ Soon, everything will be accessible in one place from anywhere - that’s the future!” What is a VLE?

Advantages for technical support Installation is made easy Little need for technical support after installation Training is simple Security is ensured User and course administration is easy U4.3a What is a VLE?

Advantages for managers More cost-effective than running different systems Provides integrated service for practitioners and learners More efficient use of staff time Beneficial effects on recruitment, retention and achievement U4.3a What is a VLE?

U4.3a John Proctor, Business Development Executive for Print. “If the college hadn’t gone down this route, we would have seen a decline in numbers. However, we’re seeing an increase in numbers, so much so that we’re increasing the number of staff.” “This has really caught the imagination of the print industry!” What is a VLE?

U4.3a Glen Woodcock, Staff Development Manager. “One of the concerns our tutors have is that the technology will remove them from the classroom. That is certainly not the case.” “With the advent of the VLE, learners can access it outside of the college, so the learning can take place outside the classroom too.” What is a VLE?

Advantages for learners Easy to use Can encourage learner autonomy Can improve learner management of learning process Can lead to flexibility of access to learning U4.3a What is a VLE?

U4.3a Tony Weston, ILT Development Manager “When the VLE was first introduced, it was monitored closely. The learners really use this, they gain from it - it was quite the reverse of what a lot of people expected! Our achievement figures show this.” What is a VLE?

U4.3a The disadvantages Can be seen as a technical fix System can be inflexible VLEs are not value free Requires large initial investment in time and resources to set up Easy to underestimate training required for staff (and learners) What is a VLE?

U4.3a John Moulson, Director of Quality “It’s very easy to put technology in place. It took us a year to do that. Bringing the people on board took a lot longer!” What is a VLE?

U4.3a …is in the simple things. A French 'Listening' class working with sound files produced by native speakers, being able to concentrate on their French and not on the mechanics of getting equipment to work, or on being in an artificial setting like the language laboratory. Being able to run animated clips of processes like mitosis (the mechanics of cell division). Being able to provide physics learners with animation in which they can vary forces and see before their very eyes what happens to a pendulum - with the associated applied mathematics on screen beside it. Letting learners read a history article, click on the name of an historical figure and glance at the relevant biography before returning to the original account with a clearer image of the person behind the event. But the real joy of VLEs... What is a VLE?