VUMA! Anke McCallum FROM INFANCY TO ADOLESCENCE: STATUS OF THE VUMA! PROJECT UNISA Library Research Seminar Friday 27 October 2006

VUMA! – LIFT OFF?? Not ready to launch Not ready to launch

HISTORY OF VUMA! VUMA! developed out of early FOTIM initiatives in areas of learning solutions & telecentres VUMA! developed out of early FOTIM initiatives in areas of learning solutions & telecentres To enable member institutions improve levels of service to students To enable member institutions improve levels of service to students Pilot Telecentre – put on hold indefinitely Pilot Telecentre – put on hold indefinitely Virtual Education Site – supported by FOTIM Board Virtual Education Site – supported by FOTIM Board

HISTORY OF VUMA! cont Objective : to broaden access to higher education programmes to broaden access to higher education programmes through a virtual site or portal through a virtual site or portal Available to any student from any FOTIM member institution Available to any student from any FOTIM member institution Providing access to a wide range of electronic services. Providing access to a wide range of electronic services. Site would allow students to customise the service to suit their own needs Site would allow students to customise the service to suit their own needs

YOUNG VUMA!

ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE FOTIM Exco and Board FOTIM Exco and Board VUMA! Governing Board VUMA! Governing Board Task Teams Task Teams Project Manager Project Manager Web Master Web Master External consultants External consultants Administrative support Administrative support

VUMA! NAMED VUMA named by Grade 12 learners

WHAT IS VUMA! ? A sophisticated website with some portal functionality, hosted on FOTIM server, accessed via Internet, providing & managing access to variety of services : -Links to relevant sites in public domain -Materials purchased by FOTIM -Materials made available by institutions e.g. life skills, study skills -Other appropriate materials

WHAT IS VUMA! ?

VIRTUAL TRAINING EXPERT

INTENDED CONTENT Info on FOTIM institutions Info on FOTIM institutions Practical advice on applying for loans, compiling CVs, portfolios etc. Practical advice on applying for loans, compiling CVs, portfolios etc. Life skills – stress, depression, HIV/AIDS, sexual harassment Life skills – stress, depression, HIV/AIDS, sexual harassment Computer & Information literacy Computer & Information literacy Writing & study skills, exam skills Writing & study skills, exam skills Typical exam questions, model answers Typical exam questions, model answers Many more… Many more…

VUMA!’S PLACE ON CAMPUS Not intended to duplicate services provided by institutions Not intended to duplicate services provided by institutions “Added value” “Added value” Although intended to be fun, aim is primarily academic and support Although intended to be fun, aim is primarily academic and support Will target entry level learners initially Will target entry level learners initially Develop into a site for all Develop into a site for all

VUMA!’S PLACE ON CAMPUS University Community Research Commons (Library, etc) Learning Commons (Web CT, etc) Knowledge/ Information Commons (Library etc) Campus Commons (SRC,Health,Sport, Learner Support) FORMAL LEARNING GOALS INFORMAL LEARNING GOALS VUMA!

UNDERSTANDING THE NET GENERATION Net Generation- born 1980s + Net Generation- born 1980s + Also called the Millennial Learner” Also called the Millennial Learner” Life experiences that shape today’s learner are quite different Life experiences that shape today’s learner are quite different Research shows: the younger Research shows: the younger the age group, the higher the percentage that use Internet for school, work & social

LEARNING PREFERENCES Digitally literate Digitally literate Immediate & multi-tasking Immediate & multi-tasking Thrive on hands-on learning Thrive on hands-on learning Social networking, mobile & Social networking, mobile &connected Prefer to learn & work in Prefer to learn & work inteams Oriented to inductive learning Oriented to inductive learning & crave interactivity Thrive in image-rich environments Thrive in image-rich environments Mention Google more than going to the library Mention Google more than going to the library

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY! It’s always been there for the Net Generation It’s always been there for the Net Generation They care about the activity technology enables, not technology per se They care about the activity technology enables, not technology per se Technology is invisible & intuitive – they multi-task, expect 24/7 access to information with zero tolerance for delays Technology is invisible & intuitive – they multi-task, expect 24/7 access to information with zero tolerance for delays VUMA! niche – “Guide on the Side” – guide, support & supplement formal learning VUMA! niche – “Guide on the Side” – guide, support & supplement formal learning

IMPLEMENTATION Various challenges facing us Various challenges facing us Under pressure to implement a.s.a.p. Under pressure to implement a.s.a.p. Site requires new design – pilot site not really “student friendly” Site requires new design – pilot site not really “student friendly” Urgent need for content Urgent need for content Urgent need to market to learners on campuses Urgent need to market to learners on campuses

SUPPORT We need the support and cooperation of our institutions -senior management -computer centres -faculties -academic staff -SRCs -learners

WHERE TO NOW? Appoint a Service Provider Appoint a Service Provider Design and Implementation Design and Implementation of Beta Version, Sourcing of Content, Assessment, Maintenance & Technical Support Marketing of Site to Students on Campuses Marketing of Site to Students on Campuses Launch during 2007?? Launch during 2007??

THANK YOU Anke McCallum Programme Manager FOTIM Tel :

QUESTIONS?