1. Procuring using the new Scottish VLE
A new VLE at
Procuring using the new Scottish VLE
Framework Agreement

2. About GSA Small specialist arts institution
2500 students, 300 teaching staff
TEL support: 4 members of staff (learning tech office) + additional .5 post for the new VLE project
Rolling out new VLE September 2017
Institutional Profile
TEL staff support all TEL and the library system, not solely supporting the VLE/LMS
Only an additional .5 position has been funded – this is quite a challenge

3. WE WEREN’T LOOKING FOR A NEW VLE….

4. Drivers for a new VLE Lack of student satisfaction
30% satisfaction with the Blackboard system reported by students. Affecting NSS results
Lack of staff uptake
Largely repository use only
Lack of Value
pricing model prohibitive; extra charges for app, support, etc
NSS Student Survey Resulse

5. APUC (Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges)
Simultaneous National (Scottish) and GSA VLE procurement exercises – the two were rolled into one
GSA as Vanguard (first to call off, first to implement)
GSA-specific Testing factored into framework weighting
framework contract for the provision of Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) solutions and services to Scottish institutions by APUC (Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges) Limited,
Establishing APUC in early 2007 was timely as it coincided with various changes to the EU procurement regulations, which have become significantly more bureaucratic and therefore resource-intensive. 

6. Typical Tender Procurement Process
Form Procurement Team
Develop Tender & Evaluation Criteria
Pre Qualifications (PQQ) long list of suppliers
Initial Evaluations of supplier responses
Tender Briefing Meeting
Issue Tender
Supplier Shortlist
Presentation visits
Selection
Negotiations of terms
Contract Award or Framework Ranking Determined
What a nightmare! AVOID AVOID AVOID!!!!
No guarantee of getting what you want at the end of it all
Word of advice offered to me at the start which I will pass on: Don’t do it if you don’t’ have to!

7. APUC: A national approach
ADVANTAGE TO THE SECTOR:
Streamlined approach to procurement (NO OJEU -  Official Journal of the European Union)
Direct call off or mini-competition (e.g. Stirling)
More competitive/better prices
Leveraged position

8. SurveyMonkey
SHORT – 4 questions, including open ended
94 respondents Summer of 2016
With 300 teaching staff this represents roughly a third of our VLE academic users so we were quite pleased with this turnout

9. Selecting The Testing Group

10. Criteria Commercial/ Technical ratio 30:70.
Technical Envelope – 70%
Service Delivery
70%
Sub-weightings Applied
Compliance with Specification 8%
Core VLE Functionality 9%
Course Testing (Vanguard Institution)
10%
Course Testing (Sector) 5%
Integration and Extension Capabilities
Access to Institution Data 2%
Support and Maintenance
Hosted Infrastructure
Project Management of System Implementation 7%
Innovation and Customer Leverage
Key Personnel
Service Performance Management & Escalation
Phase Out and Exit Strategy 1%
Sustainable Procurement
Criteria
Commercial/ Technical ratio 30:70.
The 70% Technical weighting was evaluated using the following award criteria A

11. The Contenders Brightspace/D2L Blackboard Canvas ItsLearning Moodle
This is the graphic I put together to entice students to join in the VLE testing.
We also gave them £10 printer credit.
We used the Student Association representatives. We have been in dialogue with the student association president from the outset so that news of this project and student involvement is in the forefront.

12. Evaluation Simple scoring by staff and student testing groups
3 – Good
The software design was found to be highly intuitive and engaging. Most of the GSA TEP were able to perform the set tasks without using any help, or when help was used it was contextual, located rapidly and of very good or excellent quality. Most members of the testing group were highly engaged with the participation and collaboration tools built within the System and found it easy to link with external Systems. The System meets all requirements.
2 – Acceptable
The software design is acceptable, with the core functions evident. Some were able to perform the set tasks in the testing environment without using help, and the contextual help was of a good standard. Most members of the testing group found the participation and collaboration tools built within the System to be acceptable, and were able to use integrated tools linking with external Systems. The System meets most requirements.
1 - Minor Concerns
Most found the design to be basic and adequate. Most members of the testing group required help to perform the set tasks and found it to be of an acceptable standard. Integrated tools were available but most found them to provide limited access or engagement. The System meets some requirements.
0 - Major Concerns
The Tenderer has failed to address the question, submitted a nil response or any element of the response gives cause for major concern.
Simple scoring by
staff and student
testing groups
Any of this documentation can be shared if anyone is interested

13. Implementation Plan

14. Training Schedule TEL Staff (US!) Academic Early Adopters
Support Staff
Ongoing summer workshops
BLITZ August and September
Targeted sessions by departments throughout year

15. Tips
Remember that most training will be ‘just in time’ (e.g. September). Tier 1 support is crucial for this reason.
Leave the dead wood - Start all courses from scratch if you can
Use a Template
Arrange workshops throughout the year on targeted, meaningful enhancements delivered to teams/subjects
If Canvas: don’t get too hung up on terminology. Modules, Courses, Programmes…
If you can avoid procurement, do so!

16. The Template

17. Starter Module
4 ‘Project’ stub
modules
Custom
menu

18. WHERE ARE WE NOW?

19. Contact us! Correy Murphy Digger Nutter
Blended Learning Coordinator, GSA
Digger Nutter
Tutor in Interior Design, Design School VLE Champion, GSA
We have a short amount of time to give you the overview of our project to date.