1. One day Workshop/Conferenceat
De Montfort University
Leicester City Campus
Kimberlin Library
14 August 2002
22/11/2018

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

3. 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

4. Schedule for the Day
22/11/2018

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

6. 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

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

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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

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

17. 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

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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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: , discussions, groups
Tracking and Reporting
22/11/2018

22. 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

23. 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: , discussions, whiteboard
Tracking and Reporting
22/11/2018

24. 22/11/2018

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. Demonstrations
22/11/2018

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

33. 22/11/2018