Virtual Learning Environments What are they?

What do they do?

Why are they useful?

What is a VLE?

A tool for delivering and/or supporting distance and flexible learning using Web technology

What is a VLE?

learning process Virtual classroom on-line delivery interaction/ response assessment/ monitoring learning programme The Made Virtual easy teaching & learning support sense of living culture materials creation/import tutor support advice/ guidance/ interaction identity/ belonging peer interaction dynamic change

MLEs and VLEs

Examples

WebCT COSE TopClass Virtual Campus Learnwise Blackboard And many more....

Functions

Shell for content Communications Assessment Student tracking

Content - key issues

• How is it created?

• How is it uploaded into the VLE?

• How easy is it to navigate round system?

Content navigation

• Backwards/forwards through hierarchy • Jump to anywhere • Search routines • Internal and external links • Glossary • Resume where left off • Post it notes • etc.

Main Navigation Sub navigation Tools

Communications: bulletin boards • Asynchronous • Threaded • Multiple boards/forums • Tutor support • Peer group support

Threaded conversations

Communications: email • Internal to WebCT and other VLEs • Useful for Web-based access • Useful for those with no Internet email

Communications: chat • Synchronous • Not threaded • Students like it • Effectiveness as teaching tool?

User name Message area

Assessment techniques • Free-text submission - e.g. email an essay to tutor.

• Multiple choice, boolean, fill matching, image maps, multiple correct answer, etc.

– cannot be automatically marked.

– can be automatically – can be set up so student must take at a particular time/date, lasting a certain time; – can restrict number of attempts; – can automatically tailor courseware on results.

Assessment

Formative versus Summative

Student tracking

Typically: • What they’ve read, and when; • Results recording and stats; • What tests completed and outstanding; • Plus, of course, logs of email, bulletin boards, chat.

Advantages for students • Accessible anytime • Accessible anywhere • Always up-to-date • Electronic support • Interaction with peer group • Flexible access to learning • Easy to use

Advantages for staff • Better support for students • Ease of management • Some automatic marking • Easy to use

Advantages for technical support • Bespoke packages - integrated; • Little technical support needed after installation; • May need an administrator to create courses and upload content.

What does it cost?

• Cost of VLE software; • Purchase/production of content; • Staff training; • On-going costs.

Other key issues

• JISC developing standards/specification for VLE (which existing VLEs will be invited to meet) – to link to MIS – interoperability

For more info....

For more information see the Ferl VLE Focus Area at: http://ferl.becta.org.uk/focus/vle/index.html