Transcript VLEs and MLEs Hugh Davis What’s in a Name? Blackboard WebCT Moodle LearnDirect @ The Research Questions    What is the difference between a VLE and an MLE? What.

VLEs and MLEs
Hugh Davis
What’s in a Name?
Blackboard
WebCT
Moodle
LearnDirect
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The Research Questions
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What is the difference between a VLE and an MLE?
What is the quality of learning in on-line environments? Are
there things you can’t do on-line? Are there things that are
better?
Do VLEs impose a particular pedagogic approach?
(The latter two will only make sense after the following lecture)
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Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
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mapping of the curriculum into elements (or ‘chunks’) that can
be assessed
tracking of student activity and achievement against these
elements
support of online learning, including access to learning
resources, assessment and guidance
online tutor support
peer group support
general communications, including email, group discussion and
web access
links to other systems, both in-house and externally
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Communication tools
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discussion boards supporting threaded discussions
integrated electronic mail
video conferencing
white-boards
on-line chat
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Moodle (A quick Case Study)
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You can see all this in more detail in the
Moodle Feature Demo Course at
http://moodle.org/course/view.php?id=34
 WYSIWIG editing of content
 Mail integration
 Courses can be packaged and zipped
 Users are Admin, teachers or students
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Plug-in authentication and LDAP as standard
 Languages and time zones supported
 Generic Linking!
 Full Maths notation
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Moodle Case Study (2)
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Moodle Case Study (3)
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Moodle Case Study (4)
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Moodle Case Study (5)
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Moodle Case Study (6)
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Learning Management System
Most definitions say LMS ≡ VLE. But some see LMS as the hub of a VLE
e.g.
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Managed Learning Environments
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MLEs are concerned with whole institutional systems
MLEs involve the interoperation of several separate systems Student Record Systems, Library Systems, Management
Information Systems, VLEs, timetabling systems and so on.
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Joined up systems for learners;
Joined up systems for institutions;
Instructional Management System (VLE);
Plagiarism detection;
Computer Assisted Assessment.
The interface to these joined up systems is often via a Portal
(e.g. SUSSED)
A complete Managed Learning Environment would provide all
the systems needed for a “Virtual University”
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The BECTa MLE diagram
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Scott Wilson’s 2005 “VLE of the future”
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Creative Commons Copyright Scott Wilson
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Follow up Questions
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Are at the end of the slides for the next lecture on models of
learning…..
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