What are they? What do they do? Why are they useful?

What are they?

What do they do?

Why are they useful?

Virtual Learning Environments

What is a VLEWhat is a VLE?

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

Web technology

The Virtual

Classroom

on-line deliveryinteraction/ response

assessment/ monitoringlearning programme

materials creation/importtutor support

advice/ guidance/interaction

learning process

teaching &learning support

sense of living cultureidentity/ belonging

peer interactiondynamic change

Made easy

The Virtual

Classroom

What is a VLE?

VirtualLearning

Environment

Virtualclassroom

MLEs and VLEs

ExamplesExamples

WebCTWebCT Virtual CampusVirtual Campus

COSECOSE LearnwiseLearnwise

TopClassTopClass

And many more....And many more....

BlackboardBlackboard

FunctionsFunctions

Shell for content

Communications

Assessment

Student tracking

Content - key Content - key issuesissues

• How is it created?

• How is it uploaded into the VLE?

• How easy is it to navigate round system?

Content Content navigationnavigation

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

Tools

Main Navigation

Sub-navigation

Communications: Communications: bulletin boardsbulletin boards

• Asynchronous • Threaded• Multiple boards/forums• Tutor support• Peer group support

Threaded

conversations

Communications:Communications:emailemail

• Internal to WebCT and other VLEs

• Useful for Web-based access

• Useful for those with no Internet email

Communications: Communications: chatchat

• Synchronous• Not threaded• Students like it• Effectiveness as teaching

tool?

User name

Message area

Assessment Assessment techniquestechniques

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

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

– cannot be automatically marked.

– can be automatically marked;

– 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.

AssessmentAssessment

Formative

versus

Summative

Student Student trackingtracking

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 forAdvantages forstudentsstudents

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

Advantages forAdvantages for staff staff

• Better support for students

• Ease of management

• Some automatic marking

• Easy to use

Advantages forAdvantages for technical support 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?What does it cost?

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

Other key issuesOther 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 info....

For more information see the Ferl VLE Focus Area at:

http://ferl.becta.org.uk/focus/vle/index.html