Venture Pitch Learn Now

Etec522Donna Powell Wilson

August 2010

Motto

To promote, create, maintain, and support a pioneering learning environment that meetsthe ever changing needs of the learner in a uUniversal and dynamic world.

Vision

With the use of free and open source software and modern technology technologies, Learn Now will make education accessible to all in a secure, convenient and comfortable environment.

Mission

Through the utilization of, and integration of online learning technologies, teacher facilitated learning, the students will be able to collaborate, interact, investigate, and make new knowledge in a learner centered environment.

The TEAM

At Learn Now , all team members are highly motivated with the requisite training and practical skills in teacher education, online learning, systems development, and learning technologies. The members of the team are all aware of their role in the overall success of the organization.

The TEAM

• CEO (1)• Instructional designers (1)• Educational technologists (1)• Subject specialists (1)• Technician (1)

Characteristics of the staff at Learn Now are:

The situation

There is a steady increase in the number of applicants to the programmes offered at thisteacher training institution. Specifically in themathematics department

The trend (mathematics department)

In the academic year 2007 -2008, 7 students In the academic year 2008-2009, 18 students In the academic year 2009-2010, 27 students This trend is expected to continue in the years to come.

The institution's proposal

The institution has proposed to offer online learning in the form of a mixed mode approach.

The administrators of the institution envision a face-to-face seminar every fortnight. This will be in the form of a tutorial where students will be given the opportunity to examine issues which were not adequately dealt with in the online forum.

Learn Now Proposal

Use online learning as the main delivery for the selected courses.

Use Moodle -learning management system called moodle. This system will provide the necessary course resources and communication links for the students..

What is Moodle?

Moodle internet based learning management system It supports social constructionist and constructivist framework of education.

Moodle, according to its developer Dougiamas, was built on the premise of social constructivist pedagogy. The tools in moodle promote collaboration and self evaluation.

A CUBE analysis of Learn Now and (Moodle)

• The cube analysis has six dimensions. These dimensions are used to describe Learn Now and Moodle.

Face 1: The Market Focus

Learn Now , developers of online courses using

the Moodle platform was created so as to provide technological and pedagogical support to post secondary institutions which are desirous of offering quality online classes to a wide range of learners at a reasonable cost.

Pedagogical Implications

A constructivist perspective views learners as actively engaged in making meaning, and requires that teaching looks for what students can analyse, investigate, collaborate, share, build and generate based on what they already know, rather than what facts, skills, and processes they can parrot (Dougiamas, 1998).

Pedagogical Implications

Social constructivism include negotiating meanings with students, class discussion, small-group collaboration, and valuing meaningful activity over correct answers (Wood et al, 1995).

Face 2:Type of offerings

Services: course design and evaluation. Content: content specialists who are able to build courseware.

Moodle is the online LMS which is used by us todeliver online content

Why Moodle?

Moodle is the most popular alternative learning management system (Corich, 2005) when compared to its major commercial counterparts.

Benefits of using Moodle

• Synchronous discussion• Chats

• Asynchronous discussions• Blogs• Forums• Emails

Benefits of using Moodle

• Free and Open Source Software• While Blackborad and WebCT are feature rich, they

come with a hefty price tag

• Can be used with other open source software

Moodle VS Blackboard

• Most of the tools found in Blackboard are also found in moodle.

• Moodle offers minimal online support in comparison to Blackboard.

• Moodle is a free and Open source software while Blackboard has a hefty price tag.

• Unlike Moodle, Blackboard has many features that enable it to be customized to meet the individual needs of an institution.

Face 3: Who is the buyer

Learn Now does not interact with learners directly. Therefore learning is bought for the learner. Initially this will be done by the institutions. In another 5 years we will expand our offerings to include regions in the country.

Face 4: Global Market

• English is the pre dominant language used at Learn Now.

• Moodle on the other hand has been used in 215 countries around the world. Moodle in in some 78 languages

Institutions which are using Moodle

• Institutions in the North Carolina Community College.

• Auckland University, New Zealand• University College of the Caribbean, Jamaica• University of Alberta, Department of Physics,

Canada• University of the West Indies, Mona

Why are these institutions using Moodle?

Their interaction with moodle began after Blackboard failed to deliver quality online classes to their students.

Moodle is free (the software cost nothing), andcan do similar job to Blackboard.

Face 5: Development of the market

Learn Now and Moodle supports the import of

content and infrastructure.

Face 6: Learning Technology Competing with Other Forms of

Learning

Learn Now was formed so as to give learners an

opportunity to pursue higher education with minimal interruption in their personal lives.

Why should you invest in Learn Now?

• Credibility of the team• We use Free and Open Source Software• Our product will produce industry ready

employees

Capital Appreciation

Buyers will them expand their offerings to include other programmes. They will become more competitive and attract more learners locally and international.

We are meeting the needs of the learners

• Learning will become more accessible to learners

• Learners will not neglect their families in order to attend classes

• Learners are able to learn at their own pace, place, and time

• Learners become more responsible

We are meeting the needs of the learners

• Communication and cooperation will be enhance – building of social skills

Some testimonies from users of moodle

"[Moodle] has all of the features we need to develop and deliver high-quality online courses. Students like the interface and find it easy to use...we are very satisfied with Moodle and look forward to expanded features and uses as time goes on.“ Blue Ridge Community College

Testimonies Cont’d

Moodle has proven to be a more user-friendly system resulting in increased use by the

majority of college faculty and more satisfaction [reported] from both faculty and students."

Isothermal Community College

Disadvantages of Moodle

Moodle does not supply the graphical reporting features of Blackboard.• There is no online help for moodle• Moodle does not use announcements,

however there is a news forum• The start up cost will be exuberant• As a new company there will be some

challenges

Invest in Learn Now, because ...

As an investor you will

• be given the opportunity to contribute to the educational development of hundreds of persons.

• be helping to keep families together• make huge profits on their investment• be contributing to the training of a

knowledgeable workforce

Reflection

As the CEO of Learn Now, I am aware of the challenges and strengths of offering this service. While the services we offer will meet the needs of all parties involved, the weaknesses of Moodle cannot be understated.

ReferencesBates, A.W. (2002) National Strategies for e-Learning in Post-Secondary Education and Training Paris: UNESCO/International Institute for Educational Planning

Bates, A. W. (2000). Managing technological change. Strategies for college and university leaders. San Fransciso: Jossey-Bass

Corich, S. (2005, December), Let’s Get Ready to Moodle. Bulletin of Applied Computing and Information Technology Vol. 3, Issue 3. ISSN 1176-4120. Retrieved June 18, 2010 from http://www.naccq.ac.nz/bacit/0303/2005Corich_LMS.htm

Hadzima, J. (2005). Starting up: Practical Advice for Entrepreneurs. Retrieved August 1, 2010 fromhttp://web.mit.edu/e-club/hadzima/seven-characteristics-of-highly-effective-entrepreneurial-employees.html

Open Source Collaborative: Moodle Assessment Report Executive Summary (2009).

ReferencesNorth Carolina Community College System. Retrieved June 14, 2010 from http://oscmoodlereport.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/osc_moodle_assessment_es.pdf

Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (1999). Building learning communities in Cyberspace: Effective strategies for online classroom. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Sinclair, G., McClaren, M., & Griffin, M. (2006). E-Learning & Beyond.www.moodle.org

Google images.