celtic webct vle presentation
TRANSCRIPT
April 12, 2023 1
Enhancing life-long learning, teaching and research through information resources and services
April 12, 2023 2
Dr Elaine Swift
Education and Training Manager
Educational Development Unit
Nottingham Trent University
Selecting a next generation virtual learning platform for the University
April 12, 2023 3
Selecting a Next Generation VLE
• What do we need to consider in selecting a new VLE
• Why change and how did we enable this to happen?
• Process of Procurement– Tender Process– Project Engagement with University Stakeholders– Pinning down ‘The One’
• Dotting the ‘i’s and crossing the ‘t’s
• A ‘Bewildering roller-coaster ride’ -reflections on the process
• And would we do it all again?
• Where are we now?
April 12, 2023 4
Selecting a Next Generation VLEInfluences on the Selection Process
April 12, 2023 5
Selecting a Next Generation VLE
Why Choose a new VLE?
• 2004: Strategic Plan and eLearning - strengthen its use of blended and online learning across the NTU
• Home-grown, bespoke Virtual Learning Portal (VLP) but lack of strategic development coupled with long term support issues meant it was time for re-evaluation.
• To ensure impartiality, an external company was hired to conducted staff and student facilitated workshops to define what a successful eLearning environment would entail.
April 12, 2023 6
Selecting a Next Generation VLE
Why Choose a new VLE?
e-Learning Requirements – Academic Staff
Training & support
Flexibility - all learning styles / needs
Reliable, accessible, scalable, secure
User friendly
Content - creation, management, variety
Integration with other Central Systems
Institutional planning, engagement & resourcing
Online community for L & T
Focused on Student learning
Compliance
Variety of assessment options
Embedded as part of Academic role
Learner activity data
Cross-platform compatibility
Packaging - presentation, design
Private & shared work space inside & outside NTU
Search engine across everything
Feedback on learning
Alumni Services
Training & support
Flexibility - all learning styles / needs
Reliable, accessible, scalable, secure
User friendly
Content - creation, management, variety
Integration with other Central Systems
Institutional planning, engagement & resourcing
Online community for L & T
Focused on Student learning
Compliance
Variety of assessment options
Embedded as part of Academic role
Learner activity data
Cross-platform compatibility
Packaging - presentation, design
Private & shared work space inside & outside NTU
Search engine across everything
Feedback on learning
Alumni Services
LOW Relative Importance HIGH
0 % 50 % 100 %
LOW Relative Importance HIGH
0 % 50 % 100 %
April 12, 2023 7
Selecting a Next Generation VLE
Why Choose a new VLE?
e-Learning Requirements - Students
Online community for L & T
Content - consistency, timely, up to date
Seamless access to resources
User friendly
Personalised - Information; Presentation
Flexibility for all learning styles / needs
Training & Support
Reliability
Feedback on Learning
Available 24/7 with appropriate IT & Resources
Search engine across everything
Online submission
Security of information
Self Assessment
Online results
Shared workspace
Online community for L & T
Content - consistency, timely, up to date
Seamless access to resources
User friendly
Personalised - Information; Presentation
Flexibility for all learning styles / needs
Training & Support
Reliability
Feedback on Learning
Available 24/7 with appropriate IT & Resources
Search engine across everything
Online submission
Security of information
Self Assessment
Online results
Shared workspace
LOW Relative Importance HIGH
0 % 50 % 100 %
LOW Relative Importance HIGH
0 % 50 % 100 %
April 12, 2023 8
Selecting a Next Generation VLE
Why Choose a new VLE?
• From focus groups a survey was produced that engaged all stakeholders in ensuring that the right functionality and aspirations were being sought.
• Through both methods of engagement it was also possible to capture– Success criteria– Risks– Issues– Dependencies
April 12, 2023 9
Selecting a Next Generation VLE
Process of Procurement
• EU Tendering Process adopted allowing potential flexibility about the final specification, pricing and contract terms
• Of the 39 organisations that expressed an interest each was sent a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) based on the findings of workshops with community
• 10 responses were evaluated by Project Team and members of one of the Project’s workstreams resulting in 4 shortlisted organisations
April 12, 2023 10
Selecting a Next Generation VLE
Project Engagement with Stakeholders – Getting a Shortlist
VLE Steering Committee
VLE Consultative GroupProject Team
DLKR, Project Manager, Work Stream Leaders
Quality Assurance Work Stream
Information Gathering and Testing Work Stream
Data Migration Work Stream
Training and Support Work Stream
Procurement and Due Diligence Work Stream
Technical and Interfaces Work Stream
Communication Work Stream
Legal and Regulatory Work Stream
Business Processes
April 12, 2023 11
Selecting a Next Generation VLE
Pinning Down the ‘One’
• Each supplier had a day to give demonstrations.
• Stakeholders from Academic Colleges, Information Systems, Libraries and Learning Resources and Student Support Services given opportunities to observe and assess suppliers’ systems
• Members of Information Gathering workstream conducted site visits after which 2 suppliers finally selected on grounds that they best matched NTU’s functional and technical requirements.
April 12, 2023 12
Selecting a Next Generation VLE
Pinning Down the ‘One’
• Final two suppliers were issued with a tender document providing the detailed the functional, technical, support and training requirements of a VLE.
• Suppliers were assessed against their response to the tender document by Project Team and Information Gathering and Testing workstream
• Further evaluation of systems with all students and staff able to participate and feedback either via formal evaluation methods or informal.
• Large amount of work on accessibility with internal review
• In tender evaluations one supplier came out: Desire2Learn
April 12, 2023 13
Selecting a Next Generation VLE
Dotting the ‘i’s and crossing the ‘t’s
• D2L invited to make Best and Final Offer
• A lot of contract negotiations
• And a substantial due diligence – Blackboard Patent Litigation
• Recommendation finally made to VLE Steering Committee to proceed with purchase of Desire2Learn
April 12, 2023 14
Selecting a Next Generation VLE
A ‘bewildering roller-coaster ride’ -reflections on the Process
• Process of procurement was long but engagement with the various communities that comprise our stakeholders was vital
• We have had academic and professional services engagement all the way through the process.
- ‘Beyond seeing what functionality and new ideas are outside of our world, the process has been both thorough and thought provoking. ….. It's been a journey of discovery and self-discovery that has led us to Desire2Learn, and to a new way of thinking about e-learning in NTU.’ Senior NTU Lecturer
April 12, 2023 15
Selecting a Next Generation VLE
And would we do it all again?
Yes but…..
• Choosing a VLE vendor with little presence outside North America brings cultural challenges both to NTU and D2L
• Allowing more opportunity to explore how that relationship would develop would have been of benefit to both parties
April 12, 2023 16
Selecting a Next Generation VLE
Almost One Year On,
• Currently in the process of implementing VLE
• Have taken the workstream approach and stakeholder involvement into this phase.
• Currently in process of upgrading to latest version to enable us to evaluate ePortfolio tool in detail
• Launching system to students in September.
April 12, 2023 17
Selecting a Next Generation VLE
Thanks to…
Sue McKnight, Director of Libraries and Knowledge Resources
Mark Deeley, VLE Project Manager
VLE Project Team