death of the vle? professor mark stiles head of learning development and innovation staffordshire...

Death of the VLE?

Professor Mark Stiles

Head of Learning Development and InnovationStaffordshire University

The death of the VLE…

VLEs appear to be in “robust good health”, but:

• How did we all come to use them?

• How have they developed?

• How are we using them?

• Do we actually need them?

• What is the state of the market and change?

Are there symptoms we should be examining?

MMIT Liverpool Dec 2006

What is a VLE?

A Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is a system that creates an environment designed to facilitate teachers in the management of educational courses for their students, especially a system using computer hardware and software, especially involving distance learning.

(Wikipedia)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_Learning_Environment

What is a VLE?

A Virtual learning environment (VLE) is a software system designed to facilitate teachers in the management of educational courses for their students, especially by helping teachers and learners with course administration. The system can often track the learners' progress, which can be monitored by both teachers and learners. While often thought of as primarily tools for distance education, they are most often used to supplement the face-to-face classroom.

(Wikipedia)


What does a VLE provide?

Syllabus Admin info – session locations, pre/co requisites, how getting help Notice boardStudent registration and tracking Complete course content or copies of visual aids/handoutsAdditional resources, links to resources in libraries and on Internet. Self-assessment quizzes scored automatically Formal assessment procedures Communications - e-mail, threaded discussions, chat room, with/without moderator Differential access rights for instructors and students (Roles)Production of statistics for administration and quality control All capable of being hyperlinked together Easy authoring tools or standard office software used for authoring. Supporting numerous courses to provide a consistent interface

.(Wikipedia)


Early VLE History?

History of VLEs in Wikipedia (Created in response to the Blackboard Patent):

– Internet based learning systems since late 1970s– First thoughts on using WWW for learning systems 1989– Earliest use early 1990s– Earliest systems satisfying “VLE description” elements 1995-7

from:(eg Intralearn, Docent, Lotus Notes, Mallard, WOLF, FirstClass, WEST, MadDuck, WebCT, COSE, Colloquia, LearningSpace, Boddington, Fretwell Downing)


The market…

“old” edutools site


The market…

“new” edutools site – list of “new” reviews

Overwhelming market majority is Blackboard + WebCT + Moodle


Blackboard…

1997 Founded as a consulting firm contracting to IMS Global Learning Consortium

1998 Merged with CourseInfo LLC, a small course management software provider to become Blackboard Inc. First products branded as Blackboard Courseinfo - Courseinfo brand dropped 2000.

2000 Acquired MadDuck Technologies - Web-Course-in-a-Box. 2000 Acquired AT&T Campuswide Access Solutions and CEI

SpecialTeams - software formed basis for Blackboard Commerce Suite

2002 Acquired Prometheus, a course management software provider 2003 Acquired the SA Cash division of Student Advantage. 2006 Acquired rival WebCT Inc., forming the largest e-learning

company in US in terms of total users.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebCT

Moodle…

• Creation of Martin Dougiamas• 18,204 registered sites with 7,270,260 users in 712,531

courses • 152 registered Moodle sites that are larger than 5,000

users• Moodle market share only below Blackboard• Open Source• Since 1999 (2001 with the current architecture)• OU building site for 200,000 users


What do they look like now?

Leading systems have:

“Repositories”

“Portfolios”

“Extensive Gradebooks”

“Integration with corporate systems”

“Bolt-ons”


What DID we do with them?

Drivers for “early adopters” were:

• Student centeredness• Large numbers• Diversification• Pedagogic change• Distance learning

Plus pressure from Government – eg Dearing



Drivers for “early majority” in 2002 were:

Top 10 reasons for selection:– Ease of use in general 31– Ease of use staff 30– Cost 21– Flexibility/Versatility 16– Integration with MIS 15– Widely used 14– Functionality/Features 13– Pedagogic/Educational 13– Imposed/A mystery 10– Own system 10



“JISC MLE Landscape” in 2003 was:

Vast majority using a VLE and 73% involved in MLE development

Drivers for development:– Enhancing the quality of teaching and learning– Improving access to learning for students off campus– Widening participation/inclusiveness– Student expectations– Improving access for part-time students– Using technology to deliver “eLearning”

Perceived disadvantages:– Cost and time involved– Resistance to culture change– Need for large scale staff development


What are we doing with them?

From 2005 JISC MLE “Landscape Study” of UK HE and FE consultation document:

…the results also show two thirds of modules of study being web supplemented which would seem to indicate that the ‘stuff your notes into your VLE’ model is prevalent and increasing

Reason given by bodies consulted was usually – as a “starter” to encourage uptake

Is this true?


What are we doing with them?

Besides “the usual” content delivery, discussions etc

• Mostly linked to MIS systems• Use for assessment• Add on portfolio systems• Increasingly, add-on wikis, blogs etc• Bolt-on repositories• Bolt-on CMS• Bolt-on authoring tools


Are we producing bloated systems?


Do we need all this?

Is the VLE the “right place” for everything?

Is incorporation of new features necessary?

Integration and interoperation are subtly different?

What ARE the essential features of a VLE?


Do we need all this in a VLE?

Syllabus – portal to MIS system?Admin info – portal to MIS system? Notice board – at what level?Registration – the job of a SRS?Tracking – does anyone use it?Content - repositoryResources, links – at what level? Library systems? Self-assessment – assessment system? Formal assessment – assessment system? SRS? e-mail – in what context? Threaded discussions – who likes threads? Best system?Chat room – best system? RolesStatistics for administration and quality control – in what context?Authoring – best system? Consistent interface – how important?


Do we need all this in a VLE?

Core VLE function?– Structuring the learning experience at

module/activity level

We have now:– ePortfolio systems– Assessment systems– Portals– Repositories– Reading list systems– And of course – MIS, SRS etc etc


The eFramework


Personal Information – Change

The new web…

Web 2 applications:

Level 3: The application could ONLY exist on the net, and draws its essential power from the network and the connections it makes possible between people or applications. Wikipedia, del.icio.us, Skype, Flock

Level 2: The application could exist offline, but it is uniquely advantaged by being online. Flickr

Level 1: The application can and does exist successfully offline, but it gains additional features by being online. Google Docs and Spreadsheets

Level 0: The application has primarily taken hold online, but it would work just as well offline if you had all the data in a local cache. Google Maps

(O’Reilly 2006)


The new web…

Web 2 applications:

• Sharing• Collaboration• Learner initiated• Informal learning• Diverse communities• Outside institutional control

Unstoppable?


The new web… Questions

• How do formal and informal learning relate?

• How do we manage learning in this new world?

• Which Web 2 tools do WE need to provide?

• What do we actually NEED to control?

• CAN we control it?

• Is bolting Web 2 tools into a VLE the answer?


The new web… Factors

Control and ownership:

• Control• Manage • Facilitate • Enable • Recognise

Are we control freaks?


The new web… Factors

Formal – Informal Osmosis…

• How will we integrate formal and formal learning?• How will we differentiate between them?• How will we articulate our intended learning strategies?• How will we access the learners’ outputs?• How will cope with learners using THEIR choice of tool?


Conclusion – death of the VLE?

Not yet BUT:• We don’t need “monoliths” any more• Corporately initiated processes will be dealt with by

interoperating “our choice” systems• Student initiated processes will be done on the web

using their choice of tool• Tutor initiated processes will be done HOW?

We need to focus on what we NEED that a VLE providesuniquely


The future VLE?


Thank you for your time and patience

[email protected]

www.staffs.ac.uk/COSE/cosenew/reportsandpapers.html


death of the vle? professor mark stiles head of learning development and innovation staffordshire...

Documents

users mmit liverpool

moodle mmit liverpool

webct mmit liverpool

system10 mmit liverpool

dearing mmit liverpool

vle vles

early vle history

software system