Selecting and Using MLEs and VLEs Professor Stephen

Selecting and Using MLEs and VLEs Professor Stephen Brown Acting Head JISC Technologies Centre 24 May 2001 University of Hertfordshire

Overview • • UK developments Key decisions e-tools Criteria

UK developments • • http: //www. jisc. ac. uk/jtap/ http: //www. jisc. ac. uk/jciel/mlesg http: //cetis. bangor. ac. uk/cetis/intro. html http: //www. jisc. ac. uk/dner http: //www. jtap. ac. uk/techwatch/ http: //www. jisc. ac. uk/jcas/ JISC Technologies Centre http: //www. jisc. ac. uk/mle/7 -99/

JCIEL projects • • Co. Man. TLE MARTINI The Virtual Desk SMILE INSIDE Student focus Generic integrated MIS • Integrating CAA into an MIS • Towards an Integrated Student Record • Content packaging and management • CO 3 • TIRCs

UK developments • http: //ferl. becta. org. uk • http: //www. hefce. ac. uk/partners/euniv/ • http: //www. ufiltd. co. uk/materials/qualifie d. htm • http: //www. ltsn. ac. uk • NHS

Key decisions • VLE or MLE? • Buy or DIY?

VLE?

or MLE?

MIS tools • • • EBS Genesis HEMIS Micro. Compass SAP SCT/Banner

MLE/VLE tools • • • • • Admin. STAR Blackboard British Aerospace CBT Campus Pipeline Centra Symposium Class. Act Colloquia Co. Mentor COSE First Class CC Gold in. Class Ingenium Interactive Training Manager Learn. Wise Lotus Learning Space Lotus Pathware Manager’s Edge • • • • • Merlin MENTOR Mindlever PARS PHOENIX Networks PHOENIX Web Registrar 7 for Windows SABA Skill. Vantage Manager Solstra STAR The Learning Environment Top. Class Virtual Campus Virtual Learning Network Virtual U Web. CT • WISDOM

Buy or DIY? • Proprietary systems – cost – speed of implementation – performance • Open standards/“best of breed” – cost – speed of implementation – performance

Criteria • • • Accessibility Usability Functionality Robustness Scalability • • Sustainability Portability Cost Strategic fit

Accessibility • • • Platform Software Network types Bandwidth On/off campus On/off line

Usability • • • Interface design Badging Navigation model Language, spellings, terminology Support for learning? Pedagogic neutrality?

Functionality (learners) • • Course schedule Course content Assignments Feedback Class lists Student home pages Individual student records • Multimedia resources • • • E-mail Conferencing tools Noticeboard Chat Off-line working Search tools Bookmarking Print Customisable?

Functionality (tutors) • Add/create/edit courses • Class lists • Student grouping • Assignment marking • Progress recording • Course/class statistics • Communication – individuals – groups

Functionality (admin) • Student and staff registration • Links to MIS • Authentication • Authorisation • e-commerce • System performance – – availability response times usage volumes usage patterns

Robustness • • • Reliability Authentication Authorisation Systems integration Installed user base Support 24 x 7

Scalability • • Single server? Single site? Network requirements? Staff development Technical support Content management 3 rd party content

Sustainability • Product development • Market position • Strategic alliances

Portability • • • Content Pedagogic style Navigation models Interface design Standards Copyright

Cost • • • Per user Per server Per site Per level of functionality Indirect costs

Strategic fit • • • MLE/deployment strategy Institutional vision L&T strategy IT strategy Resourcing strategy

Motivators 1. Technology 2. University goals 3. Student expectations

Goals • • Strengthen on-campus delivery Expand off-campus delivery, esp. Asia Market share in Global markets Efficiency gains/cost reductions Improving teaching quality Being seen to be current Graduate employability

History • • In-house RBL Limited impact of earlier schemes Web site proliferation Started 1996 -1999

Management • • • Strong VC with vision Top down leadership Central budget Senior champion Integrated IT Services/Educational technology units

Strategy • • Best of breed DIY Compulsory/voluntary Standards – mixture • Tools – generic – simple • • Single sign-on Authentication hub Active server pages Re-usable objects

Conclusions • • • MVLEs here Strategic tool Proprietary systems temporary fix DIY Best of breed Standards

Help • http: //www. jisc. ac. uk/mle • http: //www. focus. ac. uk • http: //multimedia. marshall. edu/it/cit/web ct/compare • http: //www. ctt. bc. ca/landonline

sbrown@dmu. ac. uk http: //www. ecampus. dmu. ac. uk Professor Stephen Brown Acting Head JISC Technologies Centre stephen. brown@ltsn. ac. uk