26.04.09

Date: 26th April 2009

 * [|Link to FlashMeeting]**

This week is another ETRU Special, this time focusing on VLEs. Initial ideas have been sketched out below, please feel free to adapt and add to make sure we make this as useful as possible!

Attendees:
Note to all attendees: we are likely to be pushing flashmeet to it's full capacity this evening. Guidance was decided that the first 25 on the list have priority. Some have stated they might not be able to make it so we'll have to see how it goes. The replay will be available straight after the meeting finishes. Apologies in advance for any disappointment or difficulty that may be incurred.

24. Jon Williams hoping to make it but have inlaws down 25. user:misterel @misterel
 * 1) user:dajbelshaw
 * 2) Jeff O'Hara (@zemote) - co-founder of [|Edmodo]
 * 3) user:daibarnes
 * 4) user:mrstacey
 * 5) user:andydkemp - [|@andykemp] on Twitter | [|blog]
 * 6) user:dneedlestone - [|@nstone] | [|blog]
 * 7) user:nickdennis
 * 8) user:dsdixon
 * 9) user:marycooch
 * 10) 1239360745 @kristianstill On Twitter
 * 11) user:krysia @krysiaS
 * 12) user:sinclairmackenzie
 * 13) user:bellaale @bellaale
 * 14) user:stuartridout [|@stuartridout] on twitter
 * 15) user:metaweb @[|metaweb20] on twitter (Frank in Mexico)
 * 16) Jaye Richards
 * 17) user:robthill
 * 18) James Hollis [|@jameshollis] | [|Learning Management System]
 * 19) user:iusher [|@iusher] if I'm back!
 * 20) user:northgatemfl [|@blagona] | [|blog]
 * 21) user:mrslwalker [|@mrslwalker]on Twitter | [|blog]
 * 22) user:hcjs @zangolin
 * 23) user:grumbledook @grumbledook on twitter | [|blog]

26. Martyn Colliver @warwickrobotics on Twitter

28. user:AntHeald



 * //For those of you that missed this, //****//you can download it [|here]. Some samples from the report://**

//"VLEs use computers to allow remote access to learning. In their current form, VLEs started to be introduced in educational settings around the year 2000. Their increased use was encouraged in the Government's 2005 strategy paper Harnessing technology – transforming learning and children’s services.

Our survey found evidence of a great deal of development work being carried out by individual institutions and local authorities. These initiatives, particularly in colleges and through the growing introduction of learning platforms by local authorities, may yet bring VLEs into mainstream learning. However, in most of the provision surveyed, the use of VLEs to enhance learning was not widespread. We found that the exploitation of VLEs at curriculum level resembled more of a cottage industry than a national technological revolution. In most cases, at subject level, the VLE remained one small aspect of learning, supported by enthusiastic staff and learners. " ... The best VLEs reviewed allowed learners to reinforce their routine work, or catch up on missed lessons. In those best cases the material offered was fun and helpful and was being used well by learners. In the least effective examples, documents had been dumped on the system and forgotten."// // (p.2) // 

 //"The common factor in effective VLEs was the enthusiasm of the subject teacher; that is enthusiasm for the subject and teaching and learning as much as any competence in computing. The more successful providers had provided their staff with a general introduction to the concept of VLEs, and then offered individuals encouragement in their curriculum area with more specialist detailed help when needed.

A good-quality induction and early use of the system were essential in ensuring a positive attitude to the VLE among learners. VLEs were used more effectively by more mature learners, particularly those taking higher level subjects or working remotely. Younger learners in the colleges surveyed routinely used their VLE for administrative purposes and went further if the material was good. Although young people use computers and the internet routinely in their personal lives, for instance on social networking sites, there was no great expectation on their part that a VLE would replace a significant part of their face-to-face learning. " (p.3)//




 * Some key findings (p.5-6):**


 * 1) Concept of VLEs still relatively new in most institutions.
 * 2) Best VLEs enhance learning rather than being 'dumping ground for resources'
 * 3) No correlation between use of VLEs and any particular subject area/
 * 4) Best VLEs have strong support from senior management.
 * 5) Self-assessment of VLEs and impact on learning is underdeveloped.
 * 6) <span style="color: rgb(0,0,255);">Time taken for staff to produce resources a significant problem in smaller institutions.

<span style="color: rgb(0,0,255);"> user:jrowing Sorry for missing a few - unavoidable other things going on at the moment user:mrstucke [|@mrstucke] Going to see The Doves, would have loved to join in for this one. A couple of thoughts for discussion: Most VLEs seem to be a jack of all trades master of none, is a mix & mathc approach of better tools suitable for the job or too complicated for the masses? Also, VLEs are essentially Intranets, would a commercial solution be adaptable? (e.g. [] ) user:johnmayo Will sit this one out and catch the podcast as I would be in learner mode on this one and I would rather my place be taken with somone that contribute to the discussion than me sitting on the fringes not contributing. user:josepicardo [|@josepicardo] Apologies but I have a deadline to meet and have made nowhre near enough progress. Will have to listen to podcast instead. David Rogers @[|daviderogers], [|blog] was hoping to meet it but would be taking more than giving so will catch the replay and podcast. Kerry Turner @4goggas. Oh dear! Too late to join the list. Will catch the podcast after. Philip Schonken @schonken - also too late to join in - will catch up and chatter on twitter.
 * Apologies**:

Agenda:

 * Introduce Jeff O'Hara (@zemote), co-founder of Edmodo. Leads into next point...
 * What is a VLE? (and what are schools using them for and why all the fuss)
 * See the following Slide show which gives an overview of why a school should care about VLEs
 * media type="custom" key="3632461"
 * What are the options for schools? Please help us build a comparison table on this page
 * Summary table of pro & cons of the major providers - Please add details/comments/queries
 * Also see a personal review of the products on the market: A comparison of VLEs
 * How are schools and teachers using them for good effect (i.e Best Practice)
 * Do people mainly create their own resources or buy in external resources? Any recommendations of good external packages that work well within VLEs?
 * How do you get VLE use rolled out across a school
 * Also of interest here may be the results of @andykemp's [|recent survey into who runs your VLE]
 * Q&A