The School Library & the Virtual Learning Environment Marianne Bradnock, Dulwich College

What is a VLE? “ a standardised, computer-based environment that supports the delivery of web-based learning and facilitates on-line interaction between students and teachers”. Source: Becta, 2003

“ a standardised, computer-based environment that supports the delivery of web-based learning and facilitates on-line interaction between students and teachers”.

Source: Becta, 2003

How is it different from a school’s intranet? Intranet Content Management System Portal VLE: virtual learning environment MLE: managed learning environment

Intranet

Content Management System

Portal

VLE: virtual learning environment

MLE: managed learning environment

The main features of a VLE Individual working space Anytime, anywhere access Content Management Communication tools Management tools

Individual working space

Anytime, anywhere access

Content Management

Communication tools

Management tools

Some VLE products 10 Becta approved products Open source solutions VLEs from MIS suppliers The rest…

10 Becta approved products

Open source solutions

VLEs from MIS suppliers

The rest…

With a VLE… Students Can: Access online learning 'Anywhere - Anytime' Carry out assignments and tasks online and in many cases marked automatically with instant feedback Access course materials developed and packaged by the school specifically to meet school / student needs Monitor their own progress through courses and assignments Work with teachers through exactly the same mechanisms as well as submitting assignments. Receive automatic warnings when assignments and task are due to be submitted Work with other students through email, discussion groups and chat Teachers Can: Plan and develop courses simply and quickly Use existing course resources prepared in Word, PowerPoint, HTML and other common formats Use any digital resources they have purchased for whole school use Monitor the progress of individual students and classes automatically Set assignments and tasks, many of them to be automatically marked Purchase an ever increasing range of Curriculum Online (COL) compliant courses from a range of suppliers with eLearning Credits SIMS.net Learning Platform

Students Can:

Access online learning 'Anywhere - Anytime'

Carry out assignments and tasks online and in many cases marked automatically with instant feedback

Access course materials developed and packaged by the school specifically to meet school / student needs

Monitor their own progress through courses and assignments

Work with teachers through exactly the same mechanisms as well as submitting assignments.

Receive automatic warnings when assignments and task are due to be submitted

Work with other students through email, discussion groups and chat Teachers Can:

Plan and develop courses simply and quickly

Use existing course resources prepared in Word, PowerPoint, HTML and other common formats

Use any digital resources they have purchased for whole school use

Monitor the progress of individual students and classes automatically

Set assignments and tasks, many of them to be automatically marked

Purchase an ever increasing range of Curriculum Online (COL) compliant courses from a range of suppliers with eLearning Credits

SIMS.net Learning Platform

What are the benefits? Motivates & engages students Breaks down barriers to learning Supports self-directed learning Allows students to learn at their own pace Promotes collaborative learning Caters for different styles of learning Helps students organise better Aids revision Provides one-to-one support for students Embeds the use of ICT in subject teaching Provides unlimited access to information

Motivates & engages students

Breaks down barriers to learning

Supports self-directed learning

Allows students to learn at their own pace

Promotes collaborative learning

Caters for different styles of learning

Helps students organise better

Aids revision

Provides one-to-one support for students

Embeds the use of ICT in subject teaching

Provides unlimited access to information

Implementing a VLE “… staff do not always understand VLEs or their potential benefits to students. Although all staff were given a demonstration of how [the VLE] worked, only 56% of them were given an introduction to VLEs.” “ A teacher, subject expert or paid and trained individual is needed to add content and ensure an organised infrastructure of folders” Source: Mullen, Susan. Implementing VLEs in Secondary Schools. Update , April 2007: 38-39

“… staff do not always understand VLEs or their potential benefits to students. Although all staff were given a demonstration of how [the VLE] worked, only 56% of them were given an introduction to VLEs.”

“ A teacher, subject expert or paid and trained individual is needed to add content and ensure an organised infrastructure of folders”

Source: Mullen, Susan. Implementing VLEs in Secondary Schools. Update , April 2007: 38-39

Let’s discuss… What practical issues can you see for the library if/when your school introduces a VLE? Can the school librarian play a part in its selection, implementation and management? How could you, as librarian, make use of a VLE to engage readers, support learning and promote services?

What practical issues can you see for the library if/when your school introduces a VLE?

Can the school librarian play a part in its selection, implementation and management?

How could you, as librarian, make use of a VLE to engage readers, support learning and promote services?

1. Library vs VLE Can they exist side by side? Is there a risk that the library will become peripheral to the learning and research process? Will the organisation of information and resources become an IT responsibility, rather than the librarian’s?

Can they exist side by side?

Is there a risk that the library will become peripheral to the learning and research process?

Will the organisation of information and resources become an IT responsibility, rather than the librarian’s?

2. Librarians getting involved Adapting Collaborating Organising information Providing resources Managing knowledge Being ‘champions’

Adapting

Collaborating

Organising information

Providing resources

Managing knowledge

Being ‘champions’

3. Libraries and VLEs together Engaging readers Supporting learning Promoting services Information - Interaction - Collaboration – Instruction The next 3 slides include some of the ideas which emerged during workshop discussion

Engaging readers

Supporting learning

Promoting services

Information - Interaction - Collaboration – Instruction

The next 3 slides include some of the ideas which emerged during workshop discussion

Engaging Readers Shadowing regional book awards Online discussion about books Targeting specific age groups/subjects with reading lists Timed release of resources for annual promotions (eg Black History Month) Virtual guests: videoconferencing with authors?

Shadowing regional book awards

Online discussion about books

Targeting specific age groups/subjects with reading lists

Timed release of resources for annual promotions (eg Black History Month)

Virtual guests: videoconferencing with authors?

Supporting Learning Interactive information skills tutorials eg http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/informationliteracy/ Quizzes to test understanding of plagiarism issues Integrating resources with subject areas of VLE Timed/themed reading lists for particular topics, linked to OPAC e-resources linked to curricular areas Electronic versions of past exam papers (copyright?)

Interactive information skills tutorials eg http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/informationliteracy/

Quizzes to test understanding of plagiarism issues

Integrating resources with subject areas of VLE

Timed/themed reading lists for particular topics, linked to OPAC

e-resources linked to curricular areas

Electronic versions of past exam papers (copyright?)

Promoting services Library documents and policies Library news and announcements on bulletin board Using forums to discuss library services Surveying students online about library use Virtual tour of the library Training materials about using e-resources

Library documents and policies

Library news and announcements on bulletin board

Using forums to discuss library services

Surveying students online about library use

Virtual tour of the library

Training materials about using e-resources

With thanks to… Sue Blood, Hurstpierpoint College Helen Farrar, Cockermouth School Susan Mullen, John Cleveland College Elspeth Scott, Menzieshill High School Laura Taylor, City of London Academy and many other school librarians

Sue Blood, Hurstpierpoint College

Helen Farrar, Cockermouth School

Susan Mullen, John Cleveland College

Elspeth Scott, Menzieshill High School

Laura Taylor, City of London Academy

and many other school librarians

VLE Reading List Becta. Schools: Learning Platforms http://schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=lv&catcode=ss_lv_lp_03 Becta (2003) Virtual and Managed Learning Environments . http://tinyurl.com/2yeugj Becta (2006) Learning Platform Functional Requirements http://tinyurl.com/l3kbf Becta (2002?) A review of the research literature o the use of managed learning environments and virtual learning environments in education, and a consideration of the implication for schools in the United Kingdom. http://www.becta.org.uk/page_documents/research/VLE_report.pdf Becta (2006). Learning Platform Technical Specifications. http://tinyurl.com/2zrf3h

Becta. Schools: Learning Platforms http://schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=lv&catcode=ss_lv_lp_03

Becta (2003) Virtual and Managed Learning Environments . http://tinyurl.com/2yeugj

Becta (2006) Learning Platform Functional Requirements

http://tinyurl.com/l3kbf

Becta (2002?) A review of the research literature o the use of managed learning environments and virtual learning environments in education, and a consideration of the implication for schools in the United Kingdom. http://www.becta.org.uk/page_documents/research/VLE_report.pdf

Becta (2006). Learning Platform Technical Specifications. http://tinyurl.com/2zrf3h

Becta (2004). What the research says about Virtual Learning Environments in Teaching and Learing. 2 nd ed. http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk/eOrderingDownload/15003.pdf Chin, Paul. Virtual Learnng Environments. Learning and Teaching Support Network, ISBN 1903815061. JISC Infonet. Creating a managed learning environment. http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/InfoKits/creating-an-mle/index_html McColl, J (2001). Virtuous learning environments: the library and the VLE. Program, 35(3):P pp 227-239 http://www.aslib.com/program/2001/jul/03.html Melling, Maxine (editor) (2005). Supporting e-learning: a guide for library and information managers. London: Facet Publishing. Mullen, Susan. Implementing VLEs in secondary schools. Update, April 2007: 38-39 Secker, Jane (2004). Electronic resources in the Virtual Learning Environment.: a guide for librarians. Oxford: Chandos Publishing.

Becta (2004). What the research says about Virtual Learning Environments in Teaching and Learing. 2 nd ed. http://publications.teachernet.gov.uk/eOrderingDownload/15003.pdf

Chin, Paul. Virtual Learnng Environments. Learning and Teaching Support Network, ISBN 1903815061.

JISC Infonet. Creating a managed learning environment. http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/InfoKits/creating-an-mle/index_html

McColl, J (2001). Virtuous learning environments: the library and the VLE. Program, 35(3):P pp 227-239

http://www.aslib.com/program/2001/jul/03.html

Melling, Maxine (editor) (2005). Supporting e-learning: a guide for library and information managers. London: Facet Publishing.

Mullen, Susan. Implementing VLEs in secondary schools. Update, April 2007: 38-39

Secker, Jane (2004). Electronic resources in the Virtual Learning Environment.: a guide for librarians. Oxford: Chandos Publishing.