CLAN OpenSource VLE (2004)

CLAN The UHI Virtual Learning Environment C ollaborative L earning and A cademic N etwork

Open Source solution

We are in control

It can be made to fit our needs

It covers our pedagogic range from SVQ to PhD (Simple to Complex)

It grows with us

Integrates with other applications

Sits within our open e-learning architecture

Joint efforts through dev community

Architectural integration Student Information System Course/Module Information, Assessment Results VLE Clan NOVEL Log In Email Discussion Board Assessment Engine Knowledge Management Tools Other Tools

Architectural integration UHI Town single sign on “ Town community exists because of the fullness of services. Do away with one public building and it will be less of a town” UHI’s eLearning architecture Library Help/Support SRS Authentication PORTAL Legacy systems Learning Environment Content Management System Café Club house Other town buildings/systems

Developer Community

New functionality

Improvements, bug fixes

Training

University of Leeds Bodington University of Oxford Weblearn UHI Millennium Institute CLAN

Targets

Current VLEs (Blackboard, WebCT, Lotus)

LTSN description

(available from: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/tlt/resources/VLE.pdf)

Your requirements

Overview of features

Communication between tutors and students

eg email, discussion boards and virtual chat facilities which support various types of communication: synchronous and asynchronous, one-to-one, one-to-many and many-to-many.

Self-assessment and summative assessment

eg multiple-choice assessment with automated marking and immediate feedback.

Delivery of learning resources and materials

eg through the provision of learning and teaching materials, images and video clips, links to other web resources, online discussion and assessment activities

Shared work group areas Allows designated groups of students to upload and share files as well as communicate with each other. Support for students Could take the form of communication with tutors or other students, provision of supporting materials such as course information and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Student tools eg individual student web pages, ‘drop boxes’ for the upload of course-work, electronic diaries and calendars. Source: LTSN, Ros O’Leary: Virtual Learning Environments

Overview of features

Management and tracking of students

eg usernames and passwords to ensure that only

registered students can access the course;

analysis of assessment undertaken by students or

their use of materials within the VLE.

Consistent and customisable look and feel

A standard user interface that is easy for students

to understand and use. Courses can be

individualised with colours, graphics and logos –

but the essential mode of use remains constant.

Source: LTSN, Ros O’Leary: Virtual Learning Environments Navigation structure Structured delivery of information supported by a standard navigation toolbar. Most VLE software assumes that students will work their way through linear sequences of instructional material. Others are more flexible and will accommodate alternative information structures, eg multi-path case studies.

Process Information Services Committee User Group Technical Group Defining UHI user and subject requirements Implementing UHI user and system requirements Academic Partner and UHI representation Project Manager User consultation and testing UHI staff & students

Timescale Training FUTURE DEVELOPMENT CLAN programming development Migration Roll-out date Old pilot VLEs Termination of old VLEs

Training Delivery Course creation Author community Workshops Handbooks/Manuals LD guides FAQ Direct support Forum Joint online training MAPD modules Handbooks/Manuals Delivery support