1. Implementing a VLE:
The critical non-technical factors
(”Dos and Don'ts”)
Tony Delahunty
Presentation at ULCC
30th
April 2007

2. Have a Strategy
Do:
 Be clear about what you’re doing and why
 Align it with teaching and learning, or other relevant institutional objectives
(achievement, widening participation, employer engagement, whatever)
 Measure it
Don’t:
 Be vague
 Sound like the messiah
Implementing a VLE: Dos and Don'ts
Tony Delahunty: ULCC Presentation, 30-04-07

3. Think Pedagogy
Do:
 Think through how will this facilitate learning; and what’s the impact on
students? This is the point, after all!
Don’t:
 Be dazzled by the latest new technology, idea, craze
Implementing a VLE: Dos and Don'ts
Tony Delahunty: ULCC Presentation, 30-04-07

4. Create a Support Culture
Do:
 Be approachable, non-tech-y, responsive; own problems and agree a fix
 Set up support standards and protocols, and work hard to apply them
 Get the message to front-line staff
Don’t:
 Release development versions: make sure what you are supporting is
robust
 Leave users stranded !
Implementing a VLE: Dos and Don'ts
Tony Delahunty: ULCC Presentation, 30-04-07

5. Staff Development
Do:
 Focus on outcomes as much as on specific skills or methods
 Showcase
 Vary the form: training, mentoring, one-to-ones, experiential learning
Don’t:
 Don’t be too prescriptive
 Don’t’ preach, don't portray a brave new world...
Implementing a VLE: Dos and Don'ts
Tony Delahunty: ULCC Presentation, 30-04-07

6. Baseline and Benchmark
Do:
 Welcome breadth of use rather than depth of innovation
 Baseline on the simple things where necessary: e.g. Email contacts,
Schemes of work, reading lists for every course
 Develop quality standards
Don’t:
 Don’t ignore key areas, key colleagues, key players in your institution: i.e.
Seek to build alliances with LRC, Student Admin, Marketing...
Implementing a VLE: Dos and Don'ts
Tony Delahunty: ULCC Presentation, 30-04-07

7. Get Students On Board
Do:
 Think: features they use: Messaging, file space, “My space”
 Think: incentives: i.e. Connect to their learning objectives; prioritise the
information they seek
 Ensure availability, reliability, intuitive use
 Enable users to customise or at least comment
Don’t:
 Don’t let the VLE look boring or static or hidden
Implementing a VLE: Dos and Don'ts
Don'tsTony Delahunty: ULCC Presentation, 30-04-07

8. For example…
Implementing a VLE: Dos and Don'ts
Tony Delahunty: ULCC Presentation, 30-04-07

9. Implementing a VLE:
The critical non-technical factors
(“Dos and Don'ts”)
Thanks for your attention
Tony Delahunty
tony.delahunty@cnwl.ac.uk
CNWL Online (Moodle): www.cnwl.ac.uk/vle
Presentation at ULCC
30th
April 2007

10. Implementing a VLE:
The critical non-technical factors
(“Dos and Don'ts”)
Thanks for your attention
Tony Delahunty
tony.delahunty@cnwl.ac.uk
CNWL Online (Moodle): www.cnwl.ac.uk/vle
Presentation at ULCC
30th
April 2007