Slides for plenary talk on "Beyond Your VLE: Strategic Challenges" given by Mark Stiles at the IWMW 2003 event held at the University of Kent on 11-13 June 2003. See http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/web-focus/events/workshops/webmaster-2003/sessions/#talk-9

1. Beyond Your VLEBeyond Your VLE
–– Strategic Challenges – Embedding at Staffordshire UniversityStrategic Challenges – Embedding at Staffordshire University
Professor Mark StilesProfessor Mark Stiles
Head of Learning Development & InnovationHead of Learning Development & Innovation
Staffordshire UniversityStaffordshire University
IWMW 2003 - Kent

2. IWMW 2003 - Kent
Two aspects of embeddingTwo aspects of embedding
 Institutional
– Policies
– Procedures
– Roles
– Responsibilities
 Cultural/Practice
– Teaching Staff/ Pedagogy
– Management
– Administration
– Learners
IWMW 2003 - Kent

3. IWMW 2003 - Kent
Embedded?Embedded?
I think:
– The use of MLEs can be considered to be fully embedded
into an institution when all of the policies, procedures,
roles and responsibilities that pertain to the use of an MLE
are fully integrated – not just with each other but with
those which apply to the institution in its normal practice.
… before Culture Change can be
successfully fully achieved

4. IWMW 2003 - Kent
A bit of National ContextA bit of National Context
 Major focus still on “transmission”, lectures, traditional
assessments and examinations
 Support lacks focus on learning
 Whole-institution strategies rare (a barrier to adoption)
 E-Learning not “joined-up” with other strategies such as
WP
 Embedding not yet understood
 Need to understand MLE vs. VLE

5. IWMW 2003 - Kent
The Staffordshire BackgroundThe Staffordshire Background
E-Learning introduced 1997
Strategic Approach
Top down & bottom up
Learning Development Centre
Two VLEs – LLS and COSE

6. IWMW 2003 - Kent
The Picture in Summer 2002The Picture in Summer 2002
 Many modules using e-learning for “real”
 Full distance e-learning awards
 Good spread across institution
 LLS being phased out for BB + COSE
 VLE-MIS links for enrolment
 VLE – eResources links being developed
 Strategies quite well joined-up

7. IWMW 2003 - Kent
Remember... After six years…Remember... After six years…
 We are rather good at eLearning
 We have some stand-out successes
 We have developed considerable expertise
 Otherwise I wouldn’t continue with comes
next!!!

8. IWMW 2003 - Kent
But…But…
 Rate of change slowing
 Developments still “project” rather than “production”
 Not a “learning organisation”
 Problems with students falling through “admin net”
 Support for “eLearners” from services & academics uneven
 Foundation Degrees shown up weaknesses in policies &
procedures, and problems with roles & responsibilities
 Rules for approving new developments insufficiently sharp
 Core support not told of plans for new courses early enough
 Policies, procedures, roles & responsibilities affecting
eLearning not “joined up” or embedded

9. IWMW 2003 - Kent
Things we have picked up on….Things we have picked up on….
• New integrated Service
• Integrative Approach to Development:
• Make development a “production process”
• Involve all “the parts”
• Ensure the organisation learns
• This led to “el-P2R2”

10. IWMW 2003 - Kent
About Integrative DevelopmentAbout Integrative Development
 Planning & Management of Development
 Preparation for Approval/Validation
 Staff Development
 Pedagogy & Course Design
 Building the VLE Course Structure
 Resources
 Content Creation
 Populating the VLE Course
 Planning Induction & Delivery
 Supporting Delivery
 Supporting Monitoring and Evaluation
In
partnership
with the
academic
group

11. IWMW 2003 - Kent
By…By…
 Learning Development Specialists:
• Planning and Management of Development
• Pedagogy Course Design
• Building the VLE Course Structure
• Planning Induction & Delivery
 Learning Support/Information Specialists:
• Resources
• Content Creation
• Populating the VLE Course
 Both of these plus IT Support
• Preparation for approval/validation
• Supporting Delivery & Staff Development

12. IWMW 2003 - Kent
Aspects of productionAspects of production
 An LD Manager or Specialist to lead each development
 An agreed development plan and schedule
 Work with academics to plan VLE course structure & approach
 Produce a skeleton structure in VLE
 Help identify e-resources and help with © and IPR
 Take material produced by academics and build into VLE
 Deal with accessibility and usability
 Provide required staff development
 Provide a “getting ready” and “induction” checklist
 Make sure staff & students know where to go for help

13. IWMW 2003 - Kent
An example of successAn example of success
Two complete elearning modules
from conception through validation
and production to delivery in 9
weeks

14. IWMW 2003 - Kent
But…But…
 Still not a “learning organisation” – but better!
 Still problems with students falling through “admin net”
 Support for “eLearners” still uneven
 Rules for approving new developments still insufficiently
sharp (or clear)
 Core support still not told of plans for new courses early
enough
 Policies, procedures, roles & responsibilities affecting
eLearning still not “joined up” or embedded

15. IWMW 2003 - Kent
eL-P2R2eL-P2R2
A root and branch review of
ANYTHING that affects e-Learning in
terms of Policies. Procedures, Roles &
Responsibilities.
To produce a road-map for e-Learning

16. IWMW 2003 - Kent
Some Areas (1)Some Areas (1)
Approval of new course proposals
Changes of Delivery to include
eLearning
Categorising Courses
Requirements at Validation/Approval
to Proceed Stage

17. IWMW 2003 - Kent
Some Areas (2)Some Areas (2)
Staff Development
End of Course Procedures·
“Novel” Models
Costing, Charging/Fees

18. IWMW 2003 - Kent
Some of Areas (3)Some of Areas (3)
Assessment
Teaching Quality
Development Plan
Quality Assurance prior to delivery

19. IWMW 2003 - Kent
Some of Areas (4)Some of Areas (4)
Development VLE Processes
“Trigger” for Delivery following QA
Enrolment
Support of Students

20. IWMW 2003 - Kent
Some of Areas (5)Some of Areas (5)
Support of Staff during Delivery
VLE “Systems” Administration and
Support
VLE “Application” Administration
and Support

21. IWMW 2003 - Kent
How this is being doneHow this is being done
 Led by me with “top-level” sponsorship
 “Lifting Rocks”
 Lots of interviews/meetings
 Working Group for different components
 “Rolling Report”

22. IWMW 2003 - Kent
National ActivityNational Activity
JISC MLE Development Pack
A major web-based resource
– Oleg Liber - Lead Consultant
– Sarah Holyfield - Commissioning Editor

23. IWMW 2003 - Kent
JISC MLE Development PackJISC MLE Development Pack
A. Policy Issues Stuart Lee stuart.lee@computing-services.oxford.ac.uk
B. Organisational questions Grainne Conole g.c.conole@soton.ac.uk
C. Technological options Tom Franklin tom@techlearn.ac.uk
D. Establishing requirements Tony Toole
tony.toole@virtualcollege.ac.uk
E. Designing the MLE Greg Newton-Ingham Greg@uea.ac.uk
F. Implementation Issues Ian Bloor ipb@dmu.ac.uk
G. Embedding MLEs into institutions Mark Stiles m.j.stiles@staffs.ac.uk

24. IWMW 2003 - Kent
Section 7 StructureSection 7 Structure
1. Implementing organizational change
2. Culture change methods
3. Teaching & Learning Practice
4. Management of Teaching & Learning
5. Supporting Course Development
6. Supporting Course Delivery
7. Administration Issues
8. Staff Development
9. Sustainability
10. General Questions

25. IWMW 2003 - Kent
JISC MLE Development PackJISC MLE Development Pack
We all want your help:
Reports
Articles
Vignettes
Examples
Ideas
 etc
Email Us!
See your name
up there!!!

26. IWMW 2003 - Kent
ThanksThanks
PLEASE email me at:
m.j.stiles@staffs.ac.uk
See some of my writings:
www.staffs.ac.uk/COSE/cosenew/reportsandpapers.html