1. Portsmouth College - VLE based approach to support the development
of a Virtual Science Department
Background
Portsmouth College, on behalf of the Solent Colleges Innovation Partnership are
developing a virtual department across 6 physical colleges and supporting the
development of common L3 specifications with common teaching and learning
resources. The VLE is intended to be provided within a community cloud
environment to allow all participating departments to develop and input resources
on an equal access basis enabling materials to be shared and used by all partners.
Update
A virtual server configuration has now been implemented on a physical server in the
data centre suite at Portsmouth College. The server configuration has been designed
to allow each individual partner to upload content to own areas – but also for
partners to be able to read content uploaded to all other areas. Each partner has full
read/write access to their own area and read permission for others.
Partnership meetings have been held to look at common content and to share
content and materials to support those new to the common specification.
Key Achievements
Agreement to implement a common L3 AS specification in Physics from September
2012 with joint training delivered in implementing the new specification (Physics)
The Moodle server has now been set up for Physics groups with
usernames/passwords distributed for partners to populate own areas. Partners now
have access to upload their own materials although there are problems becoming
evident with transferring content between Moodle systems.

2. Sharing of current resources has now been set up to support teaching, learning and
assessment in AS Physics across the partnership. Student access to individual
Moodle systems within their own colleges with downloadable resources. The
common project will extend the range and availability of these resources.
Next Steps for the project
Over the next month:
 Second stage meetings to discuss shared resources in Physics.
 Setting up the VLE systems for Chemistry and Biology
Over next 2 -3 months:
 Agreement on collective resources, migration of resources to a common area,
gap analysis and creation of new resources as a collective venture to fill gaps,
training and use of more interactive features
 Delivery of a common VLE training day – looking at making use of more
interactive features.