Nicely put and agree
Defining "better" is more complex than a simple balance sheet.
James Clay
-----Original Message-----
From: Virtual Learning Environments [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Rachel Ellaway
Sent: 07 January 2003 16:28
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: who needs a VLE? - more than a balance sheet
There are two important points that we might consider regarding whether
a technology is beneficial.
a) technology is not neutral - it tends to change strategies and goals
in a reciprocal relationship with its context of use rather than just
passively facilitating preconceived objectives. In this way employing a
VLE may well facilitate educational processes but its presence and use
will alter these processes and the conceptions of those involved. I have
had a number of conversations with users of VLEs that have shown that
despite being frustrated with this or that aspect of WebCT, Blackboard
or whatever, these people still value the opportunity they have had to
experiment and develop their teaching and learning strategies. That
leads on to my second point-
b) teaching and learning is not a static commodity - how we conceive our
philosophies and practices regarding teaching and learning are closely
tied in with the facilities we have to realise them. Using a technology
such as a VLE will tend to change both the way we think about teaching
and learning and the way we do it. And this in turn will alter the kinds
and forms of the tools we need and so on.
To that end, although we need to balance benefit against investment, it
is more complex than just a balance sheet approach. Evaluating whether a
technology lets you do a 'better job' should include these
transformative aspects as well as the immediate utility it affords. We
should also be aware that our conception of what is done, how it is done
and why it is done may also change.
Rachel Ellaway
MVM Learning Technology Section
The University of Edinburgh
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Ken Smith
>
>>>If the VLE enables you to do a better job of delivering your chosen
>strategy then you have >>good reason to buy into it, if not then why
>bother?
>
>I couldn't agree more with this comment.
>
>There is no point in using ILT/VLE/Technology unless it does a better
>job than before. If the tools increase learning, increase retention,
>increase achievement, etc.. then use them. If they don't then don't
>bother. Never use technology for technologies sake, use it because it
>works.
>
>James Clay
>Director Western Colleges Consortium
>e-mail: [log in to unmask]
>www.westerncc.ac.uk
>
>***************** List information: *****************
>Remember - replies go by default to the entire list.
>Access the list via the web on http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/vle.html
>The Ferl VLE Focus Area is at
>http://ferl.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?page=76
>To unsubscribe, email [log in to unmask] with the message: leave
vle
***************** List information: *****************
Remember - replies go by default to the entire list.
Access the list via the web on http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/vle.html
The Ferl VLE Focus Area is at
http://ferl.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?page=76
To unsubscribe, email [log in to unmask] with the message: leave
vle
***************** List information: *****************
Remember - replies go by default to the entire list.
Access the list via the web on http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/vle.html
The Ferl VLE Focus Area is at http://ferl.becta.org.uk/display.cfm?page=76
To unsubscribe, email [log in to unmask] with the message: leave vle
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