I can quite easily see where they are coming from even if I do not necessarily agree with the response. Moodle is not easy to set up or run and needs a degree of in-house support that many schools simply cannot meet. Mainstream products (including Microsoft Class Server) have a better support framework. Anyone who looks at the Moodle site regularly will be aware of the hundreds of 'issues' that surround it and may equally be frustrated by the apparent lack of progress to resolve many of them. However, there is no doubt that it is probably the best product around at the moment.
The notion that the LEA can sit back and wait and see is incredibly naïve. What they should be doing is specifying the product they will be using and provide the support necessary to make it happen. If they choose Moodle - which seems the obvious choice to me - then they should address the problems and get something done about it. The target of 2008 is not achievable now, 2010 maybe.
Tim Harrison
-----Original Message-----
From: Virtual Learning Environments [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Heather Peake
Sent: 15 May 2006 10:56
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VLES] LEA Advises against Moodle!!??
We are speculating if they only mention Moodle because it is the only
one without a particular manufacturer who would probably kick up a fuss
about being specifically targeted!
Why do they think it is none standard software or do they just mean it
isn't Microsoft?
In terms of needing local support perhaps they aren't aware that there
are places offering paid for support for it just like any other learning
platform?
In my opinion if they want a learning platform embedded by 2008 and
expect people to wait for guidance then they need to get there finger
out as embedding a learning platform doesn't happen overnight!
Best of luck to you.
Heather Peake
VLE Development Co-ordinator
West Nottinghamshire College
Tel 01623 627191 ext 2292
-----Original Message-----
From: Walker - Ted [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 15 May 2006 10:38
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [VLES] LEA Advises against Moodle!!??
We are a 14-19 Community College and have adopted Moodle as a whole
school VLE and are working hard to embed it across the college, with
some success and interest so far.
The Local Education Authority has just sent out a letter to school
principals and heads discussing how schools should prepare for having a
learning platform embedded by 2008; the jist is essentially to wait and
see what they think might be best (as they haven't yet made up their
minds) but, in any case, they explicitly advise schools not to use
Moodle (the only software mentioned in the letter) as it depends too
much on specific local support and knowledge. I think they are concerned
about the possibility of schools sharing resources, and that, in their
minds, "non standard software" won't network very well.
I thought colleagues might be interested in this development, and would
appreciate any comments. We are considering what, if any, response to
make to this ourselves.
Ted Walker
Assistant Principal (Director of e-learning)
Rawlins Community College
Quorn
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE12 8DY
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