Hi, Philip et al,
(I've been researching VLEs and e-Portfolios in schools, FE and HE for the
last year or so!)
There are many different issues here:
Firstly, there are some 20 different VLE suppliers (ie including those not
on the Becta list) offering many different orders of functionality,
never-mind all the different DIY Moodlers' versions. Thus the problem of
interoperability is here to stay for some years to come. As much as Fronter
would like to see the whole world adopt their solution I doubt that will
solve the problems. Becta, in its wisdom, although supplying technical
specifications (now obsolete in places) failed to supply sufficient
guidelines and inevitably every supplier went away and developed their own
individual and incompatible solutions.
Obviously the first solution might be for one VLE to be able to talk to
another - but why?
1. Schools presently have a range of good MIS systems which are quite
capable of talking to each other, and have been doing so for several years.
2. Individual VLEs have been providing Learning Platform functionality
for quite some time now, but is there a demand for sharing Instructional
Content? - If there is, why not join the National Digital Resource Bank
initiative (NDRB). http://www.nwlg.org/pdf/NDRB%20FAQs.pdf
3. The Becta requirement that schools should be capable of providing a
'personal online learning space' is a very vague term - any online Learning
Platform or VLE usually provides this anyway.
I suspect that the real question is that of students and staff actually
wanting to talk to each other through collaboration, reflection, display of
artefacts etc. This really comes down to the separate and distinct
functionality of an e-Portfolio. Some VLEs wrap some form of e-Portfolio
within their product but this inevitably destroys my first Prime Directive,
ie that it should be 'Portable'. Most of the various e-Portfolios available
(apart from mine that is!) do not deliver a significant number of
functionalities and create a limited perception of the real value of the
e-Portfolio as a forward-looking educational tool.
The 'Portability' of the e-Portfolio is essential and needs to be understood
within at least three scenarios:
1. Transition - as a student moves 'up' through the various Key Stages
of education and on through FE/HE and Lifelong Learning;
2. Translocation - as a student moves from one geographical location to
another institution at the same Key Stage;
3. Association - where a student is studying within two or more
institutions at the same time eg 14-19 or including 'Adult Education'.
As far as I understand it an increasing number of courses of study,
including the present 14-19 initiatives, require some form of e-Portfolio,
even if only for the limited functionality of 'showcasing'. However, even
this needs further controls respecting those students who are under 18.
Whereas this has not been a problem in HE and FE, students still within the
compulsory schooling sector require extra e-dentity protection.
If teaching and learning is ever going to break away from the shackles of a
500 year didactic tradition, if students are ever going to be allowed safe
access to Web2.0, then an e-Portfolio system must be 'free-standing' and
independent of any institution in order to deliver 'portability'. It
needs to deliver a whole range of tools and features that both students and
teachers need:
Showcasing - via permissions to different audiences
Personalisation - identification of preferences, RSS etc
Customisation - menus, pages, fonts, graphics
Gatekeeper - a 'filter' on what to present
Mentoring - 'academic God-parents'
Collaboration - safely with peers using appropriate blogs
Surveys - using a safe tool with peers
Favourites - my shortcuts/URLs
Personal Organisation - an electronic 'Planner'
A Scrapbook - an online place for fragments of ideas
Planning - both formal and informal
Feedback - from 'friends' and teachers
A Diary - a retrospective catalogue of relevant experiences
Reflection - a place for quiet contemplation
Monitoring - a personal log of grades, comments
Assessment - what I do and how I do it re my '12 intelligences'
Such a system does not contradict the VLE or Learning Platform culture of
delivering resources and formal assessments etc but provides a working
environment that complements the VLE.
NB: for a fuller description of the e-Portfolio 'Metaphors' look up Helen
Barratt's site at: http://electronicportfolios.org/
Ray Tolley
ICT Education Consultant
Maximise-ICT
www.maximise-ict.co.uk
Tel: 0191 414 6320
Mob: 07709 7709 45
Skype: ray.tolley
Stamp down our carbon footprint. Before printing this e-mail or any other
document, please ask yourself whether you need a hard copy.
-----Original Message-----
From: Virtual Learning Environments
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Philip Butler
Sent: 06 February 2008 15:23
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [!! SPAM] [VLES] Schools and the Learning Platform
Framework
I would like to test the temperature on this subject (again)
as I realise that there has been a lot of postings last year when Becta
chose not to include Moodle on the list.
This policy is beginning to impact on my work at RSC level.
London struck a deal at a regional level with Fronter as the LEA's have a
legal (?) requirement to provide access to personal online learning spaces
for all schools by Easter 2008. Rob Englebright has been fantastically
supportive and explaining to me that they don't have to use Fronter but that
it has to be offered. This has meant, however, the 14-19 Lobby in FE has
gotten wind that schools are now using Fronter VLE. Being powerful, they're
pressuring e-Learning managers asking why they can't switch from Moodle to
Fronter to synchronise with what the schools are doing.
My experience is that this is an unfair contest, and I'm
being approached by e-Learning managers who is valiantly attempting to
explain that Moodle is, in their opinion, the far better option, and that
over 80% of post-16 regional providers use this, they are struggling and
coming to us for help. They're beginning to feel anxious that they may even
lose out on this battle.
Does anyone else share this or a similar experience, and I
wondered whether anyone has a comment or advice they can offer to support
the beleaguered e-Learning managers?
Very best wishes,
Philip
| Philip Butler | Senior e-learning Adviser |
| JISC Regional Support Centre London |
| University of London Computer Centre |
| Guilford Street | London WC1N 1DZ |
| 020 7692 1643 | 0787 962 0421 |
| Website: http://www.rsc-london.ac.uk
<http://www.rsc-london.ac.uk/> |
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