In Staffordshire we have recently signed a contract with Research Machines for a county wide learning platform. Our thinking was very much influenced by changes and requirements in the 14-19 area and one of the reasons for our choice was a company who could tailor a service to our needs.

 

As in London, we have a responsibility to make such provision available, but it is then down to school choice. We have extensively piloted earlier versions of the RM products and learned a lot about schools’ thinking along the way. The statement of requirements for the learning platform was very heavily influenced by stakeholder groups drawn from learning establishments.

 

We have underpinned the whole process with a document that we wrote and called ‘Learners first …’ . One of the key issues that we have been addressing and will continue to address is how we meet the needs of the learner as they move between locations and how we integrate the learning platform with the area-wide prospectus and provide online application to colleges etc.

 

Yes, we will provide a VLE within the learning platform, but as long as we have a business case we are able to work with other VLEs.

 

Of course, a crucial part of any learning platform package is how this links with the learning establishment’s MIS system. Added to this is the very real desire to engage with parents and families and meet the needs of real time reporting.

 

By the way, we have over 400 learning establishments in Staffordshire! At the end of the day we have a real desire to provide a barrier free approach to learning.

 

 

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 |