I think Anthony is right in that we are searching for the "killer app" but I do question whether the general public will agree that the use of e-Learning is a no brainer. My original comment was sparked off by a feeling that, outside specialist education media, e-Learning never seems to be discussed in a positive way (it's not yet a major selling point in education, IMHO). I understand what Coventry are trying to do but does the general public? We're trying to persuade people that the substantial fees involved in obtaining a higher education are worth paying, but will they pay when they hear that software is being considered as a viable alternative to physical infrastructure when all they know is that it encourages laziness or fails altogether (e.g. the UKeU project)? OK so I'm being facetious but I am genuinely curious about what other practitioners think and, more importantly, what we can do to push e-Learning as a positive force in education.

Yours intrigued,

Dave


-----Original Message-----
From: Virtual Learning Environments [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
Of Anthony Hamber
Sent: 16 June 2005 08:38
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VLES] Coventry University send lectures to 3G Phones


Michael Begg's account of lectures delivered through video and audio
recordings and made available
through the VLE further escalates the issues and challenges regarding the
role of "buildings" within learning environments. For a number of years,
senior management within the HE sector (particularly those institutions
located in the centres of large and expensive cities) has been considering
the cost benefits of building or renewing lecture theatres. I recently
heard of one Dean of a medical school who when asked whether he could find
the funding for a ?350K VLE solution stated something to the effect of "I've
just raised ?20million for a new building and given the new markets (and
related income) that this VLE will enable the question is a bit of a no
brainer!"

The crux of the problem that is it is not an "either/or" question... its a
"both" solution. Finding the appropriate business model is the "killer ap"

Anthony Hamber


Dr. Anthony Hamber
Director
Learning Markets Analysis Ltd.

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-----Original Message-----
From: Virtual Learning Environments [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf
Of Michael Begg
Sent: 16 June 2005 08:17
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VLES] Coventry University send lectures to 3G Phones


It may be of interest to note that on a recent trip to the States I came
across a medical curriculum the preclinical years of which could be
accomplished with as little as 10% attendance. Even in clinical years there
were examples of elective modules being delivered completely online. This
approach had not had any perceptible negative effect on student performance.
By default, all lectures are video and audio recorded and made available
through the VLE.
Here's where it gets interesting...
All faculty teachers saw attendance dropping severely as students elected to
access the lecture series in their own time. Some faculty took this as a cue
to complain bitterly about falling standards and demanded that videos be
withdrawn so everything could return to what it was. Others saw that the
time spent delivering lectures that were already available online was a
waste of that time and chose to fill the time period with alternative, new
activities.
The use of technology is not a means and an end. It cannot be discussed in
isolation as providing clear benefits since it is tied directly to its
context of use and that context of use is as responsible for delivering
learning opportunity as the technology itself.
I think this anecdotal case is a lovely illustration of how a technological
intervention provokes reflection on existing process. It is the outcome of
that reflection, rather than the tools themselves that should be looked at
in detail.
All Good Things,
Michael

=======================
Michael Begg
Special Projects Manager
Learning Technology Section
College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
University of Edinburgh
Hugh Robson Building
15 George Square
Edinburgh
EH8 9XD
-----Original Message-----
From: Virtual Learning Environments [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Wright Mr DN
Sent: 15 June 2005 14:06
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VLES] Coventry University send lectures to 3G Phones

I'd love to know if this method actually improves the performance of those
students who can't quite make it to the lecture theatre. I'm all for the use
of technology to support learning and teaching methods where the benefits
are clear, but I am concerned that this approach does not actually address
the problems of attendance and motivation. Or perhaps I'm just too
inflexible these days!


Dave


-----Original Message-----

From: Virtual Learning Environments [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf

Of James Clay

Sent: 14 June 2005 10:17

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: [VLES] Coventry University send lectures to 3G Phones



The Daily Mirror is reporting that Coventry University are recording their
lectures and sending them

to the students with 3G phones (also providing access to them over the
internet).


http://www.mirror.co.uk/printable_version.cfm?objectid=15623619&siteid=94762


How many institutions out there are using technologies for portable devices
to distribute learning

and learning content?


By the way I found this out from another news source. ;-D


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