Not a VLE, but a virtual learning environment
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The document discusses the concept of Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs), distinguishing between traditional platforms like Moodle and Blackboard and more innovative, flexible tools. It emphasizes that a true VLE should support collaboration, engagement, and personalized learning experiences, rather than merely serve as content repositories. Concerns are raised about the resistance to adopting modern, intuitive digital environments, which are vital as educational practices evolve.
Not a VLE, but a virtual learning environment
- 1. Not a VLE, but a Virtual Learning Environment Dale Munday, Digital learning facilitator
- 2. VLE or Virtual Learning Environment What do they do? “Cloud-based and user-focused, Canvas is the most reliable and adaptable VLE available.” “Cloud-based and user-focused, Canvas is the most reliable and adaptable VLE available. The VLE that makes teaching easier.” “Firefly gives teachers more time to teach, enables students to learn in ways that work best for them, and involves parents with their child’s learning every step of the way.” “Moodle is a learning platform designed to provide educators, administrators and learners with a single robust, secure and integrated system to create personalised learning environments.”
- 3. Is there a difference between a VLE and a virtual learning environment? Thoughts and Opinions… Yes, but probably no! I associate a 'VLE' with platforms such as Blackboard and Moodle. A 'virtual learning environment' probably implies something more broad, and flexible, although is possibly the same thing when drilling down. In my head, though, a 'VLE' is slow, not flexible, not innovative and implies posting and uploading resources but not necessarily engaging with them. A VLE sounds a lot more corporate, closed, and imposed by the system. A virtual learning environment is exactly that. Open, flexible, with possibilities for everyone This question is biased you are implying that there is a difference by asking why! I see I difference but if you had asked about an LMS I would have said they were not the same. VLE stands for Virtual Learning Environment which are one of the same - but if you are asking what a virtual learning environment should be then it’s not a single space it’s an interconnected set of online/digital spaces & tools that work seamlessly together.
- 4. Continued… A VLE is an acronym for virtual learning environment. This is normally based on a product i.e. Moodle canvas blackboard et cetera. But a virtual learning environment is many things. To best describe VLE would be to call it a digital solution to support the students journey. This can be many things but I believe they support collaboration participation communication teaching learning and assessment. Not that I am aware of. The focus should be how it is used to scaffold students. No ... Staff knowledge and understanding of acronyms or over reliance on the expectation of everyone knowing what an acronym means. But where does an LMS fit in? (Learning Management System) No they're the same thing, it's just peoples perspectives ( file dump versus actual virtual learning environment to support the learning journey of students and staff). They are obviously the same thing in theory, however the term ‘VLE’ has become known for the traditional VLE such as Moodle, blackboard, Canvas etc. Whereas an exciting, collaborative, communicative, purposeful, modern, inspiring, app-based experience is what a ‘Virtual Learning Environment’ should be… Unfortunately people are fearful of moving away from a traditional VLE as they feel ‘comfortable’ with them, but platforms like Teams just get people doing the aforementioned things ‘off their own back’, because it’s truly intuitive, purposeful and modern and feels ‘2019’, not ‘2005’.
- 5. Proprietary Eponym A brand name or trademark of a successful product, that has come into general use to refer to the generic class of objects rather than the specific brand type, without the exclusive rights to said product being lost by the parent company.
- 6. What is changing? Digital Learning Environment • “As Technology Enhanced Learning continues to develop, it is clear that some form of digital learning environment will remain core to institutional practices; the levels of integration, features and porosity will continue to change, driven, and potentially driving the behavioural shifts we see in staff and students.” (Laurie Phipps, Jisc) Next Generation Digital Learning Environment https://er.educause.edu/articles/2017/7/the-ngdle-we-are-the-architects
- 7. What are the alternatives? This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
- 8. From content to conversations There are many examples of current VLEs is being used simply as repositories of content. Despite attempts to move away from this, the reality is that many lecturers see their VLE as a place to put their presentations and other material (and VLEs designed primarily for this). Discussion fora and other features exist and are used, but typically the model is about digitising what is already there, with content being the main focus. Other practices rely on innovative instructors trying hard to use platforms they and their students find less intuitive than they would like. The VLE becomes a place to go to when you have to, not because you want to. In addition, enterprise-wide VLEs are becoming strongly embedded into institutional systems and administrative processes, arguably making them more difficult to move away from. (Phipps, et al., 2018)
- 10. customerservices@jisc.ac.uk jisc.ac.uk Thank you Dale Munday Not a VLE, but a Virtual Learning Environment d.Munday@lancaster.ac.uk