Managed Learning Environments

Paul HudsonLearning Technology Development Unit

University of Hertfordshire

Contents

• What is an MLE?

• Components of an MLE

• Off-the-peg MLE solutions

• StudyNet

The big statement…..

• “The hard truth is that without a Managed Learning Environment a University is not sustainable far into the 21st century”

• JISC (being melodramatic)

What is an MLE?

• The term Managed Learning Environment (MLE) refers to the whole range of information systems and processes of a college (including its VLE if it has one) that contribute directly, or indirectly, to learning and the management of that learning

JISC (their definition on 18/10/2003)

JISC’s MLE components diagram

So what does it boil down to?

• Management Information System (Genesis)

• Library Management System (Voyager)

• A Virtual Learning Environment driven by your MIS system

Proprietary vs Bought-in

Integration with existing systems

‘Best of breed’

Speed of Implementation

Updated to reflect UH priorities

Lack of flexibility can force change

Many vendors are development partners

Speed of implementation

Less long term maintenance

Features of a VLE

• News and information• Teaching Resource creation• Assignments• Group Work• Reading Lists• Class management facilities

Blackboard

• Offers all the required VLE facilities• Virtual Whiteboards & Chat• Simple interface• Fairly easy to use• Can buy in ‘professional’ Blackboard

courses• Expandable via Blackboard ‘building

blocks’• Oracle 8 based

Blackboard

WebCT

• Offers all the required VLE facilities• Virtual Whiteboards & Chat• Simple ‘student’ interface• ‘Personalised Learning Paths’• Flexible but complicated to use• Oracle 9 based

WebCT

StudyNet

• Offers all the required VLE facilities• Facilities proven to work with UH• Integration with central learning

resources• Consistent interface• Designed to reflect UH structure• Better ‘accessibility’• Reliance on key personnel

StudyNet

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Was ‘StudyNet’ the best decision?• Adapted to meet UH requirements

• Completely driven by Genesis. Genesis data is improving because of this.

• However, UH has yet to improve academic and administrative processes to meet the requirements of StudyNet

• Difficult to manage prioritise development vs maintenance

But to be honest……

Only time will tell………