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Bryony Bramer, Leo Havemann, Sarah Sherman Blackboard Learning and Teaching Conference 2010 Swansea
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The Search for the Truth Behind the Rumour
Dispelling Open Source VLE myths
Bryony Bramer Leo Havemann Sarah Sherman
The Bloomsbury Colleges
© Ewan Mura
Photo credit: Ewan Munrohttp://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/2445298176/
A bit about us...
Aims & Objectives
• Our view
• The current options
• Defining some myths
• Weighing up the pros and cons
• What about you?
So Many Options
In the short term the question is whether/when to upgrade.
But looking beyond...
8
... is the VLE dead??
Should we now be thinking about PLEs?
Photo credit: http://twitpic.com/photos/vaughany
VLE Options
Assuming we do need a VLE...
8
Open Source Myths (1)
“Open source is free”
• No licence cost.
• We would still have hosting / managed hosting costs.
• Additional staff resourcing - probably need developers (ongoing), and migration support (project).
“Open source is cool and sexy”
• Bandwagon appeal – seems like others are doing it
• Doesn’t address pedagogy, usability or financial dimensions
Open Source Myths (2)
Open Source Myths (3)
“If it’s free - it can’t be as good”
• Equating price point with quality
• Many institutions seem happy with their Open Source VLEs
• But often they have put in significant development work
Open Source Myths (4)
“There’s no support for it”
• Where does the buck stop? With us!
•Or our managed hosting provider.
• User communities provide advice, guidance and freebies they have developed.
Option A: Stick with Blackboard 8Pros: •Easy•Familiar•Stable•Integrated•Standard
Cons: •Out-dated•Limited features•No long-term support •Restrictive•Expensive
Option B: Upgrade to Blackboard 9Pros: •More Features•Up-to-date•User-friendly•Familiar•Simple upgrade
Cons: •Over-hyped?•Need to relearn•Compatibility•Expensive•Restrictive
Option B: Upgrade to Blackboard 9Survey Feedback:
Option B: Upgrade to Blackboard 9Survey Feedback:
“easier to navigate”“more attractive layout”
“easier to find stuff” “more modern”
“It just doesn't get in the way so much”
Option B: Upgrade to Blackboard 9Survey Feedback:
“too much on the screen” “more clutter”
“far more 'buttons'” “seems slower”
“can't see what the improvement is”
Option B: Upgrade to Blackboard 9Pros: •More Features•Up-to-date•User-friendly•Familiar •Simple upgrade
Cons: •Over-hyped?•Need to relearn•Compatibility•Expensive•Restrictive
Option C: Move to an Open Source VLE
Pros: •Cost•Adaptable•Community support•User configurable•Download & go
Cons: •No 'official' support•Staffing requirements•Unfamiliar•Future •Responsibility
Summary
• Does it come down to which is the best product?
• Impact / Change management
• What next?
Your thoughts…
• Is your institution thinking 'what next'? • Any points we haven't touched on?
• Please discuss!
![Theory of rumour spreading in complex social networks · rumour is ‘known’ and decide not to tell the rumour anymore, thereby turning into stiflers [8]. In the Maki–Thompson](https://img.pdfslide.net/doc/110x75/60a7c3683098934b8c0ad975/theory-of-rumour-spreading-in-complex-social-rumour-is-aknowna-and-decide-not.jpg)
