VLE/MLE A Vision of Learning Environments for C21 Students

1. VLE/MLEA Vision of Learning Environments for C21 Students ‘The terrifying thing about this technology is what it tells us about the rate at which children learn.” Jenny Noel-Storr Redhill Primary School, Shropshire Hayley Matthews

2. Vision Statement Developing a Virtual Learning Environment / Managed Learning Environment in order to create a Vertical Learning Environment that facilitates a new way of teaching and lifelong-learning for all. ‘Enhancing the quality of teaching and learning is the key driver, identified by almost every institution for MLE development.’ JISC MLE Study Report 2003

3. VLE: Virtual Learning Environment …where it’s CMC – Computer Mediated Communication CAA – Computer Aided Assessment CAL – Computer Aided Learning Gigabyte Infrastructure to Gb Desktops = Real Time Technologies E-Learning tools... Email, websites, chat, forums, video, audio, IPTV, video-conferencing, assessment engines, projectors, interactive whiteboards, software, modelling, simulation, multimedia, powerpoint, on-line bulletin boards, discussion, world-wide resources

4. MLE: Managed Learning Environment …where it’s all Seamless Integration with reporting & data collation tools - MIS with on-line assessment engines with the VLE with BBC – One Stop Shop with external agencies – NWLG, Student Loans MLE-Adminstration tools... Course registration, personal learning profile, student loans, council tax & housing benefits, electoral registration, enrolment, accreditation, student union facilities, pastoral support, local information, housing, non-curricular support structures… teaching & learning citizenship...

5. From a Student’s Perspective… • The VLE/MLE is a Learner-centred approach to education removing [perceived] barriers to learning: • Access • Pace / Flexibility • Shared environment • Peer to peer collaboration

6. From a Student’s Perspective… The VLE/MLE is a Learner-centred approach to education removing [perceived] barriers to learning: • World-wide / Multi-institutional Resource Database • Greater opportunities for those with physical, cultural, medical, educational, social or other perceived barriers to learning • Decreased dependence upon Minimum Requirements for enrolment

7. From a Student’s Perspective… ‘The Cast of Players in a student’s learning experiences has increased dramatically. Convergent technologies now allow experts, peers and collaborators to join the student’s world, enriching learning experiences.’ Bernard Holkner Monash University, Melbourne Physical Environment ‘Cast of Players’ Hardware Software

8. It is not about automating the current educational content but about presenting it in a new and effective way: Maths Can be Interesting! Create Your Own Atom These tools and their skill sets are cross-curricular, cross-institutional and empowering... …auditory, kinaesthetic, visual

9. …the limits of my world are the limits of my imagination… 5 year old Katie who is going to be an astronaut 8 year old Jordan who is the ‘next Stephen Spielberg’ 12 year old Tom who wants to be ‘the richest man in the world’ 15 year old Jane who wants to be a beauty therapist 47 year old Janice who has decided that it is time to study for a degree but she has two teenage children and a part-time job Getting learners to adopt new approaches and integrate them into their learning experience requires that staff first do the same. This involves a cultural change…

10. …changing a culture… The way learners learn: Motivation Inspiration Self Pacing Responsibility The way teachers teach: Facilitator Guide Empowering Encouraging Relationship Student Teacher Interaction a new way of learning… …learning as continuous research rather than a body of facts… without limitations…

11. …changing a culture… Curriculum Staffing Learning to Learn Cross-sector interoperability: Widening participation to HE 14-19s a new way of learning… …supporting pupils and students travelling across the wider education landscape… …awarding bodies, learner organisations, employers…

12. Vision to Reality…. The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps. We must step up the stairs.Carl Jung • Stage One: Establish VLE/MLE as a quality product/service: success is proportional • Source • Resource • Champions

13. Vision to Reality…. • Learner Tracking and Monitoring • ‘Specialist’ Delivery Teams • Including / training further staff • Ensuring Learner Support • Teaching becoming less hungry of human resource • Stage Two: Replacing the paper base • Simulation • Investigation • Experimentation ...sharing good practice, resources and encouraging one another... …teams should work across the educational spectrum….

14. Vision to Reality…. • Stage Three: All curricula subscribing to common areas • Maximise resources • Flexibility • Integrity of Information • Innovation …closing the gap between rhetoric and reality…

15. Vision to Reality…. • Stage Four: • Evaluation and continuing development • Sustainability of learning resources …a new openness…the sharing of intellectual property…

16. …the ‘Top-Down’ Approach? If any of these basic elements – identity of interest, clarity of vision, honesty of intent, and oneness of purpose, are lacking, all pleas for solidarity, cohesion, and all other efforts to achieve them, will be barren of results.

17. …the ‘Cascade’ Approach… Cascade - A waterfall or a series of small waterfalls over steep rocks. • A succession of stages, processes, operations, or units. • Electronics. A series of components or networks, the output of each of which serves as the input for the next. • A chemical or physiological process that occurs in successive stages, each of which is dependent on the preceding one, and often producing a cumulative effect.

18. …how? • Leadership Strategy: • Appreciation of current culture • Building Relationships • Creating a Desire for Change • Envision them! (Energise) • Knowledge and Empowerment • Contagious Enthusiasm • Supported Action • Coherent Response • Positive Results – CHANGE! ‘Technology is driving the future. The steering is up to us.’

19. The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. Our Vision is an inclusive C21 Learning Environment