Post on 19-Sep-2014
description
Starting out with a VLE... what to expect...
Sarah HorriganLearning Technologies Manager, CiCS
…what is this goingto be about then?
Ideas!
Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/67961268@N00/330793963/
Some things to think about…
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/66164549@N00/2260970300/sizes/l/
I’m going to share asecret with you…
UsefulNot useful
Interesting
Dull
UsefulNot useful
Interesting
Dull
Virtual learningenvironmentsWatching paint
dry
Things your 6 year old says
Chocolate teapots
Engaging learning
Raincoats
Marking scripts
VLEs aren’t that exciting
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/21099071@N03/3731709213/
“… communications tools don’t get socially interesting until they get
technologically boring”Source: Clay Shirky, 2008
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrysti/2250223529/
Get the basics in place
Minimize
chaos!
But... don’t aim
for the minimum!
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/49503180180@N01/447379393/
“… The best VLEs reviewed allowed learners to reinforce their routine work, or catch up on missed lessons. In those best cases the material offered was fun and helpful and was being used well by learners…”
Image source: Maccio Capatonda, http://www.flickr.com/photos/gattomimmo/2217134329/
“… In the least effective examples, documents had been dumped on the system and forgotten.” Source: OFSTED, 2009
Source: Sandman, ‘Storm Cell at Sunset’, http://www.flickr.com/photos/dotdoubledot/1281864495
“The common factor in effective VLEs was the enthusiasm of the subject teacher; that is enthusiasm for the subject and teaching and learning as much as any competence in computing”Source: OFSTED, 2009
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxbraun/104431360/
Writing style...
Source: Jenna Carver, http://www.flickr.com/photos/babyowls/2329783873/
Some guidelines…
Make Text 'Scannable‘…
Highlight keywords
Provide meaningful headings and subheadings
Include one idea per paragraph
Some guidelines…
Keep your tone reader-friendly:
Be conversational
Be welcoming
Try to get a sense of narrative running through your text
Above all… use plain English!
Image Source: Fabian Blanca, http://www.flickr.com/photos/faby74/3022829811/
Other uses?
Staff development
Communities of practice
Social spacesSharing resources
How to prepare students for their online learning
with TUoS?
But... they're not using Moodle...
Source: amarola, http://www.flickr.com/photos/amarola/268642793/
What’s the difference?
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54448386@N00/2993803017/
(it doesn't matter too much)
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54448386@N00/2993803017/
What is expected of students at the University of Sheffield?
...it varies
Last thoughts and questions...
Further resources
JISC InfoKit, 'Effective use of VLEs' http://www.jiscinfonet.ac.uk/InfoKits/effective-use-of-VLEs
Moodle FAQs - http://docs.moodle.org/22/en/About_Moodle_FAQ
CiCS, University of Sheffield -http://shef.ac.uk/cics