A New Online Learning Environment for QMUL Current System BB CE8 is ageing and no longer being developed (support till 2013) Functionality becoming limited for some uses/users, especially in comparison to non-VLE web tools Support from BB now poor, ongoing bugs and issues Modern CE range (6-8) will have had five years' use by 2012 BB 9.1 is now out and will be considered Alternatives available (e.g. open source options have matured) Depending on requirements may need a traditional VLE plus tools, or a collection of integrated tools in place of one VLE What Future for VLEs? New platform to take us to 2017 Will the monolithic VLE survive or diaggregate into a collection of (personalised) services? How do we manage such a transition? Should VLEs be walled gardens, separate from the Web 2.0 techs people use in 'real life'? Where do VLE's end and other systems begin? How broadly or narrowly ought we define them? What gaps might we leave? What Kinds of Learning? VLEs can work well for online teaching; learning activities based around content, communications and assessment Also good for running a course - student tracking, submissions, feedback, grades, announcements etc Widely used for formal courses at QM, but what about for less formal learning opportunities? Networks of interest, informal learning, professional and personal development, cross-subject, public spaces... ought not a university's online learning platform allow for those too? Student-led learning, reflection, portfolios, personalised learning environments Supporting research projects and groups Open educational materials Collaborations beyond QM... Other Systems What relationship with other systems at QM: e.g. SIS, Library sytems, a future student portal, email, calendars, departmental systems? External systems - repositories, useful web tools High-Level Principles e.g. to support the aims of the organisation to meet strategic objectives (Strategic Plan, LTA Strategy) Improve the student experience Flexibility, usability, accessibility Compliance (legal and policy) Good value Longevity Fundamental Questions How will we be teaching over 2012 - 2017? How will students be learning? How will we want to share/disseminate knowledge? What will be our role in public life? How can we use online learning technologies to help us realise (and form?) the answers to these questions? What do you, as teachers, do now? What do you want to do, but can't at the moment? Can we find a platform (or collections of tools) to help you? = Gather and refine requirements = Build knowledge of options = Match systems to requirements = Make recommendation Sam Brenton Head of E-Learning, QMUL May 2010