1. VLEs and MLEs Hugh Davis

2. What’s in a Name?
Blackboard
WebCT
Moodle
LearnDirect
VLE
LMS
CMS
MLE

3. The Research Questions
What is the difference between a VLE and an MLE?
What is the quality of learning in on-line environments? Are there things you can’t do on-line? Are there things that are better?
Do VLEs impose a particular pedagogic approach?
(The latter two will only make sense after the following lecture)

4. Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)
mapping of the curriculum into elements (or ‘chunks’) that can be assessed
tracking of student activity and achievement against these elements
support of online learning, including access to learning resources, assessment and guidance
online tutor support
peer group support
general communications, including , group discussion and web access
links to other systems, both in-house and externally

5. Communication tools discussion boards supporting threaded discussions
integrated electronic mail
video conferencing
white-boards
on-line chat

6. Moodle (A quick Case Study)
You can see all this in more detail in the Moodle Feature Demo Course at
WYSIWIG editing of content
Mail integration
Courses can be packaged and zipped
Users are Admin, teachers or students
Plug-in authentication and LDAP as standard
Languages and time zones supported
Generic Linking!
Full Maths notation

7. Moodle Case Study (2)

8. Moodle Case Study (3)

9. Moodle Case Study (4)

10. Moodle Case Study (5)

11. Moodle Case Study (6)

12. Learning Management System
Most definitions say LMS ≡ VLE. But some see LMS as the hub of a VLE e.g.

13. Managed Learning Environments
MLEs are concerned with whole institutional systems
MLEs involve the interoperation of several separate systems - Student Record Systems, Library Systems, Management Information Systems, VLEs, timetabling systems and so on.
Joined up systems for learners;
Joined up systems for institutions;
Instructional Management System (VLE);
Plagiarism detection;
Computer Assisted Assessment.
The interface to these joined up systems is often via a Portal (e.g. SUSSED)
A complete Managed Learning Environment would provide all the systems needed for a “Virtual University”

14. The BECTa MLE diagram

15. Scott Wilson’s 2005 “VLE of the future”
Creative Commons Copyright Scott Wilson

16. Follow up Questions
Are at the end of the slides for the next lecture on models of learning…..