1. Virginia Learning Objects Portal November 2007
Tutorials
Blogs
Podcasts
Wikis
Camtasia
BlackBoard
Virginia Learning Objects Portal
November 2007
John Ulmschneider
Chair, VIVA Outreach Committee
University Librarian
Virginia Commonwealth University

2. VLOP origins
Desire expressed by many librarians throughout Virginia for improved instructional aids for VIVA resources
Provide help to VIVA institutions which might have fewer resources for instruction and outreach
Support effort to expand and strengthen use of VIVA resources
Reduce costs: avoid reinventing the wheel
Stimulate creativity and further development of learning objects for online resources

3. Leverage what’s already out there
Vendor aids
Work of faculty and staff at Virginia academic libraries
National resources
Other Virginia contributors

4. Operating and managing VLOP
Many successful examples for technology foundation
LOEX
MERLOT
SCOUT Portal
Drawbacks: designed as repositories; not focused on Virginia resources
Wiki
Technology already widely established in academic libraries
Excellent and easily-used content and editorial tools
Strong design for instruction and providing assistance
Well-suited to organizing, linking, and collaboration goals of VLOP
Editorial and content oversight
Nature of Wiki technology requires broad participation
VIVA accomplishes all goals with a collaboration-and-contribution model
Updated, renewed, and expanding content essential to success
Broad scope is a goal: start with VIVA, but eventually contain Web-based learning aids related to teaching any online content or search system

5. What’s been done so far Develop proposal Reality check for concept
VIVA Outreach: define goal and scope
Endorsed by VIVA Steering Committee
Explore design scenarios
Reality check for concept
Is there enough content, need, and support for this?
Meeting of over 24 academic librarians from across the State, June 8, 2007
Meeting confirmed sufficient material and interest to go forward
Identified two key issues
Editorial control and oversight
Publicity and awareness of portal key to success
Create prototype as sandbox for VLOP
Populate with diverse examples of learning objects

6. Prototype VLOP