JISC

Introducing Managed Learning Environments (MLEs)

Major changes are happening across the FE and HE community, affecting all aspects of learning, teaching and administration activities. These present opportunities for huge benefits to colleges and universities which make the most of the opportunities presented by new learning environments and management technologies.

Managed Learning Environments (MLEs) and Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) revolutionise the way a college or university delivers its learning and teaching and how it conducts its administration activities.

This briefing paper provides an introduction to MLEs and VLEs and acts as a general introduction to the MLE Information Pack. It is designed to support procurement decisions in the FE sector, which received funding (in April 2001) to purchase VLEs, but it is relevant to the whole FE and HE community. This briefing paper describes:

• JISC's guidance for choosing a VLE
• MLE Information Pack, giving summaries of all the information sheets

 
MLE information pack

JISC's MLE information pack contains much of the essential information for successful implementation of a programme to introduce MLEs and VLEs. In the main the briefing papers are written by experts from the community with direct experience of the issues involved. They are written with particular audiences in mind who are concerned with the issue being discussed and this is indicated on each paper.

Guidance on which briefings in the pack are especially relevant to your job/role is available.

Summaries of the briefing papers

1. MLEs and VLEs explained Guides the reader through the terminology commonly in use and applies an instantly recognisable diagram to explain the components and interfaces to systems (both computerised and non-computerised) in use within an MLE.
2. VLE procurement Examines the issues around procurement, the decisions that need to be made and who should be involved in the process.
3. Functional specification of VLEs Gives detailed guidance on the elements that comprise a VLE. Designed to act as a checklist of typical functions that might exist within a VLE to support teams procuring such systems.
4. Why IMS standards It is simple to say that a product is IMS-compliant but there are many aspects to this. This paper explains the reasons for the use of IMS specifications and guides those responsible for implementation through various issues that will arise.
5. Pedagogy (evaluation of learning environments) Choosing VLE systems is not just about procuring functionality. The functionality supplied in different systems is often a result of different approaches to pedagogy. This paper looks at how and why different pedagogies affect the functionality of different vendors' systems.
6. Collaboration Collaboration can result in the whole being greater than the sum of the parts and considerable cost savings can be made by working with partners rather than having to support all aspects of an MLE within one single institution. This paper explores possible avenues of cost-effective collaboration.
7. Legal issues It is unlikely that any VLE will be completely IMS-compliant in all necessary respects. This paper includes advice on how to ensure that compliance is achieved, together with guidance on possible wordings in contracts.
8. Technical (ILT infrastructure) Different VLEs have different requirements for infrastructure. Choices made in technical areas can have far reaching effects on the experience for the end user. This paper looks at some of the issues in this increasingly complex area.
9. Project management A project management approach can assist colleges with the implementation and management of their MLE projects. Such projects bring the potential for major change it is therefore essential that implementation is done in a planned and structured way and that effects on the people, the systems and the culture are recognised and managed. This paper examines possible approaches.
10. Firewalls and security Any installation of a computer system has implications for security. Implementation of a VLE within an MLE is no different. This paper looks at some of the issues involved and gives guidance towards authoritative knowledge in this area.
11. Installation and browser configuration If by choosing a VLE it is necessary to go to every computer in the college and update or even replace its browser (whether from a central point or not) then clearly this is an issue that has support ramifications. Different VLEs have different requirements and these should be examined carefully for knock-on effects.
12. Physical implementation of MIS to VLE transfer While IMS as a specification, in theoretical terms, will allow the transfer of data between MIS and VLE systems, this does have to be implemented physically. The issues around how this is done are examined and advice is given to institutions for systems hosted both internally and externally.
13. Content - buying and creating It is likely that outside content developers' materials will need to be mixed and matched with home grown content and in many cases colleges will need to create their own content foundries. This paper looks at issues in this area.
14. Metadata bridging content and systems One area of confusion in specifications such as IMS is that of Metadata and why it is necessary. This paper studies this issue and explains in lay terms why it is important.
15. Administration of online environments Inspects the methods commonly in use in VLEs for administration and advises on how it can be done, the processes involved and strategies to minimise costs of this vital work.
16. Cultural change Cultural change will be necessary to make best use of the opportunities presented by the new technology. Reasons for the need for change are studied and how change could be transferred to other typical learning environments. This paper also examines the theory behind the Learning Education Architecture approach to managing change (from the book Managing Change in Higher Education, edited by Peter Ford et al, Open University Press, 1996).
17. Awareness-raising The role of the ILT Champion within an FE college is key to the success of implementing MLEs with as little pain as is possible. Guidance on approaches that can successfully be used are scrutinised and strategies for raising awareness are identified.
18. Technical training Training staff in the use of the VLE is not as simple as training a single IT system. Staff development needs to include training in the technical and administrative aspects of the VLE itself, interfacing to MIS systems, learning how to teach online (and at a distance) and how to support students (and for that matter staff) in using a VLE, as well as how to design and produce content suitable for student use. All these areas of staff development will need to be addressed effectively. This paper looks at issues around embedding the practice of online delivery in support of the learner.
19. Copyright and IPR A lawyer examines this legal minefield. The possible pitfalls here are widespread and all members of staff need to be aware of where mistakes can be made. Work being undertaken across the world is investigated. Further guidance is available from JISC in this area.
20. Mentoring and tutoring online Effective tutors and mentors are essential to making the most of the technology. The experience of one college in a particular project is described and its implications are considered.
21. Retaining staff 'If you thought it was difficult enough to keep your IT staff then keeping your ILT staff is going to be even harder'. This is because these staff typically have a hybrid background, i.e. both technical (IT) and pedagogical (Curriculum). Strategies are examined that will enable colleges and universities to hang on to these very valuable people.
22. Accessibility Recent legislative and cultural changes have major implications for the design and delivery of content through a VLE. The issues of instructional design with accessibility in mind are considered and possible solutions suggested.

Choosing a VLE

The VLE as a sub-system within the college MLE

 MLEs and their use are fundamentally about the process of managing change in our institutions. The possibilities and problems of the 21st century demand that we question what we do now. While the FE and HE community needs to implement products that can sustain an effective MLE, it is important to recognise that cultural issues are as important to success as appropriate technologies. VLEs are likely to become essential tools for changing the culture of learning. They offer Management, ILT Champions and Curriculum Staff a ready vehicle to drive forward institution-wide engagement with new approaches to learning. However …

it is not as simple as buying a box!

JISC is actively working to produce a functional specification and open standards for these as well as guiding and advising the community in the implementation of such learning environments. This work is guided by the MLE Steering Group.

It is recommended that the description of requirements for a VLE produced by the MLE Steering Group is tailored to meet a particular college or university's needs. Then a suitable system can be procured. Colleges that already have a VLE installed should ensure that it meets the needs for student tracking and can be integrated with existing Management Information Systems, using the IMS standards. Where these approaches are not documented within the existing ILT strategy it should be updated.

Readership

This briefing paper and the MLE information pack are of interest to:

• Governors, Principals, Vice-Principals
• Senior Management Team
• Directors of Business Development
• Directors of Curriculum
• Directors of Finance
• Directors of Human Resources
• Directors of IT
• Directors of Learning Resources
• Directors of Staff Development
• ILT Champions

To find out more about MLEs
Email JISC assist, at: assist@jisc.ac.uk

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JISC would like to thank John Gray, Principal of Newark and Sherwood College, and Richard Everett, the ex-JISC MLE Co-ordinator, for writing this paper and Helen Gray of the FEFC for her comments.