More content for VLEs
Virtual Learning Environments (VLE's)
A report published earlier this week by Ofsted revealed that despite the hype, the take-up of Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) across UK schools has been somewhat slow.
The report highlights that VLEs perform best where there are enthusiastic members of staff in the driving seat, but it also comments that only a small percentage of schools & colleges are actually using them at all, and that where they are used they represents only a small percentage of overall learning.
The philosophy behind VLEs is to enable resources, homework, video clips, website links etc, to be made available around the clock to learners on the internet, which they can access from anywhere. This in turn is designed to enhance the learning experience whilst giving schools and colleges the facilities to deliver content in the form of digital media (Powerpoints, videos, podcasts) easily.
One of the findings of the report was that VLEs are still very much in their infancy, and that much further development, training and education is required before they are able to be used to their full potential. Another area which was highlighted was the need for content for all area’s of the curriculum. The report commented:
Over three quarters of those surveyed who had a VLE showed aspects that were good, however none had a VLE that covered every subject area comprehensively.
Although content can be developed by anyone, and many teachers do create exciting and engaing content for VLE’s, there is a real need for school software and content developers to produce quality, value for money content for all subject area’s to really help drive the use of VLE’s forward.
