Virtual learning 'slow starter'

13 Jan 2009
Ofsted’s new study of virtual learning environments (VLEs) reveals little new, re-iterating that schools and colleges have not made great progress with their introduction or use. They use terms such as "cottage industry" to describe their use and, while it’s difficult to imagine a cottage industry based on using a VLE, its obvious what they mean: amateurish would be a simpler word.

The benefits to learners are so far "not yet obvious", say inspectors. However where they were more developed, particularly in colleges, such services were able to "enthuse" students.

In most places surveyed by Ofsted, the use of such VLEs was "not widespread" and where it was in place it was often the result of the enthusiasm of individual teachers.

"We found that the exploitation of VLEs at curriculum level resembled more of a cottage industry than a national technological revolution," inspectors concluded.

The report, based on more than 40 different institutions, found no example where a VLE provided a "comprehensive" range of materials for every subject.

The study found "very limited" use of VLEs in primary schools, a little more use in secondary schools - with the most developed use in further education colleges.

Over three quarters of the VLEs evaluated in this survey had originated with the use of computer technology to help with the submission of assignments.

Publishers may be alarmed to note that the virtual materials available to college students were most likely to have been produced by subject specialist staff, with little from external sources.

In terms of finding evidence of a positive impact on learning, inspection reports between 2005 and 2007 suggested that benefits were "not yet obvious", says the study.

Although young people use computers and the internet routinely in their personal lives, for instance on social networking sites, there was no great expectation on their part that a VLE would replace a significant part of their face-to-face learning.

No provider had conducted a systematic evaluation of the impact of their VLE. However, the providers surveyed did identify the following benefits to their learners:

improved motivation, interest and learning (11 providers)
allowing learners to catch up on missed lessons, with links to improved retention (nine providers)
improved control, by provider and learner, of assignments and associated feedback, and general coursework (nine providers)
saving costs and effort in printing, though an element of this was transferred from providers to learners (five providers)
better pacing of learning for individuals (three providers)
help for excluded students (two providers).

Such schemes "flourished where skilled and confident teachers and tutors treated the VLE as an extension of their normal work".

In contrast, it says the least successful virtual learning schemes were "used as a dumping ground or storage place for rarely used files".

Ofsted’s tips for schools and colleges:

develop specific VLE strategies that identify senior management responsibilities
ensure that VLEs are designed to enhance learning and are not just a storage or communication facility
put in place quality assurance procedures that evaluate VLE usage and set standards, but that also balance the need for individual staff responsibility for their own material, with a requirement to ensure that widely available material is relevant, current, understandable to individuals, and suitable for the institution
routinely conduct an assessment of the impact of VLEs on learners' outcomes
develop staff development systems where whole-institution events concentrate on understanding the potential benefits of the VLE and sharing of good practice, as well as a general awareness of strategy, while skills needs are met on an individual basis
link VLE development with improving the effective use of integrated learning technology in classrooms and workshops.
ensure, where appropriate, that a VLE is used to support learning across any consortium developing 14–19 diplomas or other shared provision.

Read full report

Source: BBC News | Education | UK Edition

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Virtual learning 'slow starter'