EVITA Project:“Exchange, Valorisation and Transfer of regional best policy measures for

SME support on IT and e-business Adoption”

eLearning: Which Platform?Contract No 0226R1 - Kick-off meeting

Athens9 December 2008

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What is an eLearning Platform?

eLearning platform = Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

VLE is seen as pivotal to the implementation of any distance-learning programme.

VLE is a website that engages students in various

learning activities. includes a set of management & delivery tools to

allow on-line materials to be provided and consumed within a clear, organised structure.

provides students with easy access to course materials, quizzes, self-assessment materials & communication tools.

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VLE Systems...

All institutions/projects offering e-learning have invested significant resources (time & money) to decide on the VLE to adopt.

Let us AVOID using too much resources to answer this question!! Resources should be used on developing the course material and the associated e-learning pedagogies.

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Which VLE is right for us?

VLE systems available include: Customised systems i.e. those developed

specifically for the project. Commercial offerings e.g. Blackboard,

eCollege. Open source systems e.g. Bodington,

Sakai, Moodle. No single best option that suits all

situations, otherwise all institutions would take that choice.

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Customised VLE

Pros Developing our own VLE system internally

ensures that the VLE will have features which serve the project needs.

Cons Lots or resources (money, time, human)

needed. Development is a lengthy process that

could delay the implementation of e-learning (as per experiences with other projects).

Recommendation: AVOID

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Commercial VLE

Pros Established VLEs with the all the usual

features that any VLE will have. Technical support & backing by the

company providing the VLE. Cons

Expensive to procure. Expensive to purchase ongoing support.

Recommendation: AVOID

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Open Source VLE

Pros Least expensive option to set up & maintain. Use of open source VLEs has increased in the past

5 years. Reputable universities have switched from commercial VLEs to open source VLEs.

Cons Uncertainty regarding ongoing future

development of open source VLEs. Requires in-house or commercial support.

Recommendation: ADOPT for the project.

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Which open source VLE?

Moodle – www.moodle.org Emerged in 1999 from the Australian

higher education community. Moodle - an acronym for Modular

Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment.

Large & diverse user community, multilingual, scalable VLE.

Adopted by reputable e-learning institutions including the Open University.

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Moodle...

Continuity - Ongoing technical development. Programme code developed by institutions & individuals is made available to all Moodle users at no cost.

Support – Relatively easy to maintain. Commercial companies can offer both hosting & support (where institutions lack technical resources).

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Moodle Features...

Moodle has many features expected from a VLE: Resource types Question types Data field types (for the database activity) Graphical themes Authentication methods Enrolment methods Content Filters Many third-party Moodle plugins are freely

available making use of this infrastructure.

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Moodle Features (2)

Web based VLE - no downloads on student or tutor computer.

Upload of files: doc, xls, ppt, pdf, mp3, avi, mpg, etc.

Online quizzes, multiple choice tests, etc.

Forum & wikis. Email facilities. Tracking student use of resources.

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Using Moodle

Experience: The learning curve for most tutors &

students is not steep. Minimal technical training is required for

tutors in terms of setting up & maintaining their course area.

Students with average ICT skills can work through Moodle course areas with minimal support.

A lot of support material (online help & manuals) is available.

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Thank you

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Contacts:

Fondazzjoni Temi ZammitIr-Razzett tal-ĦursunUniversity of MaltaMsida MSD 2080

Tel: +356 2340 2189Web: www.ftz.org.mt