Evaluating the development of virtual learning environments in higher and further education

Urquhart, C., Spink, S., Thomas, R., Yeoman, A., Durbin, J., Turner, J., Fenton, R. & Armstrong, C. (2004). Evaluating the development of virtual learning environments in higher and further education. In J. Cook (Ed.), Blue skies and pragmatism: learning technologies for the next decade. Research proceedings of the 11th Association for Learning Technology conference (ALT-C 2004), 14-16 September 2004, University of Exeter, Devon, England (pp. 157-169). Oxford: Association for Learning Technology Sponsorship: JISC

Discusses some of the reasons why use of Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) sometimes sticks at an initial stage of implementation. The paper is based on the findings from the JISC-funded JUSTEIS project on the monitoring of user behaviour with electronic information services in further and higher education in the UK. Qualitative analysis of interview data from over 550 students and over 50 academic staff (2001-2003) showed that individualization of learning was important to students. Many staff were unclear about the learning benefits of VLEs, and functions such as peer-peer group support and group learning were rarely used. Concludes that institutional strategies for VLE development need to be focused far more on disciplinary learning needs and priorities.

Non peer reviewed