Teachers - WHY USE A VLE?


You already know about Virtual Learning Environments, although you may have come across them as Content Management Systems or Learning Management Systems. We'll stick to the first name - usually contracted to 'VLE'. Essentially, a VLE is a web-based tool which is used to support learning.

There are quite a few of them, but to some extent what you can do with them is similar. It's when you come to the detail that they can differ. At Kidderminster College, we moved to the Moodle VLE about four years ago, so we're pretty experienced with its use by now - although we often find little hidden gems or new facilities.

So what can I do with a VLE?
Let's be clear: a VLE is much more that a place for Students to find course handouts. After all, it's called a LEARNING environment. So it may help to look briefly at a few examples of what Moodle can be used for.

Course support and admin
  • Pre-induction information
  • Student details
  • Registers
  • Communication via email and instant messaging
Documentation
  • Handbooks
  • Handouts
  • Schemes of work
Revision, reinforcement and assessment
  • Interactive learning materials
  • Quizzes
  • Assignments
  • Glossaries
Active learning
  • Discussion forums
  • Collaborations
  • Group work
  • Wikis
Reflection
  • Journals
  • Blogs
With all these facilities (and many more), you'll be spoiled for choice. Our training concentrates on what you need for effective, efficient use of Moodle so that you can both use it quickly and easily and so that you and your Students can benefit from it's functionality.

How can I get the best out of Moodle?

We'll work with you to decide on ways to approach online support for learning, how to get the best out of moodle without much hassle, how to keep your course interesting and how to get your Students involved. That way, you'll be excited and inspired, your Students will stay on the course, and they'll have a better chance of achieving their target grades - or above.

Can you help in any other ways?

Another feature we can add to make life easier for you and your Students is "single sign on". Have you and they ever been frustrated by the need to log in a number of times - often with different usernames and passwords? Well now, using a brilliant tool called Shibboleth, we can get rid of that problem for good - one username, one password, access to all the websites you need. Simple.

and?

  • We can convert your handouts and documents into image-rich, interactive learning packages with quizzes and other functions.
  • We can help you become part of a local, regional or national federation so your learners can benefit from more materials
  • We're working on ePortfolios and ILP software so we can offer even more functionality
  • We never leave you to cope on your own - all our training is backed up with online versions where you can enhance your own learning and take part in discussions with other Teachers.
 
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