Excellence in E Learning - Summary

Excellence in E- Learning Summary (09/09/08)

As a result of demand from the region, the JISC Regional Support Centre for Yorkshire & Humber are hosting a series of forums/meetings badged within the Excellence in e-Learning strand.

The meetings are a means of updating the sector on regional and national developments in
e-learning, including progress with projects and bids. They are also a forum for discussing and sharing ideas and developments in e-learning.

Aims of the Day:

- to receive updates on recent developments in e-learning

- to share e-learning developments in the institutions

- to provide a forum for discussion of important developments in e-learning


The agenda was largely driven by the delegates and future meetings may include guest speakers if deemed appropriate. This was the first forum meeting this academic year and further meetings will follow.


Technology/Internet Resource Developments

• www.wakeypedia.org.uk - This wiki is intended to provide a valuable resource for practising teachers in all areas of formal education.

It includes articles on a wide range of topics across the whole range of teaching activities, considerations and techniques. Individual practitioners can look to this Guide for inspiration in overcoming specific difficulties, guidance on methods of approaching particular aspects of the teacher’s role and recommendations of practices that others have found useful.


• http://www.ning.com/ - Ning was cited as a more flexible tool than Moodle, in particular for digital video files. Ning is another social networking site. Some concerns over institution control were raised over Facebook, Bebo and Ning. Others described it as an invasion of students private space but not all group members shared this point of view.

• There were suggestions that the emergence of numerous new online platforms will see a period of mergers and buyouts. It was predicted that Moodle would evolve with both Microsoft and Google involvement to retain its position in the market place.


• The group was shown Hull Colleges basic skills pack. This had all the functionality of an editable PDF but with animated interactivity. The facilitator agreed to investigate what software had been used. A copy of the file is available for free on USB by request only.

• Google tools was shown to the group. This was described as a ‘national vle’ that has potential integration opportunities with Moodle but is still very much in its infancy. Other online tools shown included Adobe Video Conferencing, Sharepoint and Photoshop online.

• Interactive notepads were discussed. These convert handwriting into digital text. http://www.destinyplc.co.uk/flash/#/thedigitalpen/overview/



Online Appraisals/CPD

A minority of members had been using their own online appraisal and CPD systems. Wakefield College was cited as an example of good practice in this area.

Leadership and Management

It was suggested by several members that institutions who appointed ICT/VLE managers at ‘senior management level’ had a greater focus on new technologies and rate of development than their counterparts.

Benchmarking VLE

The RSC are keen to develop a set of criteria to measure an institutions effectiveness in the use of virtual learning environments and new technologies. This was an area of development to be discussed at the next meeting.

Assessment Online

According to the facilitator by 2010 it will be a mandatory requirement for all schools and sixth form colleges to keep student assessment records online. It was unclear if this would include FE Colleges.

Both Wilberfoss College and Wyke Sixth Form College had developed online assessment tracking systems for National Diploma qualification which may act as a model for LCAD’s ND assessment tracking.