VLES, MLES AND LEARNING PLATFORMS


As the impact of the introduction of computers in the classroom continues it needs to keep pace with the improvements in technology. This offers even further ways to open up the teaching possibilities.
The next step on from Interactive White Boards is the introduction of Learning Platforms.

The virtual 

learning environment provides a place for teachers, students and parents to access resources , information and be part of a shared community on line. This common place for people to interact offers many oppurtunities for further learning and continued engagement outside of the classroom.

The managed learning environment allows the administrators to track and monitor this at any time.

A Virtual Learning Environment is now a key component for schools in providing a learning process and facilities for individual students.

It includes a secure workspace area for each student on the network, which is accessible from any point on the network and over the internet via a secure link. In this workspace area, students can access work assignments and curriculum content; and deliver completed work for tutors to assess.

The VLE should also provide a facility for tracking student activity, to allow tutors to define and set up a course with accompanying materials and activities to direct, guide and monitor learner progress. And to empower supporters of the education process, viewer access can also be provided to parents and other parties as appropriate.

Benefits

Support for on-line learning, including access to learning resources, assessment and guidance. The learning resources may be self developed or professionally authored and purchased materials that can be imported and made available for use by learners.

Schools in the UK are now required to have a Virtual learning in place for their students.

+Communication between the learner, the tutor and other learning support specialists to provide direct support and feedback for learners, as well as peer-group communications that build a sense of group identity and community of interest Links to other administrative systems, both in-house and externally.

The following are various applications within the VLE 

                                            

email

use discussion boards

undertake tests and surveys

share information

organise time and resources

link teaching and learning applications and activities with managed information systems.

share files     

Disadvantages

• difficult to change/update
• requires access to PC
• hard to take account of whatever hardware the students have to work with off-campus
• webcasts received over the Web require a fast modem and/or considerable bandwidth 
• e-learning itself is not yet in line with established study patterns (for example, bulletin boards are unfamiliar as a way of learning)
• more difficult to ‘sell on’ any part of a VLE course unless it is SCORMcompliant
• less opportunity for independent searching and serendipity
• reduces face to face contact

knowledge Box

We looked at and used Knowledge Box in the lesson.

Knowledge Box Online is the most versatile bank of engaging digital resources and lesson plans to support your everyday teaching across the primary curriculum - and it's all available online.

Easy to search by curriculum objective, topic, subject, year group or Key Stage.Plan from home - access and play with the resources at home 

Save your favourites - all ready to use in class.

From Foundation to Key Stage 2 

TESTIMONIAL

"I feel like Knowledge-Box has really helped me improve my maths skills and has made me 10 X more confident going into my maths GCSE exam. The teaching is good and helped me understand the easier methods to solve the difficult questions."

Timothy Katusiime
Maths
Year 11