A Tale of One City: Intra-institutional Variations in Migrating VLE Platform

Post on 02-Jul-2015

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Presentation from ALT-C 2012 about lessons learned when migrating between Virtual Learning Enviroments, though the lessons would also be relevant in migrations of other types of software platforms

transcript

Dr. Ian Glover, Anna Campbell, Farzana Latif, Leona Norris,

James Toner, Connie Tse

City University London

Switching from WebCT (CitySpace) to Moodle◦ 2 year absolute deadline

◦ Each school allowed different strategy

Different levels of Ed. Tech. & VLE use between schools◦ Ranging from ‘No Usage’ to ‘Fully Embedded’

◦ Corresponding variations in Ed.Tech. support in each school

CitySpace switched off – September 2011

Collaborative groups focused on implementation and migration◦ All schools needs/views represented

Varied school migration strategies ◦ From ‘Big Bang’ to ‘Cohorts’ to ‘Disciplines’

◦ Brief case studies in Proceedings paper

Creating a sense of Inclusion◦ E.g. involving staff in planning each department

migration

Ownership◦ designing course templates request features

Templates◦ Department Specific

Visual Style

◦ Restructuring course content

Consistency◦ Encouraging good

practice

‘Limited edition’ increases desirability◦ Most people want to be in the ‘In Crowd’

Helps generate a ‘buzz’ ◦ Can be positive or negative though!

People want to prove they are ‘worthy’ of inclusion◦ Engagement increases

‘One-shot’ training ◦ Easy to forget unless put straight into practice

◦ Doesn’t respond to changes well

◦ Can come too late to result in changed practice

TeTo◦ Reinforce earlier learning by ensuring regular use

◦ Gives time for people to explore and implement new ideas

EAs can bridge the gap between ‘Us’ and ‘Them’◦ Right language for the context

◦ Go through the same processes

◦ Have same pressures

‘If X can do it, so can I’ vs. ‘I’m not doing it because X does it’◦ Don’t underestimate personal rivalries (both

positive and negative)

◦ Select the EAs carefully.

Situated learning theory ◦ skills best learned in the same context they will be

used

◦ ‘Personalised’ training materials

◦ Using their real module

Going to them◦ Makes them feel ‘special’/important

◦ Puts them at ease, so easier to suggest other ideas

◦ Gives a view on their other processes

Keep it an informal chat, not a lecture!

Discuss their current approaches◦ Find out reasons and problems

◦ Many people just doing things as they’ve always done

Better approach. Is there one?◦ Push/pull factors

◦ Entrenched ideas – ‘white-lies’, best practice showcase

e.g. JISC PREDICT – Curriculum Evaluation and Redesign Project

Implications: School/University overall strategy and vision Project management

◦ Resources◦ Time schedule

Change management◦ People already invested in change

– Threat? Opportunity?

Moving to Moodle 2.x for 2013/14

New video and CMS platforms being implemented

Strategies being informed by the above lessons◦ So watch this space!