About Anything

The personal blog of Al Stevens. Focus is overrated.

Virtual Learning Environments Slow to Take Off in UK

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A report, Virtual learning environments: an evaluation of their development in a sample of educational settings, published today by the UK’s Office for Standards in Education , shows that despite expectations the use of Virtual Learning Environments across schools and colleges has been slow to take off.

The survey, carried out in a range of settings, including schools, colleges, work-based learning and adult and community learning centres, says the concept of VLEs is still relatively new and represents only a small aspect of learning.

Among other points, the report says: “The common factor in effective VLEs was the enthusiasm of the subject teacher; that is enthusiasm for the subject and teaching and learning as much as any competence in computing”.

The news release is here:  The virtual reality of e-learning

The report is here:  Virtual learning environments: an evaluation of their development in a sample of educational settings

An article in The Guardian provides a bit of background and perspective: No escape from turning up to class

Written by Al Stevens

January 13th, 2009 at 12:08 pm