Composing your Learning Environment; new models



Led by Wilbert Kraan and Sheila MacNeill

Post VLE, the MLE concept first tackled the need to integrate functionality and data in teaching and learning IT systems. The PLE discussion radically re-conceptualised the notion of a learning environment for the social web apps age. But the VLE is still there, proving that it has a clear role in most educational institutions.

The resulting tension between the role of the VLE as a common tool for the institutional community on the one hand, and the desire to make it permeable to the wider web on the other has created a number of new solutions. These solutions are built on different architectures that each have their own strengths and weaknesses.

We will explore those strengths and weaknesses over two sessions, with a chance to catch up on both sessions online. The first session on the whys, wherefores and interfaces of the following models:
 * One system in the cloud, many outlets (e.g. plugjam, Icodeon Common Cartridge platform and Apache Wookie server (incubating))
 * interface technologies: W3C Widgets, provisioning specs like IMS Learning Information Services
 * Plug-ins to existing VLEs (e.g. Icodeon SCORM player, QTIengine)
 * interface technologies: trusted plug-in APIs such as IMS Learning Technology Interoperability
 * Many widgets from the web, into one widget-container-turned-VLE (e.g. pageflakes, netvibe or iGoogle
 * interface technologies: good old HTML iFrame, Google Gadget API, Flake API, Netvibes Universal Widget API

Models and Presentations

 * Diagrams of each of the 5 models discussed over the two days[[Media:ComposedLE.pdf| PDF]]
 * Warwick Bailey, Icodoen Common Cartridge player [[Media:Jisc_cetis_2009_nov_10.ppt|ppt slides]]
 * Charles Severance, [[Media:2009-11-10-cetis-02.pdf‎|IMS Impacting Teaching and Learning Through Standards (PDF)]]
 * Tony Toole (link to slideshare) - example of many widgets from the web model
 * Stuart Sim plugjam (copy of presentation coming soon)

There was a second session on the second day exploring more models and technologies
 * Sheila's blog post summary of the 2 days

Conference 2009 Programme