Virtual Learning

One of the key points that was discussed in my conversation with Fiona Duggan last week was the subject of Virtual Learning Environments. From a student's point of view, Ravensbourne's current VLE (also known as Moodle) is substantial and as far as software training goes it has a lot to offer, although on average it is not very well publicised or promoted by the college or the tutors.

I feel that with the time share concept that is being considered on the new site, Ravensbourne must embrace the VLE concept and use it to it's full potential. It has the capability to act as a backbone to the community, that I fear would be far more disjointed than at present as a lot of the students might never necessarily see each other with the studio time layout and allocation.

Fiona did mention that the new site will have a lot of more multi purpose, open use space that the college is lacking at the moment, and I think this will also play a key role in the community structure.

I understand that the lecturers in their current position are stretched to deliver all the demands placed on them by the college's administration, but this timetable will have to be revised on the new site. A base of the weekly lectures, information and learning could be done online, in the form of a video or audio podcast, or as a virtual lecture broadcast to a forum on a regular basis, allowing interaction from the audience as the broadcast took place. This would then allow for students to maximise their time with the lecturer on personal ideas and concepts, without the lecturer having to repeat themselves to the different sections of the class.

By creating this online forum, the students could then start to build on this community, asking each other for opinions and ideas, even if their studio times are different. It is this aspect of the VLE concept that I think the college needs to build on, especially if there are going to be more students to participate.