VLE with TS?

[Hightower]

What are the rules behind a VLE? What must it be able to do etc?

I'm asking because I'm thinking would a TS do? A TS gives users access to their documents & shared areas. It also would give access to specialist school software.

Teachers would be able to access SIMS.net and other teaching software and homework could be assigned using RM Learning Resources I'm sure.

To be honest - I'm sure a TS covers all points so why isn't it used?

[CyberNerd]

I recall Becta released the requirements for a learning platform a while back.
I can't find them now, but suffice to say that none of the major VLE's meet the spec !

A Learning platform and TS are completely different things, both can be used to provide applications but the TS environment can only be used to provide applications/files.

Have a look at moodle features to get a better idea
Features - MoodleDocs

[Hightower]

But if the TS has software installed (like RM Learning Resources) that delivers homework and other things a VLE needs to have can it not be classed as one?

[CyberNerd]

Using Becta's definition, it looks like you could classify a TS environment as a learning platform. I guess they had to water down their definition given the poor state of the commercial VLE's. I think a VLE should do a lot more than that.
edit: the crucial bit htey missed is that it should be web based and platform neutral/independant

What is a learning platform?

Virtually all schools now have networked, broadband access that enables pupils and teachers to access information and resources within the school. The challenge now is to extend the school's network so that it offers access to learning resources, online storage and tools for communication and management not just within school, but from outside it too, through a learning platform.

The Government's e-strategy sets the expectation that:

* by spring 2008 every pupil should have access to a personalised online learning space with the potential to support an e-portfolio (provided by their local authority)
* by 2010 every school should have integrated learning and management systems (a comprehensive suite of learning platform technologies).

A learning platform brings together hardware, software and supporting services to enable more effective ways of working within and outside the classroom. Read more about the benefits of a learning platform.

Learning platforms can vary considerably, but each should provide a range of ICT-based functions:

* Content management - enabling teaching staff to create, store and repurpose resources and coursework which can be accessed online
* Curriculum mapping and planning - providing tools and storage to support assessment for learning, personalisation, lesson planning etc.
* Learner engagement and administration - enabling access to pupil information, attendance, timetabling, e-portfolios and management information
* Tools and services - providing communication tools such as email, messaging, discussion forums and blogs.

A learning platform is therefore not a single 'off the shelf' product but a collection of tools that are designed to support teaching, learning, management and administration.

[Hightower]

edit: the crucial bit htey missed is that it should be web based and platform neutral/independant

Why should it be web based? What about a TS that is loaded within IE? That's classed as web based and M$ provide the tools to make it possible

I would have thought TS would be platform neutral too seeing as though most Linux distro's come with an RDP client.

[FN-GM]

Why should it be web based? What about a TS that is loaded within IE? That's classed as web based and M$ provide the tools to make it possible

I would have thought TS would be platform neutral too seeing as though most Linux distro's come with an RDP client.

i think i reason so you can also access is on hand held devices. Also you may have to install a program or an active x to use TS. The end user might not have admin rights for what ever reason.

Also with a Web based system you will have a common interface.

[CyberNerd]

what I meant by my comment about web based was that it should run render in a browser.
If something is based on a standard (not a phoney MS standard that has to be reverse engineered to get it to work on something other then MS) then it can be guaranteed that it will work on any standards based device without the installation of 3rd party. But Becta didn't go as far as I would in the definition

We run Citrix through a Java application that complements our VLE, Through a RDP desktop alone you would be hard-pushed to get the functionality of a VLE (forums, quizzes, questionnaires, assignments, diaries, instant messaging, timetables, course structure etc). Although moodle can perform most of the common functions required, I don't have a single RDP/Citrix app that I could push out that would do all of this - unless I published a browser linking to moodle, but that would kind of defeat the object.

[gaz350]

I think ts client should be a tool of every learning platform. Giving students access to apps they might not have at home for example. But like a few people have said you won't have the features of a vle that are so tightly intergrated.

[sahmeepee]

A lot of our apps are on a site license that wouldn't allow use from home over TS anyway... they're licensed for the physical site. Even some of the file-based resources are license that way so they shouldn't go on the VLE.

[dsm]

The Frog VLE has an extra module that you can use to connect to TS through the VLE.

Very useful!

[Butuz]

The big difference is:

1) it's fairly easy to have 1000 kids connected to your moodle webserver - the server wouldnt need to be particularly special, infact you could do it with one server.
2) Moodle is licence free - each pupil or each pupil PC does not require a client licence.

If you wanted 1000 kids to connect via TS you would need:

16 x Dual Quad Core 8GB RAM Terminal Servers (£32,000)
1000 x TS Client Licences (£8,000)
1000 x licences for every application that they intend to run, e.g 1000 x Office 2003 licences, 1000 x Photoshop licences.

Butuz

[dhicks]

If you wanted 1000 kids to connect via TS you would need:

You could use Ubuntu, etc, via a web-based VNC plugin - you'd still need to spend the money on hardware (16 X Quad Core 8GB RAM (£8,000)), though. You really would be better off with a web-based system, performance would be better.

--
David Hicks

[Butuz]

Whoops got my cores wrong.

You could use Ubuntu - I am going to set up at least one Ubuntu terminal server to trial but I am worried about how it will intergrate with AD, and what applications I will actually be able to run on it. No MS Stuff, No Adobe, No Macromedia.

Butuz