VLE - Actual Requirements & Options

[pastymaster]

Hi all,

 

(Apologies if this has been covered before, I'm sure it has but can't find the same thread I found before )

 

Our VLE 3rd party support with SIMS integration is up for renewal at the end of the month and I've been thinking for a while about doing away with our Moodle VLE installation entirely.

 

Are there any actual statutory requirements that state that a school needs to provide a VLE? Or even provide any kind of remote access and storage for students to use while off site? I can't find anything specific at all. I'm sure there were requirements to have a VLE some years ago (certainly before I started doing IT support in school) from what I've seen on here, but I don't think there is an actual requirement any longer?

 

Our Moodle installation is NEVER used. Essentially the school's been paying £4k a year for nothing other than saying that we have a VLE. I'd much rather put that money into something more useful for the students.

 

What I would like to do is purchase additional CALS to allow the students to remote into the network from off site and give them access to a mapped area where teachers can set home work and other activities for them to complete. I think it'd be easier for teachers to build up a decent resource area on a mapped area than having to navigate and learn a new VLE platform. It's also be easy for students as they authenticate against AD.

 

Parents can view progress, behaviour, school dinner and parents evenings etc through Insight. So I don't have any concerns regarding parent access.

 

 

Ultimately after all of that waffle , do we actually have to supply any sort of solution at all (even though we're still going to)?

[jbunoomally]

There never was any actual statutory requirement - it was only ever a "ministerial expectation".

JB.

[Boredguy]

We did away with a VLE a few years ago now.

We setup a Moodle instance on our main web server purely to hold some SCORM content that teachers wanted (really should see if it's every been accessed since!), and instead had the students use our HomeAccessPlus page to access their documents and shared area for homeworks. Last year some staff also started using Edmodo with their classes as it was free to setup

[GrumbleDook]

There was a requirement to deliver online reporting and the expectation was that it was via the VLE.

One poorly written phrase in a speech made a mountain of work on this, but did provide a lot of impetus for change ... unfortunately it was often poorly thought through and done only to tick a box as part of a funding programme.

 

Outstanding schools tend to use them well, but that is more of a mindset that a statutory thing.

[pastymaster]

Thanks for the help everyone, that's spot on.

 

At least I know where we standing in 'having' to offer something, or not as the case is.

 

Hopefully it'll be a good way of saving money and kick starting a new method of teachers setting students work (and any additional for students that want it). They might even 'buy in' with a bit of encouragement from above.

 

Thanks again.

[jamin100]

Were getting rid of our very old clunky sharepoint installation at christmas. We've just moved to Office 365 and Home Access Plus. We've also re-organised the staff and student shared areas so its easier to find things.

[Roberto]

This is the thing. VLEs can be used well (we have some departments that use our Blackboard VLE extremely well and others not so much) but "Because someone else said we have to." is the worst possible reason to get something and the least effective way possible to motivate others to use something that doesn't appear to solve any of their problems.

[maark]

we use google classroom now which is pretty good and free but you need to set your school up for google apps for education.

Advantage is that students can use it on phones, tablets etc.