VLE and MIS woes in Kent

[NicWood]

I just wanted to add to this thread.

 

Firstly I am the Product Manager for the Kent Learning Zone (KLZ) so my comments and replies would directly reflect the KLZ thinking.

 

As has been stated, KLZ is not a VLE, so we do not compete with VLE's, Mike summed it up earlier on, so I wont duplicate his comments.

 

KLZ is (as has been stated) free to members of staff and teachers and provides Exchange based email with OWA and full connectivity out of the box. It also comes with Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 Im service which can be web based or client installed.

 

The SharePoint features are aimed at both within schools (ie a school uses this as their intranet) and inter county with full collaboration sites. Next year we plan to bring in authenticated links to other LA's which will futher increase the Collaboration sites.

 

We now have more than 300 schools in Kent and this figure is steadily rising, but off the top of my head its fast approaching 60,000 email accounts.

 

Cost aside (as per an earlier post) we try to give as much control locally as possible, we have developed a user management tool and this is constantly being revised and new features added at the request of ICT staff.

 

Many schools can see outside of their own local mindsets and boundaries, KLZ offers a county wide solution and will grow to provide a fully fledged system that allows schools to share information; for example, Im working on a Risk Assessment site, that schools could use to view past risk assessments for local establisments, comment on them and save time and effort in taking kids outside of school. This is just one small element of making things easier for school staff and teachers.

 

I welcome any comments and am more than happy to visit schools and groups to explain how KLZ can help or fit in.

 

Nic Wood

KLZ

[penfold_99]

why do LEA has this unholy reliance on Microsoft, it seems when ever a project is thought of it is naturally assumed that it will have to be based on microsoft software.

 

Projects need to sustainable and using Microsoft software, locks you into continuous payments (upgrades etc) for the life time of the project excluding support. I wish LEA's would look at open source alternatives a lot more as they can offer better value in most projects.

 

one example just removing the need for Microsoft cals would save 1000's if not 100,000's pounds.

[apeo]

Maybe its to do with their skills base..

[Jamo]

We have got fronter here. Horrible system! Really hoping we can switch to moodle at some point as fronter is nearly unusable its so fiddly and ugly! I would test moodle on a VM if you have the ability to, its really simple to set up on a LAMP server. We have a test one going on my webspace at the moment and its so much nicer to use and so much more simple to configure!

[maniac]

why do LEA has this unholy reliance on Microsoft, it seems when ever a project is thought of it is naturally assumed that it will have to be based on microsoft software.

 

Projects need to sustainable and using Microsoft software, locks you into continuous payments (upgrades etc) for the life time of the project excluding support. I wish LEA's would look at open source alternatives a lot more as they can offer better value in most projects.

 

one example just removing the need for Microsoft cals would save 1000's if not 100,000's pounds.

 

Maybe, just maybe, it happened that the Microsoft solution happened to fufil the project criteria??

 

I'm far from an advocate for Microsoft, but then on the other hand I think discounting them purely because it costs a lot is the wrong approch to take. Sharepoint has a lot going for it, and while I may disagree with the sometimes excessive licensing fees Micosoft charge, products like sharepoint are in my opinion worth the expense. Also with the amount of schools, colleges and other people involved in a project of this scale, it makes perfect sense to stick with what users and system administrators are familure with.

 

 

Mike.

[penfold_99]

Maybe, just maybe, it happened that the Microsoft solution happened to fufil the project criteria??

 

It probability did, but my point was how many LEA's actually explore alternatives before opting for a Microsoft solution?

[CyberNerd]

not hiding behind any funny pseudo / nick names.

 

I found a better avatar for you

http://www.vinmag.com/online/media/gbu0/prodlg/TS055.jpg

[sdjames]

Many thanks for the avatar - liking it a lot ! now in use!

[Theblacksheep]

I've heard KLZ is very flexible in the sales/theory stage... not so much afterwards.

[sdjames]

MrBlackSheep:

 

The KLZ is as flexible as SharePoint - schools are made site collection owners of their own sites. Unlike some other VLE, LP products the KLZ is not really tied down in terms of functionality. Obviously you needs the skills to realise the benefits.