New VLE - Need Your Help

[newvle]

Hi all,

 

I have been a long time viewer of this forum and I think it is really good.

I was hoping that you lot could help me out with a new project I have been working on.

 

I am in the process of creating a new virtual learning environment application, and would like to know people's views on what to include.

 

I want to know what features you think are essential and which are desirable.

Also I would like your view on what current VLEs do badly, or you think could be done better.

 

These views can be generic to the education sector, or personal to your establishment.

 

I am hoping the end result will be a top quality product, which will be set apart from other packages available at present. Taking into account the needs of the most, but also unique things that some may like.

 

I think too many of the VLEs out there seem to be detached from their potential customers and their views, so hopefully we can help change this.

 

Thanks

[powdarrmonkey]

I am in the process of creating a new virtual learning environment application, and would like to know people's views on what to include.

 

"Oh , not another one" is my unfortunate and immediate reaction, and it's probably going to be a common one, so you should be prepared for it.

 

I am hoping the end result will be a top quality product, which will be set apart from other packages available at present.

 

Well, how do you plan to achieve this? What's going to set yours apart from everyone elses in a saturated and maturing market?

[KarlGoddard]

seamless integration with the schools MIS

 

other than that I'd say don't try and reinvent the wheel and start with moodle and edit / customise / improve that

[KarlGoddard]

"Oh , not another one" is my unfortunate and immediate reaction, and it's probably going to be a common one, so you should be prepared for it.

 

my first thought too, but I was trying to be polite

[powdarrmonkey]

I can be less polite

 

The problem with Moodle is that it is (IIRC) licensed under the GPL, so using it in something proprietary is going to be a problem (i.e. the source of your derived work must be available under the same terms, which obviously makes selling it to people a problem). Of course if you're going to keep the source open anyway, this is an excellent plan.

[newvle]

Thanks for your response.

 

Well from reading posts in the forum I have seen many crtitisims on VLEs that people currently use. So I was hoping to take something from what you lot think and help make mine a better product.

 

My initial ideas on the product are to be able to create your own system with as much ease as possible. I know this is not a new idea, but with some input I am hoping to make mine one of the best at this.

 

Aswell as it being quite easy to use and change, I want to add advanced features so that the user has much more control on how things work. This way it can be tailored to the individual needs.

Edited February 18, 2009 by newvle

[KarlGoddard]

Thanks for your response.

 

Well from reading posts in the forum I have seen many crtitisims on VLEs that people currently use. So I was hoping to take something from what you lot think and help make mine a better product.

 

My initial ideas on the product are to be able to create your own system with as much ease as possible. I know this is not a new idea, but with some input I am hoping to make mine one of the best at this.

 

Aswell as it being quite easy to use and change, I want to add avanced features so that the user has much more control on how things work. This way it can be tailored to the individual needs.

 

excuse me for asking, but do you represent a company / group of developers or are you solely undertaking this project ?

[newvle]

I can be less polite

 

The problem with Moodle is that it is (IIRC) licensed under the GPL, so using it in something proprietary is going to be a problem (i.e. the source of your derived work must be available under the same terms, which obviously makes selling it to people a problem). Of course if you're going to keep the source open anyway, this is an excellent plan.

 

I was thinking that this could be a commercial product, but I have not made up my mind yet.

Either way I plan to have the ability to use APIs to allow people to create their own functionality for the system.

This could be then shared amongst users, or even sold to other users via my site. Depending on what people think at that time.

[newvle]

excuse me for asking, but do you represent a company / group of developers or are you solely undertaking this project ?

 

That's ok, I am solely undertaking this project at present.

[KarlGoddard]

That's ok, I am solely undertaking this project at present.

 

wow, if you're serious you've got a fair bit of development to do - and I'm not being sarcastic or having a dig.

 

I still think the best way would be to use moodle as the platform and continue to develop that, or if you wanted to go down the commercial route offer bespoke development / consultancy.

 

Good luck with it!

[newvle]

wow, if you're serious you've got a fair bit of development to do - and I'm not being sarcastic or having a dig.

 

I still think the best way would be to use moodle as the platform and continue to develop that, or if you wanted to go down the commercial route offer bespoke development / consultancy.

 

Good luck with it!

 

Thanks.

 

There is certainly a lot to do

I am going to reuse code I have done for various things over the last couple years, and then after the ball is rolling look into getting help.

 

Once people start using it, upgrades would be issued regularly.

 

I have heard some critisms about moodle, and for the less tech savvy I think it can a bit daunting. I would like more views on this though.

 

Bespoke development can be a expensive thing to offer, and if I do go the commercial route I want to offer something that is a reasonable price.

So I am hoping to have a system that can meet the design and technical needs of users, without having to change the code base.

[matt40k]

What other projects have you done? Have you got a copy of SIMS installed?

 

PS: Most people have "sorted" there VLE already. So a moodle module would be best, if it's a whole new a system, good luck. Your'll need to be pen tested before you get any sort of approval.

 

... Though I'll start with some basic questions.

[newvle]

What other projects have you done? Have you got a copy of SIMS installed?

 

PS: Most people have "sorted" there VLE already. So a moodle module would be best, if it's a whole new a system, good luck. Your'll need to be pen tested before you get any sort of approval.

 

... Though I'll start with some basic questions.

 

I have done variety of projects working for companies that supply to business and ones that work in education.

I have not got SIMS at the moment unfortunately. I have identified that this will be necessary as the project progresses however.

 

I have heard that Moodle works with the SIMS DB direct, if this is true I thought this invalidated the support from Capita? If so are people comfortable with this?

I think it would be better to work with them, though more costly.

 

As for pen testing, that is in the plan. May get an external company to perform this.

I have been suprised to find out how unsecure some systems I have worked with are, and will focus on security throughout the project.

 

As for people being sorted, if this is the case then there isn't much I can do.

Some people may want to change, and I will be looking at ways of automating content migration, and also getting information out of moodle etc.

I am still going to continue with the project either way, as I am sure I can reuse bits of it in the future if not in education.

 

Thanks for your comments

[matt40k]

Moodle imports from SIMS, one way. Read only

SIMS will create a regular export from sims using Capita excellent reporting tool.

 

PEN testing really has to be done by a 3rd party, otherwise it's not really PEN testing!!

 

SIMS will cost about £5k, unless you can get a school\lea to create you a report etc. LEA would be best as they have Report Manager to change the author name

[newvle]

PEN testing really has to be done by a 3rd party, otherwise it's not really PEN testing!!

 

Oops, I was thinking as opposed to other web developers I know.

 

Thanks for your information on SIMS

[dhicks]

I am in the process of creating a new virtual learning environment application, and would like to know people's views

 

Don't. It'll be a waste of your time creating an application designed to replace in-school VLEs - most schools already have theirs sorted as they have to have one in place by next year, which doesn't give you anywhere near enough time to develope a decent solution. I'd concentrate instead on writing an application of some kind that integrates with VLEs, even if that's just using the same authetication source as the VLE so pupils can log in with their standard usernames and passwords. It'd be nice if data could be written back to VLEs, too, but good luck with actually getting each VLE vendor to cough up an API. That'd be something you could sell to schools - your application and content, all in a nice package that integrates with their VLE.

 

--

David Hicks

[newvle]

good luck with actually getting each VLE vendor to cough up an API

 

I know some work being done on this, and I would expect other competitors to follow suit.

 

I am planning for my application to be able to construct all sorts of sub applications. My first thought was a VLE.

 

However others include SMS messaging, event management, parental engagment systems.

 

I could choose not to show the application itself and just the sub application, or ever sell the whole thing to people to do what they please with it.

 

Has anyone got any ideas of web applications that they would like to see available?

[tsky]

Shameless plug for own work in this area....

 

Implementing a VLE - A Guide for Schools and Teachers

 

Virtucoll VLE - Building a VLE from scratch

[newvle]

Shameless plug for own work in this area....

 

Implementing a VLE - A Guide for Schools and Teachers

 

Virtucoll VLE - Building a VLE from scratch

 

Shameless, but interesting all the same

[tsky]

Back in 2003 my line manager actually said I wasn't clever enough to write a VLE. Red flag to an IT Monkey.... wrote Virtucoll as my dissertation piece in 3 months fully documented and tested on a variety of platforms.

It's still on Sourceforge though the system is very outdated nowadays.