The Search for the Truth Behind the Rumour Dispelling Open Source VLE myths Bryony Bramer Leo Havemann Sarah Sherman The Bloomsbury Colleges A bit about us... © Ewan Mura Photo credit: Ewan Munro http://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/2445298176/ Aims & Objectives • Our view • The current options • Defining some myths • Weighing up the pros and cons • What about you? So Many Options In the short term the question is whether/when to upgrade. 8 But looking beyond... ... is the VLE dead?? Should we now be thinking about PLEs? Photo credit: http://twitpic.com/photos/vaughany VLE Options Assuming we do need a VLE... 8 Open Source Myths (1) “Open source is free” • No licence cost. • We would still have hosting / managed hosting costs. • Additional staff resourcing - probably need developers (ongoing), and migration support (project). Open Source Myths (2) “Open source is cool and sexy” • Bandwagon appeal – seems like others are doing it • Doesn’t address pedagogy, usability or financial dimensions Open Source Myths (3) “If it’s free - it can’t be as good” • Equating price point with quality • Many institutions seem happy with their Open Source VLEs • But often they have put in significant development work Open Source Myths (4) “There’s no support for it” • Where does the buck stop? With us! •Or our managed hosting provider. • User communities provide advice, guidance and freebies they have developed. Option A: Stick with Blackboard 8 Pros: • Easy • Familiar • Stable • Integrated • Standard Cons: • Out-dated • Limited features • No long-term support • Restrictive • Expensive Option B: Upgrade to Blackboard 9 Pros: • More Features • Up-to-date • User-friendly • Familiar • Simple upgrade Cons: • Over-hyped? • Need to relearn • Compatibility • Expensive • Restrictive Option B: Upgrade to Blackboard 9 Survey Feedback: Navigation is... Common tasks Worse 13% Not sure 7% Didn't work it out 21% Took a while 17% Didn't take long 62% About the same 27% Training required At least one training You can work session it out as you go 20% 27% Some training or documentation 53% An improvement 53% Feelings on upgrading Oh no! 13% Don't care 7% Great 13% Fine 67% Option B: Upgrade to Blackboard 9 Survey Feedback: “easier to navigate” “more attractive layout” “easier to find stuff” “more modern” “It just doesn't get in the way so much” Option B: Upgrade to Blackboard 9 Survey Feedback: “too much on the screen” “more clutter” “far more 'buttons'” “seems slower” “can't see what the improvement is” Option B: Upgrade to Blackboard 9 Pros: • More Features • Up-to-date • User-friendly • Familiar • Simple upgrade Cons: • Over-hyped? • Need to relearn • Compatibility • Expensive • Restrictive Option C: Move to an Open Source VLE Pros: • Cost • Adaptable Cons: • Community support • No 'official' support • User configurable • Staffing • Download & go requirements • Unfamiliar • Future • Responsibility Summary • Does it come down to which is the best product? • Impact / Change management • What next? Your thoughts… • Is your institution thinking 'what next'? • Any points we haven't touched on? • Please discuss! Bryony Bramer bbramer@rvc.ac.uk Leo Havemann lh12@soas.ac.uk Sarah Sherman s.sherman@bloomsbury.ac.uk