Many people think that the VLE is dead and that Web 2.0 apps have stole the VLE thunder. I don't. I think the VLE in schools and local authorities will reach a tipping point in 2010 and really take off. This will partly happen because more and more teachers are seeing the benefits to them of convenient online organisation and hosting and more importantly realising students can do self directed learning because this environment exists. Also the MIS, well let's be blunt, SIMS from Capita are going to lose their stranglehold on school data as VLE companies get access (sic) hopefully more and more via SIF. But mainly I think this will be the year parents start to really see the advantages of online participation with schools.
So here's to 2010 the year of the VLE. Let's hope Labour stay in power to keep the education momentum going, that schools take care with that data and that LAs and RBCs get identity management working.
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I think one of the problems has been getting people to sign up to something they don't even know they want! And it applies to other frameworks/initiatives too. Schools that want to change their learning and teaching appear to do really well with learning platforms. Why else would they want one? As a digital wardrobe? Is that why Ofsted was singularly unimpressed by LP progress so far?
I also like your Twitter request for questions for Studywiz meeting. One might be "How can groups of users become more effective stakeholders in the new set-up?" Some customers, like the Kingswood Partnership, have already been effective, productive stakeholders. How can that sort of practical relationship (that both supports the enterprise but also ensures customer benefits) be extended, and possibly formalised?
As an optimist I'd like to think that this crisis is also a massive opportunity for the Studywiz communities.
Was 2010 the year the VLE took off? Labour lost and the Etech (Studywiz) went into administration. It certainly was a year when subsequent predictions that it was the end if the Hampshire Wizkid (Studywiz) VLE were unfounded. What many education ICT pundits forget is that the majority of users are not education ICT pundits. Moving the masses takes time and that includes moving 'away from' as well as 'towards' something. I believe where organisations have reached tipping point in using VLE technology that it is there to stay. It may develop and change, contracts come and go but the masses will want to keep going with working online. In Hampshire that is the case IMHO. 2011 may see a merging or fusion of Web 2.0 services and organisational VLE technology but only where the glue (e.g. shibboleth and web services exists). And a word of warning to the providers. Keep the TCO competitive or schools will move.
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