Week 9 chat Andy Turner: Good afternoon Rachel Temple: Agree that comms are essential to the project MarcusBelben: More than coms, has to be engagement Rachel Temple: @Marcus Agree. 900 items is a huge amount of needs to meet TSD: Which was the other VLE reviewed? Moderator (Sarah Sherman 1): Desire2Learn Jim Pettiward: We've been through the same process over the last 18 months and the biggest issue has been what staff actually do with the shiny new VLE once it's in place... there's no doubt it's a much better system, but the default is still to use it as content repository. Staff engagement and training must be main focus... MarcusBelben: Very useful - Uni Bham starting implementation of move from WebCT to Canvas. A two year process AliSheph: it's that pedagogy-technology dichotomy again! Jim Pettiward: Q: How did you manage staff training on new system? Jim Pettiward: about staff training.. can't talk at the mo! Moderator (Sarah Sherman 1): Any other questions? MarcusBelben: Is it a 38 degrees thing - VLE, any VLE is something more and more people are comfortable with using, and eventually will uptake? Jim Pettiward: ok, thanks. annenortcliffe: how did you handle migration for those who used the previous system extensively? TSD: Are you hosting Blackboard yourselves? MarcusBelben: Did you look at Canvas? Jim Pettiward: Our approach was to try to encourage staff to start from scratch in order to reevaluate the pedagogy without transferring content on mass. Of course if requested content could be migrated, but migration also created a bit of a mess in new system and was sometimes more trouble than it was worth... Jim Pettiward: en masse.. Rachel Temple: @ Jim Did you find that people took to reevaluating and re-building their courses? Jim Pettiward: @Rachel - some did and I think benefitted from it - still the minority though in truth Rachel Temple: @ Jim Thanks. Really interesting idea to use the VLE change as a pedagogy change as well. Jim Pettiward: @Rachel - I've heard it referred to as the 'trojan mouse' approach! Rachel Temple: @ Jim Great! Cool image in my head now! MarcusBelben: @Jim @Rachel more methodologies/techs so VLEs enable activities more peer-to-peer, discussion - more like trojan mice Moderator (Sarah Sherman 1) to Caroline Greves, Sarah Sherman 1, Julie Voce & Lisa Carrier: Caroline - do participants have access to mics or is that just us? Moderator (Caroline Greves) to Caroline Greves, Sarah Sherman 1, Julie Voce & Lisa Carrier: They can use them, set to max three simultaneous speakers at moment Moderator (Sarah Sherman 1) to Caroline Greves, Sarah Sherman 1, Julie Voce & Lisa Carrier: thx Jim Pettiward: @Marcus - agree, but seems to me that's it's often a case of 'build it and they WON'T come'. Challenge is to get lecturers to see what's in it for them, spread good practice by stealth! AliSheph: peer to peer - I've referred to it as a beacon approach , so central 'hub' of engaged staff who then try to spread the message Jim Pettiward: @ali - love the beacon idea! AliSheph: thanks, think I was inspired by the Olympic torch! MarcusBelben: Anecdotally at Uni Bham change to Canvas is smoother than uptake of WebCT even though not properly in place - lecturers (who so far only voluntarily attend training/lectures about Canvas) do seem more excited about way new tech supports pegog change already involved in. Imperial: @Marcus - a change in VLE to a new product is a great way to increase take up and excite people. By staying with Blackboard our staff still have pre-existing thoughts about the system based on the previous version. MarcusBelben: @Imperial still early days for project Canvas at Uni Bham, but building on 'beacons' to go out into wider Uni community to spread the word Rachel Temple: Fantastic presentation, thank you! Andy Turner: Thanks: It is always going to be easier to do things when well resourced! - Just a comment really. Imperial: Still here AliSheph: I think if you aren't you just have to have a reality check about what is achievable in desired timescale - better to start small and succeed than be overambitious and fall flat but that depends on institutional presssures etc and to what extent you can define your own scope I guess AliSheph: [well resourced] Jim Pettiward: Q: what's the view on MOOCs at Imperial - any plans? Jim Pettiward: ...either of you really Jim Pettiward: thanks... it'll be interesting to see how things pan out AliSheph: thank you Jo Conlon: Thanks, sorry need to leave now. Colette: Many thanks- a very interesting & informative review of your experience MarcusBelben: I think it is an issue less of resources, and more of quality culture - where a culture of collaboration, and also inevitability that VLE has to work, then monster projects like changing VLEs can be successful James Kerr: Thank you for sharing experiences! Andy Turner: Do you plan to get any feedback on the VLE choice a year or so down the line? I wonder how soon it will be until you change VLE again. Thank you, bye everyone.... Tom Dore: I liked Lisa's slide on Risk - Mitigation - Contingency; though the final item on it, on dealing with 'low student engagement' has solutions that are potentially labour-intensive, and I wonder if you had to use these mitigation and contingency measures? Jim Pettiward: thank you, I need to leave now. Interesting session.. Andy Turner: Yes, big job to change it. Technology moves very fast. Better than the old system is good. Others coming to your institution with experience of other VLE systems will be good people to ask about your set up. Imperial: Thanks Jim and thanks for sharing your experiences. Tom Dore: Thanks, Lisa. Andy Turner: Nope decided against that question. Thanks again.... Andy Turner: Bye Moderator (Julie Voce & Lisa Carrier) to Caroline Greves, Julie Voce & Lisa Carrier: bye Moderator (Caroline Greves) to Caroline Greves, Julie Voce & Lisa Carrier: Thanks all MarcusBelben: Bye! Moderator (Julie Voce & Lisa Carrier): Bye!