Presentation from ALT-C 2012 about lessons learned when migrating between Virtual Learning Enviroments, though the lessons would also be relevant in migrations of other types of software platforms

1. Dr. Ian Glover, Anna Campbell,
Farzana Latif, Leona Norris,
James Toner, Connie Tse
City University London

2.  Switching from WebCT (CitySpace) to Moodle
◦ 2 year absolute deadline
◦ Each school allowed different strategy
 Different levels of Ed. Tech. & VLE use
between schools
◦ Ranging from ‘No Usage’ to ‘Fully Embedded’
◦ Corresponding variations in Ed.Tech. support in
each school

3.  CitySpace switched off – September 2011
 Collaborative groups focused on
implementation and migration
◦ All schools needs/views represented
 Varied school migration strategies
◦ From ‘Big Bang’ to ‘Cohorts’ to ‘Disciplines’
◦ Brief case studies in Proceedings paper

5.  Creating a sense of Inclusion
◦ E.g. involving staff in planning each department
migration
 Ownership
◦ designing course templates request features

6.  Templates
◦ Department Specific
Visual Style
◦ Restructuring course
content
 Consistency
◦ Encouraging good
practice

7.  ‘Limited edition’ increases desirability
◦ Most people want to be in the ‘In Crowd’
 Helps generate a ‘buzz’
◦ Can be positive or negative though!
 People want to prove they are ‘worthy’ of
inclusion
◦ Engagement increases

8.  ‘One-shot’ training
◦ Easy to forget unless put straight into practice
◦ Doesn’t respond to changes well
◦ Can come too late to result in changed practice
 TeTo
◦ Reinforce earlier learning by ensuring regular use
◦ Gives time for people to explore and implement
new ideas

9.  EAs can bridge the gap between ‘Us’ and
‘Them’
◦ Right language for the context
◦ Go through the same processes
◦ Have same pressures
 ‘If X can do it, so can I’ vs. ‘I’m not doing it
because X does it’
◦ Don’t underestimate personal rivalries (both
positive and negative)
◦ Select the EAs carefully.

10.  Situated learning theory
◦ skills best learned in the same context they will be
used
◦ ‘Personalised’ training materials
◦ Using their real module
 Going to them
◦ Makes them feel ‘special’/important
◦ Puts them at ease, so easier to suggest other ideas
◦ Gives a view on their other processes

11.  Keep it an informal chat, not a lecture!
 Discuss their current approaches
◦ Find out reasons and problems
◦ Many people just doing things as they’ve always done
 Better approach. Is there one?
◦ Push/pull factors
◦ Entrenched ideas – ‘white-lies’, best practice showcase

12.  e.g. JISC PREDICT
– Curriculum Evaluation and Redesign Project
Implications:
 School/University overall strategy and vision
 Project management
◦ Resources
◦ Time schedule
 Change management
◦ People already invested in change
– Threat? Opportunity?

14.  Moving to Moodle 2.x for 2013/14
 New video and CMS platforms being
implemented
 Strategies being informed by the above
lessons
◦ So watch this space!