How to overcome some of the barriers
The table below shows some barriers to successful implementation of a VLE that have been identified by delegates attending JISC infoNet workshops. Some ways in which you can overcome the barriers are suggested.
| Time |
- Drop-in development sessions allow staff to spend varying amounts of time in the centre - byte-sized staff development
- Use the 'Wednesday afternoon games' slot as staff development time
- Allow staff to develop own resources during training sessions
http://www.fairenough.ac.uk |
| Copyright/IPR concerns |
- Run workshops perhaps using the streamed recording of the JISC Legal webcast
- Provide clear guidance
- Incorporate as part of institutional policies and procedures
JISC Legal website
|
| Students won't use |
- Ensure interesting and relevant learning activities and materials are available
- Ensure that staff and modules enrolment data is available for the VLE as soon as possible after enrolment and preferably prior to induction
|
| Skills/training |
- Undertake a staff skills audit and use the resulting analysis to feed into the staff development programme
- Recognise the training that staff undertake
- Encourage PDP processes
- Publicise a programme
- Be reactive and able to respond to current issues
- Organise drop-in sessions
|
| Technology (lack of, access to, inappropriate, cost) |
- Undertake a technology audit and publicise results
- Examine cost effective/alternative options e.g use of mobile devices
- Build supporting infrastructure into development plan
|
| Lack of sharing culture |
- Lead by example
- Develop a communication plan
- Focus on community benefits
- Identify and work with early adopters
- Integrate VLE and the digital repository
- Focus on context as opposed to content
|
| Fear of change |
- Prepare for change (examine strategies, policies, business process and ways of working, undertake a skills audit)
- Involve all stakeholders in the development of new directions (e.g e-learning strategy)
Implementing e-Learning
|
| Expectations |
- Implement a communications strategy
- Adopt clear policies and guidance
- Work with early adopters who can demonstrate what is possible as part of managing expectations
- Take an institutional approach to embedding the VLE
|
Whatever the perceived barrier, it is vital that you have senior management support.
The FAIR enough project found that planning is key - a clear e-learning strategy is required with implementation policies to prevent the institution going round and round with no clear destination.
