Overview
Background
The Dentistry VLE supports the MSc, PgCert and PgDip in Primary Dental Care.
It is one of a number of bespoke VLEs commissioned by academic programmes within the University. In common with many of the bespoke VLEs, it provides a highly customised user experience, with a strong sense of programme branding, but has not been built in a resilient manner. Although supported by second line support teams during standard office hours, it is not classed as High Priority in the University Disaster Recovery Classification.
The University has 2 centrally provided VLEs: Blackboard Learn and Moodle. Both these services are supported by IS and have user groups allowing colleagues who use the services input in to how they are developed. They are classed as High Priority in the University Disaster Recovery Classification and benefit from the highest level of relsilience with infrastructure located in both the University's main hosting sites.
As a result of the review undertaken by the VLE Consolidation Project (TEL038), the decision has been taken to replace the bespoke Clinical Dentistry VLE with the centrally provided Blackboard Learn VLE and this project is to complete this migration.
Scope
The decision has been taken to migrate these programmes to Learn onthe following basis:
- Like for like creation of courses for start of 2017/18 academic year in February 2017.
- Exception to this being modules for 1st year of programme which are currently being rewritten. these will be entered directly in to Learn by the programme team.
- LTW to create Learn environments, course structures and to carry out full migration of content from existing VLE, in consultation with Programme Team.
- Programme Team to review content post migration and test VLE functionality provided.
- Training to be provided in October 2016 for programme team, to enable them to input new course content for year 1, and for online tutors at the start of January 2017.
Objectives
- Working alongside the Dentistry programme team, successfully migrate all programmes to Learn.
- Support implementation of programmes on Learn by creating and delivering a appropraite training and documentation for both academic and administrative users of the VLE.
Deliverables
- Migrated functionality and course content
- Training programme and documentation for all academic and administrative VLE users
Benefits
Opportunity to benefit from IS initiatives without additional work or cost (MediaHopper, Civitas, Lecture Capture)
Platform resilience as Learn is classed as High Priority in the University Disaster Recovery Classification and benefits from the highest level of resilience with infrastructure located in both the University's main hosting sites.
Reduction in support costs as Learn is funded out of the contribution made by Schools and Colleges to the central IS infrastructure.
Documentation, training, support and consultancy services from both LTW and the suppliers of Learn and other third party software products.
Access to skills and services both within the University and the wider IT community for both Learn and other third party software products.
Success Criteria
- Cost savings through reduction of support for the Clinical Education bespoke VLE.
- Student satisfaction with online experience in migrated programme remains good.
- Staff teaching and administering programme continue to feel supported and able to meet future challenges for their programmes.