How to turn-off your learners

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I chatted with my Dad over the weekend; he’s just started a distance learning course on Sage accounting with one of the ‘colleges’ that have sprung up over recent years. While they don’t claim to be anything but a cheaper version of the Open University (without the accreditation and academic quality), I was really surprised at what I saw when my Dad showed me their VLE.

I know it’s classed as a  ‘distance’ learning course, but they’re trying to pass this off with, in part, as eLearning. Which is why I was really interested.

Here’s my opinion of their VLE, and why it’s so confusing to my (non-technical) Dad;

  • Very cluttered and confusing; the home page has lots of information and lists of recent forum posts, very little of which is necessary.
  • The VLE doesn’t remember changes to password; my Dad has to request a new password each and every time he access the VLE. Go figure?
  • Help and Information pages have links to PowerPoint files, but these don’t have any content … ?
  • Online submission for assignments gives the option for one file only, yet most assignments require Word report and backup of Sage application.
  • Students use discussion boards to ask for help, but no support staff or trainers use it to reply.
  • A patch was needed for his 6 month old PC in order for it to work with their VLE and with Sage Accounting. it was left up to him to find and install and, when that didn’t work, to find the solution.

Their system is so ‘clunky’ that it is making my Dad, and other students he’s in contact with, seriously think about whether to continue or not.

So, my suggestions on how to use their VLE, and turn-on the learners that they’re in danger of losing …

  • First thing they must do is test the system as though they are a student. Does it work?
  • Utilise modern thinking on what a VLE is; engage the students, empower the students, and get the tutors involved.
  • Look at what is available and encourage an institution/organisation wide re-think on delivery options to incorporate the tools into the materials.
  • The tutors obviously have no idea on how to use the system, yet the students are encouraged to do so. Whether it’s a training-thing or what, I don’t know, but I do know there is no way on earth you could get away with that attitude in a professional education Institution.

I know Blackboard isn’t perfect, and the home-grown VLE must be a real pig to develop and maintain, but surely they tested it before they let the students access it? Many of the issues I saw are very basic and should not have seen the light of day.

PS. I’ve already written this once, but the hosting company crashed their servers and re-installed a database that didn’t have this entry saved … damn the Internet!!

If you’ve found or heard of something similar (or better/worse), please let the rest of us know by using the comment field below.