Product Description

Full with case studies and advice, this book examines how virtual learning environments can be successfully deployed for effective teaching.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #340558 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-05
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Review
'This is a book written by someone who knows what he's talking about and moreover is well practised at explaining the subject to others...Virtual Learning Environments is a "must-have" for all those developing, procuring or implementing a VLE in their organisation-whether they are in higher education, in training, or elsewhere.' - British Journal of Educational Technology

From the Back Cover

Virtual Learning Environments: Using, choosing and developing your VLE

Martin Weller

Virtual Learning Environments considers how VLEs can be successfully deployed and used for effective teaching in universities and colleges. It sets out a model for effective use and seeks to provide a bridge between pedagogical approaches and the tools educators have at their disposal. Considering e-learning in its broadest context, including blended and distance learning, Virtual Learning Environments covers the following key issues:

• The context within which VLEs are operating
• How they can be used to support different teaching approaches
• Methodology for selecting and reviewing VLEs
• The issues surrounding the implementation of a VLE, including interaction with other university systems
• Personalisation in VLEs and how software can influence behaviour
• The process of technology succession and the influence of open content .

Illustrated by case studies which highlight the different requirements and approaches of diverse institutions, Virtual Learning Environments provides advice for those choosing a VLE and encourages all those involved in the deployment of VLEs to use them more productively in order to create engaging learning experiences. It is essential reading for policy and decision makers, e-learning champions and support staff, technical developers and educators.

Martin Weller is Professor of Educational Technology at the Open University where he was Director of the VLE project.

E-Learning / higher and further education

About the Author

Martin Weller is a Professor of Educational Techn ology at the Open University where he was the Director for the VLE project. His research interests include e-learning implications, learning design and learning environments.

Customer Reviews

Sound advice and a good read
There's lots of practical advice in this book. I'm the e-learning champion in my college and I found it a useful guide to using VLEs for teaching, and also it has provided me with lots of theory I can bamboozle others with. I now quote affordances everywhere! The chapter on integrating with other systems was insightful, and not at all techy. The author has a good writing style, which makes what can be a rather dry subject very engaging. I would have preferred a bit more on general e-learning (although I think his other book does this - haven't read it), but definitely worth a buy if you have anything to do with e-learning or VLEs.

Virtual Learning Environments (Using, choosing and developing your VLE)
An excellent book, but I'm not so sure about who the target audience might be - certainly not for the faint-hearted. Written from the background of the OU Professor Martin Weller writes well but, I suspect, for a limited audience.

I do not see many 'techies' getting much in terms of an understanding of the educational aspects of a VLE. Similarly, at a time when thousands of school leaders are presently trying to understand their own VLE strategies, I am not sure how much help this book will actually be in helping educationists in terms of the actual sub-title.

From the wider market perspective, I would have liked to have seen a comparative table of the 20-odd various VLE products available - after-all, the VLE market is much, much bigger than just Higher Education.

For me, as a teacher, the book does not answer the bottom-line questions: Should I even bother installing a VLE? and if so, What will it actually do for teaching and learning?

Despite my criticisms, a good niche reference book for many who might be struggling with these issues.