A longitudinal perspective regarding the use of VLEs by higher education institutions in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Between 2001 and 2005 the Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association (UCISA) and the Joint Information Systems Council (JISC) conducted surveys into issues relating to the acquisition, use, management, and support of Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs). A number of other studies provide information on these issues during this period. Together they provide a substantial body of evidence that allows an analysis of the factors that enhance or inhibit institutional take-up and support provision for VLEs within the UK higher education sector.

There is clear evidence of increasing use of VLEs but not of widespread change in pedagogic practice. VLE management is increasingly centralized in all matters considered strategic, with dedicated devolvement occurring for a range of support activities. Differences in practice exist between old and new universities. There is in general negligible interest in standards or in institutional collaboration.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank UCISA-TLIG Learning and Teaching subgroup (http://www.ucisa.ac.uk/groups/tlig/teach/members.htm) and the JISC Reference Group for the 2005 JISC/UCISA survey.

Notes

1. See http://www.hefce.ac.uk/.

2. See http://www.dfes.gov.uk/.

3. UCISA (Universities and Colleges Information Systems Association) “represents the whole of higher education, and increasingly further education, in the provision and development of academic, management and administrative information systems, providing a network of contacts and a powerful lobbying voice” (http://www.ucisa.ac.uk/).

4. JISC (Joint Information Systems Council) “supports further and higher education by providing strategic guidance, advice and opportunities to use Information and Communications Technology (ICT) to support teaching, learning, research and administration” (http://www.jisc.ac.uk/).

5. The sizes of the sampled populations were different between the 2001 survey and the 2003 and 2005 surveys. The 2001 survey using UCISA's database and the 2003 and 2005 surveys based on that provided through the JISC MLE Survey. As such the percentage figures of returns do differ.