Comments for Dave Foord's Weblog http://davefoord.wordpress.com Raising the standards of learning, teaching and assessment Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:51:49 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Why it doesn’t actually matter if the VLE is dead, undead, or alive? by Nick Sharratt http://davefoord.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/why-it-doesn%e2%80%99t-actually-matter-if-the-vle-is-dead-undead-or-alive/#comment-685 Nick Sharratt Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:51:49 +0000 http://davefoord.wordpress.com/?p=338#comment-685 Hear hear or the post. Pretty much my view I'll be pontificating on at #vleundead on 16th with Steve again :) I also agree the VLE needs work - not as life support but more like a good gardener tending a garden. However well planned and planted initially, it'll wither and die/get over grown with weeds if not pruned and tended well. I don't see that being the begining of the end, to use a cliche, I think we're seeing the end of the beginning :) Hear hear or the post. Pretty much my view I’ll be pontificating on at #vleundead on 16th with Steve again :)

I also agree the VLE needs work – not as life support but more like a good gardener tending a garden. However well planned and planted initially, it’ll wither and die/get over grown with weeds if not pruned and tended well. I don’t see that being the begining of the end, to use a cliche, I think we’re seeing the end of the beginning :)

]]> Comment on Why it doesn’t actually matter if the VLE is dead, undead, or alive? by christa appleton http://davefoord.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/why-it-doesn%e2%80%99t-actually-matter-if-the-vle-is-dead-undead-or-alive/#comment-684 christa appleton Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:57:21 +0000 http://davefoord.wordpress.com/?p=338#comment-684 I don't think we should blame the humble VLE after all it is only a tool. It can be used effectively or ineffectively, much is down to how an individual chooses to use it (network & technical issues aside). It may have limited scope and can now be substantially enhanced by add-ons but it precedes many such facilities and it has been playing, as you so rightly say Dave, a “pivotal” role in developing distance learning for many years. In numerous cases it has played its role well, I agree with the philosophy, don't tar all VLE’s with the same brush. Taking it as read that the VLE will continue regardless for some time to come the big question, in my opinion, is still what is next? Can we do better in the future knowing what we know and using the new tools developing out there as we speak? Back to you Dave and Steve. I don’t think we should blame the humble VLE after all it is only a tool. It can be used effectively or ineffectively, much is down to how an individual chooses to use it (network & technical issues aside). It may have limited scope and can now be substantially enhanced by add-ons but it precedes many such facilities and it has been playing, as you so rightly say Dave, a “pivotal” role in developing distance learning for many years. In numerous cases it has played its role well, I agree with the philosophy, don’t tar all VLE’s with the same brush. Taking it as read that the VLE will continue regardless for some time to come the big question, in my opinion, is still what is next? Can we do better in the future knowing what we know and using the new tools developing out there as we speak? Back to you Dave and Steve.

]]> Comment on Why it doesn’t actually matter if the VLE is dead, undead, or alive? by David Hopkins http://davefoord.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/why-it-doesn%e2%80%99t-actually-matter-if-the-vle-is-dead-undead-or-alive/#comment-683 David Hopkins Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:40:24 +0000 http://davefoord.wordpress.com/?p=338#comment-683 The more I read on this subject the more I am coming to the conclusion that the VLE may not be 'dead', but it certainly must evolve in order to stay alive. What was once cutting-edge and dynamic (if not unique) must evolve with the rest of the breed of new Internet systems in order to keep up with the crowd .. but we don't want this, we want to be ahead of the crowd and have the ability to direct where we want the 'VLE' (or whatever it will be called) according to our needs. Again, it may not be dead but it's future isn't looking rosy. Thanks again for the debate. David The more I read on this subject the more I am coming to the conclusion that the VLE may not be ‘dead’, but it certainly must evolve in order to stay alive.

What was once cutting-edge and dynamic (if not unique) must evolve with the rest of the breed of new Internet systems in order to keep up with the crowd .. but we don’t want this, we want to be ahead of the crowd and have the ability to direct where we want the ‘VLE’ (or whatever it will be called) according to our needs.

Again, it may not be dead but it’s future isn’t looking rosy.

Thanks again for the debate.

David

]]> Comment on Why it doesn’t actually matter if the VLE is dead, undead, or alive? by Steve Wheeler http://davefoord.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/why-it-doesn%e2%80%99t-actually-matter-if-the-vle-is-dead-undead-or-alive/#comment-682 Steve Wheeler Mon, 07 Dec 2009 11:39:44 +0000 http://davefoord.wordpress.com/?p=338#comment-682 A genius you say? LOL - A genie maybe - and I'm out of the bottle! I'm glad that the debate is still continuing and that many people are engaged in examining their own practices and contexts around VLEs. I wil continue taking the antagonistic stance and attracting the bullets, because it's fun - because I can - and because I have always like to play the 'devil's advocate' to try to get people thinking critically, rather than simply accepting what is in front of them. I hope a lot of people make the trip to Wolverhampton on 16th to lock horns (enough of the metaphors! - Ed) and engage in this continuing, vital debate. :-) A genius you say? LOL – A genie maybe – and I’m out of the bottle! I’m glad that the debate is still continuing and that many people are engaged in examining their own practices and contexts around VLEs. I wil continue taking the antagonistic stance and attracting the bullets, because it’s fun – because I can – and because I have always like to play the ‘devil’s advocate’ to try to get people thinking critically, rather than simply accepting what is in front of them. I hope a lot of people make the trip to Wolverhampton on 16th to lock horns (enough of the metaphors! – Ed) and engage in this continuing, vital debate. :-)

]]> Comment on Why it doesn’t actually matter if the VLE is dead, undead, or alive? by davefoord http://davefoord.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/why-it-doesn%e2%80%99t-actually-matter-if-the-vle-is-dead-undead-or-alive/#comment-680 davefoord Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:54:33 +0000 http://davefoord.wordpress.com/?p=338#comment-680 I think Steve, that what you have done is start a very interesting debate, that has got the intention of many people, and has done the world of e-learning a whole lot of good (in that people may be questioning the functionality of their VLEs), and in a few years time people may look back and hail you a genius, but as is always the case genius is never realised in its own time. When I worked in FE - and the Government gave each college money to buy a VLE, I was very vocal in saying that this wasn't the right thing to do - and was seen as a heretic by many at the time - as I wasn't impressed with the range of commercial VLEs out there at the time, and I advocated giving the money back to the government (which didn't sit well with many senior managers) - so I was in a similar situation then to you now. I think Steve, that what you have done is start a very interesting debate, that has got the intention of many people, and has done the world of e-learning a whole lot of good (in that people may be questioning the functionality of their VLEs), and in a few years time people may look back and hail you a genius, but as is always the case genius is never realised in its own time.

When I worked in FE – and the Government gave each college money to buy a VLE, I was very vocal in saying that this wasn’t the right thing to do – and was seen as a heretic by many at the time – as I wasn’t impressed with the range of commercial VLEs out there at the time, and I advocated giving the money back to the government (which didn’t sit well with many senior managers) – so I was in a similar situation then to you now.

]]> Comment on Why it doesn’t actually matter if the VLE is dead, undead, or alive? by Steve Wheeler http://davefoord.wordpress.com/2009/12/07/why-it-doesn%e2%80%99t-actually-matter-if-the-vle-is-dead-undead-or-alive/#comment-678 Steve Wheeler Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:47:21 +0000 http://davefoord.wordpress.com/?p=338#comment-678 Ulp. Where does that leave me then? I'm of the opinion that VLEs are fundamentally flawed and will say so in so many words at Wolverhampton later this month. There must be a way forward through this morass, and I think that a hybrid set of solutions will be the future. Will discuss more and elaborate at the symposium. See you there I hope..? Ulp. Where does that leave me then? I’m of the opinion that VLEs are fundamentally flawed and will say so in so many words at Wolverhampton later this month. There must be a way forward through this morass, and I think that a hybrid set of solutions will be the future. Will discuss more and elaborate at the symposium. See you there I hope..?

]]> Comment on Quickly creating a Google Map from a Spreadsheet of data by davefoord http://davefoord.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/quickly-creating-a-google-map-from-a-spreadsheet-of-data/#comment-673 davefoord Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:18:36 +0000 http://davefoord.wordpress.com/?p=284#comment-673 Hi Karen. I am glad that you liked the blog posting. I will point out that the system is not something that I can claim any credit for, I just found it. When you follow the process through, you should get the opportunity to export the output to Google Earth - this will generate a KML file which you save somewhere (e.g. your desktop). If you then go to Google Maps and create a map as normal (e.g. give it a name) you can then use the import button. Browse for the saved KML file and upload it, and hey presto - you have a google map. By default all the pins will be black and white circles, but you can edit them individually if you want to. I have done this many times and works well. Hi Karen. I am glad that you liked the blog posting. I will point out that the system is not something that I can claim any credit for, I just found it.

When you follow the process through, you should get the opportunity to export the output to Google Earth – this will generate a KML file which you save somewhere (e.g. your desktop). If you then go to Google Maps and create a map as normal (e.g. give it a name) you can then use the import button. Browse for the saved KML file and upload it, and hey presto – you have a google map. By default all the pins will be black and white circles, but you can edit them individually if you want to.

I have done this many times and works well.

]]> Comment on Quickly creating a Google Map from a Spreadsheet of data by Karen http://davefoord.wordpress.com/2009/09/07/quickly-creating-a-google-map-from-a-spreadsheet-of-data/#comment-672 Karen Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:02:06 +0000 http://davefoord.wordpress.com/?p=284#comment-672 hello i have made a map. It looks great. however what i would really like to do is save it to my maps in google maps (not google earth) then i can overlay the tube map and the universities. currently i can host the map on your website - but the URL wont open in google maps. If i save the file - this wont open on google maps either please can you help?? karen hello
i have made a map. It looks great.

however what i would really like to do is save it to my maps in google maps (not google earth)
then i can overlay the tube map and the universities.

currently i can host the map on your website – but the URL wont open in google maps. If i save the file – this wont open on google maps either

please can you help??

karen

]]> Comment on Why do VLEs display the most recent items at the bottom? by vdawntreader http://davefoord.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/why-do-vles-display-the-most-recent-items-at-the-bottom/#comment-670 vdawntreader Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:29:34 +0000 http://davefoord.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/why-do-vles-display-the-most-recent-items-at-the-bottom/#comment-670 Yes! I've often thought this. Yes!
I’ve often thought this.

]]> Comment on Using a digital camera with a 3 year old (and older learners) by Chris H. http://davefoord.wordpress.com/2009/09/30/using-a-digital-camera-with-a-3-year-old-and-older-learners/#comment-669 Chris H. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:54:37 +0000 http://davefoord.wordpress.com/?p=298#comment-669 What model camera did you buy? What model camera did you buy?

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