study of environments to support e- learning in uk further and ... - Jisc

ANNEX 1 - SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE (2005 VERSION)
STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTS TO SUPPORT e-LEARNING IN UK FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION
This survey seeks to identify the current picture and trends in UK Further and Higher Education
Institutions with regard to a broad range of processes and environments in which e-learning takes
place. It follows on from the Managed Learning Environment (MLE) Landscape survey conducted
in 2003 (see http://www.jisc.ac.uk/project_mle_activity.html), but is wider in scope.
The focus is on the extent of integration of business processes, services and systems in support of
learning and teaching within and across institutions, and how the whole range of e-learning
systems can and do fit together.
In this area of educational development terms are not always used or understood in the same way
by those operating in the field. Some key terms used in this survey are:
Managed Learning Environment (MLE) refers to the whole range of information systems and
processes of an institution (including its VLE if it has one) that contribute directly or indirectly to
learning and the management of that learning.
Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) refers to the component(s) within an MLE that provides the
“online” interactions of various kinds which can take place between learners and tutors, including
online learning.
Portal refers to a network service that brings together diverse/distributed content and services into
an amalgamated form for presentation to the user. The presentation is usually via a web browser
and can be customised and personalised for the individual user.
The precise terms used may or may not reflect those used by your institution – don’t worry, the aim
of the survey is to look at the functionality of your systems, whatever they happen to be called.
The research team are also interested in responses from institutions that have as yet done little or
no work in these areas.
Completing the questionnaire
The questionnaire has been given to you as someone with an institution-wide perspective.
However, you may want to consult with colleagues on some of the more detailed questions, for
example, those about VLEs. Other institutions that have helped develop the questionnaire have
found it can take an hour or two to complete the questionnaire.
There is an online version of the questionnaire available via the study web-site
(www.mlestudy.ac.uk). Should you require further copies to hand around to colleagues then a
Microsoft Word version can be downloaded from the study web-site.
If you have any questions then please get in touch with the survey helpline at The Research
Partnership on 08707 448801 or mlesurvey@researchpartnership.org.uk
If you do contact us then it would help to quote your reference number, which is ……………..
Please return the completed questionnaire to The Research Partnership in the reply paid envelope
provided, by Friday 18 th March.
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