The VLE sucks

The ALT-C 'VLE is dead' symposium attracted a huge audience. It was like the Black Hole of Calcutta in that room, as anyone who was there will tell you. Each of our panel of four presented our cases, some arguing for and some against the demise of the VLE. Funeral notices were issued during the Conference. Heated tirades and hissy fits were traded over the blogosphere for weeks beforehand. The entire event, some cynical commentators would suggest, was hyped more than any other ALT-C presentation. The symposium video has been downloaded and watched by a cast of thousands. Some people actually went as far as to say that the VLE is dead symposium was the centre-piece of ALT-C 2009. Me? I couldn't possibly comment. All I know is that it was so popular that some people wanted us to do it all over again.

So we have now given in to popular demand. On December 16th, at 1pm in a neutral venue (er....the University of Wolverhampton) the panel will go head to head (to head to head) all over again in another heated debate over the future (or lack of future) of the institutional VLE. James Clay will argue that the VLE still has some life left in it. Nick Sharratt will go even farther, suggesting that VLEs are the best thing since sliced bread. Graham Attwell will probably talk the most sense, providing a real alternative - the PLE. I suspect we will again come to no consensus, but don't let that put you off. Variety is the Spice (Girl) of life we never saw - unless it's our chair for the debate - Josie Fraser. This is an open invitation event, and places are limited so book here soon to avoid disappointment.

The only difference is that the Midlands event is entitled 'The VLE is undead' (Official tag for the event is: #VLEundead). Undead hmm? I can actually find myself concurring with this sentiment. Undead signifies a vampirical nature, and institutional VLEs do indeed tend to suck the lifeblood out of institutions, giving little back. This is an important issue folks. The future of education is at stake, and the puncture wounds are everywhere to be seen: Students who are disengaged or bored with homogenous, bland content that sits in the 'Learning Management System'. Disenchanted staff who pay lip service to a lumbering system that very few people really want to use, because either it is too time consuming to use effectively, too difficult to navigate or simply unfit for purpose. The institution suffers too of course, because huge maintenance and upgrade fees and user contract payments have to be forked out each year, from steadily dwindling funds. And of course, just like a vampire, the VLE looms there, really not knowing that it is actually dead. Unfit for purpose.... undead. So I'm changing my mantra. The institutional VLE sucks.

How did we get ourselves into this corporate quagmire? And how do we drag ourselves out? How can we find a more liberating solution to the problems of digital learning? Does lifelong learning need to be as closely managed as it actually is in universities? What is the institution actually trying to protect itself from when it erects these dreadful walled gardens? And where is the University of Wolverhampton? These are the questions we will engage with on December 16th. Bring stakes, holy water and garlic cloves along with you. This is a fight to the undeath. And I am van Helsing....

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