Virtual Learning Environments

Selecting the right VLE is central to a successful e-learning plan.

What is a VLE?

Virtual Learning Environments (VLE), Learning Management Systems (LMS) and Learning Platforms are all terms used to describe an online software application that can be used to manage your e-learning content and learners. Typically they will include:

• A place to store and manage your learning content.
• Tools for enrolling, managing and mentoring your learners.
• Community building tools to enable communication and peer-to-peer learning.
• Testing, tracking and monitoring tools.
• Management reporting and analysis.

Which one should I use?

There are many VLEs on the market, each with their own pros and cons. The key is to find one that is:

• Aligned with your needs
• Easy for your learners to use
• Future-proof (this is a major software decision that will be difficult to unwind later)
• Well supported (either through a commercial contract or open source community)
• Affordable in relation to the size of your organisation and scale of use.

Moodle is a free, Open-Source VLE with a large and growing global user base. It is popular with educational institutions and corporate users alike and is often a good starting point. We have experience with uploading content to Moodle and other VLEs, but for assistance with the installation, configuration and support of a VLE, we can recommend specialists in this area.

Contact us for a free initial discussion.