The macro level: students’ experience of using virtual learning

environments across Irish Higher Education

Angélica Rísquez, PhD CTL, University of Limerick          @angelica_tel

Source: http://www.webanywhere.co.uk/blog/2012/

04/choosing-vle/

Source: www.ldusalford.wordpress.com

Source: www. blog.yacapaca.com

Robert CosgraveDamien Raftery Eamon Costello 

Theresa Logan-PhelanNuala Harding Claire McAvinia Tom Farrelly Anne O’Keefe

… and growing… 

Source: www.jazzcollab.com

Multi-institutional group (13 HEs) since 2008 o Open participationo Anonymous and colleguiate sharingo Common detailed questionnaireo Over 21,000 student responses

http://ilta.ie/activities/research-projects/

http://ilta.ie/edtech/edtech-2013/conference-videos/

http://edin.ie/pubs/ei3-chapters/ei3-ch8.pdf

self-selectionresponse rates... yet, consistent

results!

Comparable dataset two years apart (~8,500 responses) for 4 of those institutions…

Findings

I think systems the VLE are helpful

What do you use the VLE for?

Receives grades for taking quizzes/tests within VLE

Receives grades for participating in discussion forums

If you do not use the VLE, why not?

Meeting flexibility requirements

VLEs and attendance

How does the VLE influence learning?

Getting notes on [VLE] makes me less likely to go to lectures

Access and communication

How does the VLE influence communication?

'If I can't attend college because of being sick, or family commitments, I don't feel completely lost as I

can keep track of everything in [the VLE]'

… Staff survey and ongoing review of student survey

Source: http://www.cagle.com