VLE versus PLE – not dead yet?

"I'm not dead"...

Here’s a fascinating discussion that took place at this year’s ALT-C conference. Some deep issues are explored here, including systems implementation, student ownership of learning, commodification of education in the late 1990s, and what, for me, is the core question – is a VLE a learning system in itself, or simply a content management system for learning materials?

At one point a speaker asks three revealing questions:

• “How many of you have a VLE?” (all hands go up)
• “How many of you go to your VLE when you want to learn something?” (one hand goes up)
• “How many of you go to Google when you want to learn something?” (all hands go up)

Amusingly the next speaker replaces question 2 with;

• “How many of you go to a lecture when you want to learn something?” (one hand goes up)

These issues are complex, and start to incorporate social networks, RSS and learner autonomy as the debate progresses. Watch the video and decide which side you come down on.