Design of a Virtual Learning Environment Implementation Framework for State Universities in the Philippines: A Case of Mariano Marcos State University

Abstract

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) provides a unified platform for content delivery, communications, assessment, and course management with managed interfaces linked to the institution’s central information systems and resources. A VLE is a web-based package designed to help teachers create online courses. It involves facilities for teacher-learner communication and peer-to-peer communication. Many universities nowadays are adopting VLE to support their respective teaching and learning process. With VLE, they can innovate the mode of the delivery of instruction as well as to introduce new pedagogy for learning and interaction among faculty and students. However, without a robust understanding of the user needs, the infrastructure and the technology requirements of the VLE, any implementation plans become futile. A well designed VLE implementation framework is, therefore, a vital precursor to the success of an effective implementation. The study presents a VLE implementation framework for State Universities in the Philippines specifically for the Mariano Marcos State University along three major elements: the users, the ICT infrastructure, and
the VLE architecture along with their unique implementation requirements. The design of the VLE implementation framework was based on the various inputs and results of the assessments undertaken in the study. The assessments include a) ICT e-Readiness in terms of its existing ICT infrastructure and users’ ICT profile, b) VLE functional requirements, components, features and capabilities and c) open source technologies for VLE implementation.