What is an OLE?
An Online Learning Environment (OLE) is the collection of online applications and tools that teachers and students in your school use to engage in learning activities. Typically this might involve the use of one or a combination of a Learning Management System, blogs, wikis, video sharing software and the like.
An OLE can benefit learning programmes in your school by providing an online space:
- where teachers and students can engage in learning activities outside scheduled classroom time
- that can be accessed from home, library or internet cafe
- where digital content to support learning can be stored and organised for students to access
- that provides a safe and secure environment for learning activities to take place
- where students, teachers and parents can share in the learning activities independent of time and place
- where students can work collaboratively on projects
- where students can publish and share their work.
Many teachers are already using online applications to enhance their learning programmes, and many schools have installed Learning Management Systems as a centrepiece of their online learning environment - but many are struggling to find the most effective way to maximize the potential of this investment.
Further reading:
Some useful entries on OLEs from Derek's Blog
OLE-MLE relationship - PDF download
