It's day one of the master plan to implement a VLE for your organisation.

You have, if you hadn't already, started to learn about the benefits of using eLearning¹ and you may have witnessed colleagues in other learning providers delivering content through different systems.

Where on Earth do you start with this huge task to implement a system?

To successfully implement a VLE System a strategy is needed, a working document that outlines what you want to achieve and how you will achieve it. It must be decided upon by a variety of people (including management) as, even with open source VLEs there is a cost!

The first task is to organize a team of staff (a Steering Group) who are motivated and enthusiastic about teaching and learning and technology. Individuals cannot wade successfully through this process on their own and keep up with all of their teaching and/or other commitments. If the load can be shared with others and their ideas and enthusiasm utilized, the process of implementation is a lot smoother. If a learning provider already has such a group of staff so much the better. Management teams will have their own ideas on what should be implemented and what they would like to see in their institute. It is important that the steering group looks at what they want to achieve.

Your steering group will be able to produce your strategy documents after a little internal and external research has been undertaken.

A step-by-step method for strategic & operational planning...

1. Experience? Where are we coming from? -Traditions? Culture/Management Style? Resistance to change?
   
2. Direction? Where are we heading (if we keep going)?
   
3. Situation Now? Where are we now? - Specifically? Evidence?
   
4. Outcome Desired? Where do we want to be? - Mission? (Statement of purpose, vocation, ethic or policy) Objective? (Critical difference in expected performance)
   
5. Deadline? When do we want to be there? - Specifically?
   
6. Action Steps? How will we get there? - Strategy? (Options/choice) Sub-Objectives? Resources Needed?

Note: You may find it useful to take a look at the GoAnimate animations available in the Scrumy section of this resource, under VLE Implementation: uNET Support.

¹See the The eLearning Advantage Tool in The Starting Point section of this resource or go to http://www.rsc-northwest.ac.uk/acl/eLearningAdvantage/EffectivePractice/index.htm