VUMA!VUMA!

www.vuma.ac.za

Anke McCallum

FROM INFANCY TO ADOLESCENCE: STATUS OF THE

VUMA! PROJECT

UNISA Library Research Seminar

Friday 27 October 2006

VUMA! – LIFT OFF??VUMA! – LIFT OFF??

Not ready to launchNot ready to launch

HISTORY OF VUMA!HISTORY OF VUMA!

VUMA! developed out of early FOTIM VUMA! developed out of early FOTIM initiatives in areas of learning solutions initiatives in areas of learning solutions & telecentres& telecentres

To enable member institutions improve To enable member institutions improve levels of service to studentslevels of service to students

Pilot Telecentre – put on hold indefinitelyPilot Telecentre – put on hold indefinitely Virtual Education Site – supported by Virtual Education Site – supported by

FOTIM BoardFOTIM Board

HISTORY OF VUMA! contHISTORY OF VUMA! cont

Objective : Objective : to broaden access to higher education to broaden access to higher education

programmesprogrammes through a virtual site or portalthrough a virtual site or portal Available to any student from any FOTIM Available to any student from any FOTIM

member institutionmember institution Providing access to a wide range of Providing access to a wide range of

electronic services.electronic services. Site would allow students to customise Site would allow students to customise

the service to suit their own needsthe service to suit their own needs

YOUNG VUMA!YOUNG VUMA!

YOUNG VUMA!YOUNG VUMA!

ORGANISATIONAL ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURESTRUCTURE FOTIM Exco and BoardFOTIM Exco and Board VUMA! Governing Board VUMA! Governing Board Task TeamsTask Teams Project ManagerProject Manager Web MasterWeb Master External consultantsExternal consultants Administrative supportAdministrative support

VUMA! NAMEDVUMA! NAMED

VUMA named by Grade 12 learnersVUMA named by Grade 12 learners

WHAT IS VUMA! ?WHAT IS VUMA! ?

A sophisticated website with some portal A sophisticated website with some portal functionality, hosted on FOTIM server, functionality, hosted on FOTIM server, accessed via Internet, providing & accessed via Internet, providing & managing access to variety of services :managing access to variety of services :

-- Links to relevant sites in public Links to relevant sites in public domaindomain

-- Materials purchased by FOTIMMaterials purchased by FOTIM

-- Materials made available by Materials made available by institutions institutions e.g. e.g. life skills, study skills life skills, study skills

-- Other appropriate materialsOther appropriate materials

WHAT IS VUMA! ?WHAT IS VUMA! ?

VIRTUAL TRAINING VIRTUAL TRAINING EXPERTEXPERT

INTENDED CONTENTINTENDED CONTENT

Info on FOTIM institutionsInfo on FOTIM institutions Practical advice on applying for loans, Practical advice on applying for loans,

compiling CVs, portfolios etc.compiling CVs, portfolios etc. Life skills – stress, depression, HIV/AIDS, Life skills – stress, depression, HIV/AIDS,

sexual harassment sexual harassment Computer & Information literacyComputer & Information literacy Writing & study skills, exam skillsWriting & study skills, exam skills Typical exam questions, model answers Typical exam questions, model answers Many more… Many more…

VUMA!’S PLACE ON CAMPUSVUMA!’S PLACE ON CAMPUS

Not intended to duplicate services Not intended to duplicate services provided by institutionsprovided by institutions

““Added value” Added value” Although intended to beAlthough intended to be

fun, aim is primarily fun, aim is primarily academic and supportacademic and support

Will target entry level Will target entry level learners initiallylearners initially

Develop into a site for allDevelop into a site for all

VUMA!’S PLACE ON VUMA!’S PLACE ON CAMPUSCAMPUS

University Community

Research Commons

(Library, etc)

Learning Commons

(Web CT, etc)

Knowledge/Information Commons

(Library etc)

Campus Commons

(SRC,Health,Sport,Learner Support)

FORMAL LEARNING

GOALS

INFORMAL LEARNING

GOALS

VUMA!

UNDERSTANDING THE UNDERSTANDING THE NET GENERATIONNET GENERATION

Net Generation- born 1980s + Net Generation- born 1980s + Also called the Millennial Learner”Also called the Millennial Learner” Life experiences that shapeLife experiences that shape

today’s learner are quite different today’s learner are quite different Research shows: the younger Research shows: the younger

the age group, the higher the age group, the higher

the percentage that use Internet the percentage that use Internet

for school, work & social for school, work & social

LEARNING PREFERENCESLEARNING PREFERENCES

Digitally literateDigitally literate Immediate & multi-tasking Immediate & multi-tasking Thrive on hands-on learning Thrive on hands-on learning Social networking, mobile & Social networking, mobile &

connected connected Prefer to learn & work in Prefer to learn & work in

teamsteams Oriented to inductive learning Oriented to inductive learning

& crave interactivity& crave interactivity Thrive in image-rich environments Thrive in image-rich environments Mention Google more than going to the library Mention Google more than going to the library

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE IT’S NOT ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY!TECHNOLOGY!

It’s always been there for the Net It’s always been there for the Net Generation Generation

They care about the activity technology They care about the activity technology enables, not technology per seenables, not technology per se

Technology is invisible & intuitive – they Technology is invisible & intuitive – they multi-task, expect 24/7 access to multi-task, expect 24/7 access to information with zero tolerance for delaysinformation with zero tolerance for delays

VUMA! niche – “Guide on the Side” – guide, VUMA! niche – “Guide on the Side” – guide, support & supplement formal learning support & supplement formal learning

IMPLEMENTATIONIMPLEMENTATION

Various challenges facing usVarious challenges facing us Under pressure to implement Under pressure to implement

a.s.a.p. a.s.a.p. Site requires new design – pilot Site requires new design – pilot

site not really “student friendly”site not really “student friendly” Urgent need for contentUrgent need for content Urgent need to market to learners Urgent need to market to learners

on campuseson campuses

SUPPORTSUPPORT

We need the support and We need the support and cooperation of our institutionscooperation of our institutions-- senior managementsenior management-- computer centrescomputer centres-- facultiesfaculties-- academic staffacademic staff-- SRCsSRCs-- learnerslearners

WHERE TO NOW?WHERE TO NOW?

Appoint a Service ProviderAppoint a Service Provider Design and Implementation Design and Implementation

of Beta Version, Sourcing ofof Beta Version, Sourcing ofContent, Assessment, Content, Assessment, Maintenance & Technical Maintenance & Technical SupportSupport

Marketing of Site to StudentsMarketing of Site to Studentson Campuseson Campuses

Launch during 2007??Launch during 2007??

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

Anke McCallumAnke McCallum

Programme ManagerProgramme Manager

FOTIMFOTIM

Tel : 011 318 2848Tel : 011 318 2848

Email : Email : anke@fotim.ac.zaanke@fotim.ac.za

www.vuma.ac.zawww.vuma.ac.za

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

www.vuma.ac.zawww.vuma.ac.za