VUMA!

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VUMA!
FROM INFANCY TO ADOLESCENCE STATUS OF THE VUMA!
PROJECT UNISA Library Research Seminar Friday 27
October 2006
www.vuma.ac.za Anke McCallum
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VUMA! LIFT OFF??

• Not ready to launch

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HISTORY OF VUMA!

• VUMA! developed out of early FOTIM initiatives in
  areas of learning solutions telecentres
• To enable member institutions improve levels of
  service to students
• Pilot Telecentre put on hold indefinitely
• Virtual Education Site supported by FOTIM Board

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HISTORY OF VUMA! cont

• Objective
• to broaden access to higher education programmes
• through a virtual site or portal
• Available to any student from any FOTIM member
  institution
• Providing access to a wide range of electronic
  services.
• Site would allow students to customise the
  service to suit their own needs

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YOUNG VUMA!

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YOUNG VUMA!
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ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

• FOTIM Exco and Board
• VUMA! Governing Board
• Task Teams
• Project Manager
• Web Master
• External consultants
• Administrative support

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VUMA! NAMED

• VUMA named by Grade 12 learners

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WHAT IS VUMA! ?

• A sophisticated website with some portal
  functionality, hosted on FOTIM server, accessed
  via Internet, providing managing access to
  variety of services
• - Links to relevant sites in public domain
• - Materials purchased by FOTIM
• - Materials made available by institutions e.g.
  life skills, study skills
• - Other appropriate materials

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WHAT IS VUMA! ?
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VIRTUAL TRAINING EXPERT

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INTENDED CONTENT

• Info on FOTIM institutions
• Practical advice on applying for loans, compiling
  CVs, portfolios etc.
• Life skills stress, depression, HIV/AIDS,
  sexual harassment
• Computer Information literacy
• Writing study skills, exam skills
• Typical exam questions, model answers
• Many more

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VUMA!S PLACE ON CAMPUS

• Not intended to duplicate services provided by
  institutions
• Added value
• Although intended to befun, aim is primarily
  academic and support
• Will target entry level learners initially
• Develop into a site for all

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VUMA!S PLACE ON CAMPUS
Campus Commons (SRC,Health,Sport,Learner Support)
INFORMAL LEARNING GOALS
Research Commons (Library, etc)
VUMA!
University Community
Knowledge/Information Commons (Library etc)
FORMAL LEARNING GOALS
Learning Commons (Web CT, etc)
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UNDERSTANDING THE NET GENERATION

• Net Generation- born 1980s
• Also called the Millennial Learner
• Life experiences that shapetodays learner are
  quite different
• Research shows the younger
• the age group, the higher
• the percentage that use Internet
• for school, work social

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LEARNING PREFERENCES

• Digitally literate
• Immediate multi-tasking
• Thrive on hands-on learning
• Social networking, mobile
• connected
• Prefer to learn work in
• teams
• Oriented to inductive learning
• crave interactivity
• Thrive in image-rich environments
• Mention Google more than going to the library

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ITS NOT ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY!

• Its always been there for the Net Generation
• They care about the activity technology enables,
  not technology per se
• Technology is invisible intuitive they
  multi-task, expect 24/7 access to information
  with zero tolerance for delays
• VUMA! niche Guide on the Side guide,
  support supplement formal learning

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IMPLEMENTATION

• Various challenges facing us
• Under pressure to implement a.s.a.p.
• Site requires new design pilot site not really
  student friendly
• Urgent need for content
• Urgent need to market to learners on campuses

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SUPPORT

• We need the support and cooperation of our
  institutions
• - senior management
• - computer centres
• - faculties
• - academic staff
• - SRCs
• - learners

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WHERE TO NOW?

• Appoint a Service Provider
• Design and Implementation
• of Beta Version, Sourcing of
• Content, Assessment,
• Maintenance Technical
• Support
• Marketing of Site to Studentson Campuses
• Launch during 2007??

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THANK YOU

• Anke McCallum
• Programme Manager
• FOTIM
• Tel [phone]
• Email anke_at_fotim.ac.za
• www.vuma.ac.za

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QUESTIONS?

• www.vuma.ac.za