University of Tasmania, Australia

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MyLO at UTAS

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Adoption of online learning at UTAS

In 2001, along with TAFE Tasmania and the State schools sector, the University adopted what was then WebCT Campus edition as its centrally-supported learning management system. In 2005, WebCT Vista fully replaced Campus edition. In 2006 the WebCT company merged with Blackboard and the product name changed to Blackboard Learning System Vista Enterprise License.

UTAS took that opportunity to give the learning management system a new name. This was for a number of reasons: there was quite a bit of confusion between Vista (the learning management system) and Vista (the Microsoft operating system) and rather than continually changing the name, the UTAS community was involved in suggesting a new name that can be used regardless of any future changes to the product. The new name is now MyLO or My Learning Online.

Reasons for adopting online learning

To broaden access to programs

Flexible teaching and learning has been identified by this university as a key strategy to improve student access to the UTAS programs (see Teaching and Learning Plan (PDF 100KB)). With operations spread across Hobart, Launceston and Burnie, many students are unable to access the full range of programs on offer. Flexible delivery is seen as one way in which access can be broadened, and online delivery is one major means of enhancing flexibility for both staff and students. It also provides the potential to offer programs to students outside Tasmania—both interstate and overseas. A number of schools (e.g. School of Management) are using MyLO to deliver learning opportunities offshore.

To provide a different avenue for 'dialogue' between staff and students

Online teaching and learning allows for a new mix between face-to-face communication, independent work on the part of students, and communication via the web.

  • For students, who are increasingly needing to juggle work, study and family commitments, the web gives them more choices over where, when and how they learn. It can also cater for differences in learning preferences and styles through its capacity to provide information in a variety of ways, and via a variety of pathways.
  • For staff, the web offers new strategies and avenues for enhancing student learning, and thus broadens the range of possibilities in organising for that learning. Web-based and face-to-face teaching can be integrated and combined in a variety of ways to promote learning, and tailored to meet the needs of the particular student cohort.

To assist staff in managing their workload

  • Online teaching and learning can allow staff to more flexibly organise their workload and teaching times.
  • It can allow teaching across campuses to be accommodated without the necessity to travel on a regular basis or as often as required for a unit delivered only by face-to-face means.
  • Online teaching and learning can allow for more collaboration and cooperation between teaching staff at different campuses. Different scopes for team teaching are possible.

What MyLO provides

MyLO provides a range of tools for staff to teach and/or present all or part of their unit online. Included are communications tools that allow teaching staff and students to interact with each other, tools for presenting content and students' work, and a number of other valuable learning tools (e.g. blogs, journals, self tests and quizzes). It also provides teaching staff with a range of tools to monitor and manage student progress, and generally manage the online unit.

See Overview of MyLO Tools & Functions (PDF 590KB) for an overview of the main tools and other facilities within MyLO.

Models of online learning at UTAS

MyLO is used in a variety of contexts within the University. Three major patterns, or models, are evident in unit delivery:

1. The web-supported (or supplementary) model

MyLO is used to supplement face-to-face or distance (print-based) education delivery.

2. The web-dependent (or 'blended') model

Use of MyLO is an integral part of the unit program and complements face-to-face or print-based distance delivery.

3. The fully online model

MyLO is required for access to, and interaction with educational content, communications between teaching staff and students, and for aspects of assessment (e.g. assignment posting).

Balance of models

The web-supported/supplementary model is the most common form of usage at UTAS. However, the number and proportion of web-dependent units is expected to steadily increase as student access to on-campus computers improves and cross campus access to programs is enhanced.

Want more information on these models?

For more detailed information, see Models for teaching and learning online (PDF 23KB).

For information on how you can use MyLO according to these models, see Ways to use MyLO within your unit (PDF 61KB).