Building and testing a virtual university

As the number of students entering higher education increases along with the requirement for greater cost efficiency, the potential benefits of computer based learning (CBL) and computer based assessment (CBA) are great. The diversification into distance learning, community education and industrial training which higher education is currently exploring can also be enabled through the adoption of CBL and CBA, especially if they can be delivered over networks which reach into homes, offices and factories as well as educational institutions. Clyde Virtual University (CVU) is a test bed for exploring, developing and evaluating techniques for delivering learning materials, supporting collaborative learning and carrying out assessment over the Internet. CVU was conceived in the Summer of 1995. The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC) provided funds under its “Use of the MANs Initiative” from Autumn 1995 to Summer 1996. This paper reports on CVU’s first year of operation. During the year an extensive educational Web site has been designed and implemented. This report details the enhancements that were made to a basic Web server to create an educational site. It discusses the problems and design issues encountered when creating educational Web-based material. It examines the subject areas where courseware titles have been converted for Web delivery. Finally it concludes with CVU’s plans for the future now that it has been awarded a further 2 years funding from SHEFC.