[Part of an occasional series on Myths and Misconceptions in the world of technology enhanced learning]

We seem to be in the early stages of an important discussion in the TEL community. It’s one that I think will be a feature of lot of events and meet-ups for the next 12 months at least: is Teams a viable alternative to your VLE? 

I don’t think there’s a yes or no answer. In fact, I think the question is wrong. 

There’s already a lot of good reflection published online and I’ve linked to some of it below. This is just my reflection based on our work at Jisc with VLEs, our own use of Teams as a platform for learning and a visit Zac, Lawrie and I had to Microsoft’s UK mothership near Paddington a few weeks ago. 

I’m not the first to say it, but Teams is not a like for like swap for the VLE. They are fundamentally different types of system. This can be obscured by the fact that they share a lot of features. For example:

Both can be used to store documents and resources. 

Both can handle interaction, discussion and so on. 

Both can incorporate 3rd party plugins and add-ons to enhance functions. 

The difference comes down to the fundamental assumptions about how teaching and learning happens that are baked into the system design. 

Content and interaction

At the heart of the VLE is the idea that learning happens within a certain structure and focuses on the delivery of discrete units of learning and content.  I’d argue that content is key in the VLE universe.  

Teams’ assumption would be that the primary process, in our case learning, is interaction, either with teachers or with peers. Yes, it can be a store for content but I’d contend that the system is designed so the content supports the interaction, not vice versa. 

The point is arguable but I’m basing it on what happens when people follow the path of least resistance with these systems. As we observe with Jisc’s member institutions, the most common practice (not necessarily best practice, mind!) with VLEs is to use them as a file repository or assessment hub. They are capable of so much more and that’s something we try to encourage along with the TEL teams at most institutions. The fact remains, incorporating the social and interactive functions involves extra time and energy – both scarce resources for many teachers. 

Similarly, with Teams, the easiest thing to do from a technical perspective is to interact. It’s a communications platform first and foremost for people working in collaborative groups. We’ve chosen to use Teams as the principle platform for Jisc’s Digital Leader’s programme over a more traditional VLE. We are trying to encourage online engagement on the programme and once you’re in a team or channel, interacting with individuals or the group is only a click or two away. I’ve found the file management side of it, particularly it’s links with SharePoint, a bit perplexing at times, making it seem a bit like a secondary function.

It’s all about practice

The systems in use aren’t the only things creating paths of least resistance, of course. In education, it comes from a complex picture of quality assurance processes, assessment criteria, personal preferences and established practices. 

For me, there are a few key points to bear in mind. 

1. Can we use the opportunity that this extra attention on platforms gives us to think about how processes, systems and technologies simultaneously reflect and shape how learning happens in organisations? 
2. Teams-style platforms and VLE’s share characteristics but have different DNA. They’re also not mutually exclusive necessarily so we shouldn’t force ourselves into a binary debate. 
3. Moving to Teams will not be a magic bullet. Yes, it may solve some problems and offer new possibilities but will bring with it a whole new set of challenges and shortcomings. 

I think difficulties will arise if we try to get one platform, Teams say, to fulfill the same function as the VLE and in the process bringing along all the same practices as before. A move towards a more Teams-style ecosystem should come hand in hand with a re-appraisal of practices in teaching and learning. 

Further reading 

• Lewis Carr Is Moodle under threat from Microsoft Teams?
• Periscope video – Simon Kay (South Gloucestershire and Stroud College) and Chris Melia (UCLAN) tell their organisations’ stories of Teams adoption at Jisc’s Student Experience Experts meeting 17th October 2019
• Chris Melia Microsoft Teams – Moving from learner ‘management’, to learner autonomy and skills for the future.
• Lawrie Phipps Thinking aloud: MS Teams, Domain of One’s Own and EdTech