The VLE as the converging platform

The evolving nature and speed of technology changes and progressions created a major challenge for Higher Education Institutions (HEI) to present a working platform that can effectively and efficiently support teaching and learning. The predominant end users such as the teachers (otherwise referred to as academics) and students need to have the relevant technical skills and knowledge to use the platform to meet their respective needs for teaching and learning. Technically, as a converging platform, the VLE has to be reasonably robust in its capacity to support the end users not only in terms of repository usage but also in facilitating the interactive activities that generate high digital traffic. To create a working VLE environment, it is essential to consider some key areas such as mandates of the HEIs pertaining to the educational delivery methods, the functional needs of the course delivery, teaching design and requirements, technical skills and needs of the diverse population of the academics and students. This report explores and discusses the realms of the converging platform and the diverse end users, and how HEIs are managing these aspects to meet the future needs of each in-coming cohort of students who enter HEIs with a background that is increasingly exposed to converging technologies, as well as updating the skills and knowledge of the existing users. It also considers the balance needed to achieve the right "mix" of technology and technical capacity on offer. HEIs have to continually transform and progress at a reasonable pace with that of the transforming technology to be able to tap on the best afforded by converging technologies. A right balance can produce achievable results for their end users.