In February of this year, 20 years have passed since the launch of a pioneering project at the state level by the University of Valencia’s IT Service (SIUV): the AulaVirtual (AV) of our university. It is a learning management platform that allows for the administration of content, activities, and communication required for teaching in our university programs. The UV has had two AV platforms, both of which were open-source: the initial one used was “.LRN,” and starting from 2010, it was replaced by Moodle.
The AV introduced new technology that enhanced the learning process, and since then, it has evolved by incorporating tools that enable more active and student-centered teaching. It has also facilitated innovative teaching methodologies within our university. Beyond official courses and degree programs, the AV has been extended to other areas, including MOOCs, specialized training, administrative management, and academic bodies.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the AV played a crucial role in ensuring the continuity of education. It allowed for teaching and assessment while demonstrating that alternative teaching methods and learning models were feasible. Today, the AV boasts over 500 plugins, enabling features such as group formation, various types of quizzes and assignments, workshops, interactive classroom activities, video conferencing, and more. Additionally, it provides monitoring capabilities to track student progress and configure both formative and summative assessment.
In the last four years, more than 70,000 courses and communities have been created in AV, there are more than 280,000 users, and more than 1,470,000 activities have been carried out