What is a Virtual Learning Environment?
Virtual learning environments are software packages that are configured to allow the educational process to occur in an online situation. Containing components that are intended to offer most of the benefits of a physical classroom, the virtual learning environment will include elements that benefit both the teacher and the student. Since the 1990’s, advances in Internet technology has made the use of a virtual learning environment practical for many people who wish to pursue structured learning for college credit as well as attend courses that offer continuing education credits. For the teacher or instructor, a virtual learning environment, or VLE, allows for the creation of a syllabus for the course. A student version can easily be created from the more detailed syllabus that the instructor will use for the course. This feature effectively allows the instructor to create to necessary resources at one time. Virtual learning environments will also allow the instructor to track student
A Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is a web-based software system designed to facilitate teachers in the delivery of online educational experiences for their students. VLEs provide a set of teaching and learning tools designed to enhance a student’s learning experience by integrating technology in the learning process. VLEs can be used to teach courses entirely online or to support face-to-face instruction. VLEs are sometimes referred to as Course Management Systems (CMS) or Learning Management Systems (LMS) or Managed Learning Environments (MLE). Some common commercial VLEs include BlackBoard and WebCT. SqoolTools is a virtual learning environment, built on Moodle open source software. It has been configured to meet the needs of K-12 teachers and students. It allows teachers to create interactive websites to either support classroom instruction or to deliver instruction completely online. SqoolTools provides a wide variety of tools that support most instructional and classroom manag
A virtual learning environment is an online set of tools and spaces that are managed by the institution for use in supporting teaching and learning. It is password protected and has a number of privilege settings. Typically learners are enrolled on a course(s) that are managed by the subject teaching/support staff. The course is available online and available 24/7 365 days a year with the exception of a short period for nightly backups or upgrades. Not surprisingly for learners, but for most staff, is that the learners will use the VLE over the full 24hr period and not the 9am – to 6pm of most teaching staff. A VLE can be used for distance learning courses where all teaching, support and learning takes place within the VLE and also for traditionally taught courses where the VLE is used to further support the learners. This latter usage is called a blended approach. Typical tools of a VLE include: • Communication tools (Discussion boards, wikis, blogs, chat) • Assessment tools (quizzes,
– a space in which network supported/enhanced teaching and learning may take place. Some VLEs use the concepts of house or building and room, where the VLE is the house or building belonging to the institution (school, college or university) and the rooms within it are classes or groups of students. The Room Filled with Voices is our metaphor for a room in such a virtual building within which the learning and teaching goes on. – an intranet or local network connected to the Internet. The difference between such an intranet and the Internet is An intranet is a network within an organization which is password protected whereas the Internet is a worldwide network to which anyone with a computer has access. It has the structure and tools for organising learning and creating interactivity and dialogue. An intranet has access to Internet but the converse does not apply. An intranet uses several tools which are also available freely on the Internet, like chat and email, but it has additional
