Virtual learning environment
A virtual learning environment (VLE) is an education system based on the Web that models conventional real-world education by integrating a set of equivalent virtual concepts for tests, homework, classes, classrooms, and the like, and perhaps even museums and other external academic resources. It normally uses Web 2.0 tools for 2-way interaction, and includes a content management system.
Virtual learning environments are the basic component of contemporary distance learning, but can also be integrated with a physical learning environment.;[1] this is sometimes referred to as Blended Learning.
In 'Virtually There', a book and DVD pack given out freely to schools by the Yorkshire and Humber Grid for Learning Foundation (YHGfL), Professor Stephen Heppell writes in the foreword:
"Learning is breaking out of the narrow boxes that it was trapped in during the 20th century; teachers' professionalism, reflection and ingenuity are leading learning to places that genuinely excite this new generation of connected young school students — and their teachers too. VLEs are helping to make sure that their learning is not confined to a particular building, or restricted to any single location or moment."[2]
Similar terms
A Virtual Learning Environment is one of the ways of providing computerized learning or e-learning. Such systems are sometimes also called Learning Management System (LMS). Related concepts include" Content Management System (CMS), which properly refers to the organization of the educational or other content, not the overall environment; Learning Content Management System (LCMS), which is more often used for corporate training systems than for systems in education institutions; Managed Learning Environment (MLE), which normally refers to the overall infrastructure in an institution of which the VLE is a component, Learning Support System (LSS); Online Learning Centre (OLC); or Learning Platform (LP), education via computer-mediated communication (CMC); or Online Education.
The term LMS also means "Library Management System" (which is now more commonly referred to as Integrated Library System, or ILS.
Components
A VLE ideally will implement the following elements:
- The course syllabus
- Administrative information about the course: prerequisites, credits, registration, payments, physical sessions, and contact information for the instructor.
- A notice board for current information about the ongoing course
- The basic content of some or all of the course; the complete course for distance learning applications, or some part of it, when used as a portion of a conventional course. This normally includes material such as copies of lecture in the form of text, audio , or video presentations, and the supporting visual presentations
- Additional resources, either integrated or as links to outside resources. This typically consists of supplementary reading , or innovative equivalents for it.
- Self-assessment quizzes or analogous devices, normally scored automatically
- Formal assessment functions, such as examinations, essay submission, or presentation of projects. this now frequently includes components to support peer assesment
- Support for communications, including e-mail, threaded discussions, chat rooms, twitter and other media, sometimes with the instructor or an assistant acting as moderator. Additional elements include wikis, blogs, RSS and 3D virtual learning spaces.
- Management of access rights for instructors, their assistants, course support staff, and students
- Documentation and statistics as required for institutional administration and quality control
- Authoring tools for creating the necessary documents by the instructor, and , usually, submissions by the students
- Provision for the necessary hyperlinks to create a unified presentation to the students.
A VLE is normally not designed for a specific course or subject, but is capable of supporting multiple courses over the full range of the academic program, giving a consistent interface within the institution and—to some degree—with other institutions using the system.
Justification
Institutions of higher and further education use VLEs in order to:
- Economize on the time of teaching staff, and the cost of instruction.
- Facilitate the presentation of online learning by instructors without web authoring experience.
- Provide students instruction in a flexible manner to students with varying time and location constraints.
- Provide instruction in a manner familiar to the current web-oriented generation of students.
- Facilitate the networking of instruction between different campuses or even colleges.
- Provide for the resue of common material among different courses.
- Provide automatic integration of the results of student learning into campus information systems.
Standards
Most VLEs support the Shareable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) as a standard, but there are no commonly used standards that define how the learner's performance within a course can be transferred from one VLE to another.
There are also standards for sharing content. such as those defined by the IMS Global Consortium. Local bodies such as in the schools sector in the UK the DCSF via Becta have additionall defined a learning platform "conformance framework" to encourage interoperability.[3]
Virtual Learning Environments are not limited only to students and learners in university level studies. There are many virtual learning environments for students in grades k-12. These systems are also particularly suited for the needs of independent educational programs, charter schools and home-based education.
Assessing Virtual Learning Environments
In 2005, Walker and Fraser developed a method of assessment for assessing the psychosocial impact of virtual learning environment. In order to constructed and develop the virtual learning environment as a viable means of education, educators must have a tool to use when researching the effectiveness of the virtual learning. This assessment tool, known as the Distance Education Learning Environment Survey (DELES) is accessible to students anywhere.[4] The survey covers the following criteria: Instructor Support. Student Interaction and Collaboration, Personal Relevance, Authentic Learning, Active Learning, and Student Autonomy
The research of Harnish and Reeves focuses on the overall system of the virtual learning environment.[5] This systematic research is based on the criteria of training, implementation, system usage, communication, and support.
- Support
Systems available
There are many open source and proprietary VLEs available for use. On-demand elearning services are also a popular choice because they can be deployed in minutes and do not require instructors and institutions to run their own servers.
Many VLEs are placed on a web server. In a typical VLE there are one or more programs or languages that provides the user (Teacher-Student) interface, and which interacts with a database. For example, a VLE might use PHP as its web language/program, with MySQL as a database.
VLEs are increasingly found in new niches. These include new emerging technologies, as well as specialized markets. A VLE can be deployed on a USB drive as a child, which synchronizes from time to time with its web-based parent. VLEs can be used for training or in something as specialized as to meet ISO 9000 certification requirements.
Virtual world learning environments
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Emerging technologies include Sloodle, a merge of Second Life and Moodle, which integrates virtual worlds and course management.[6]
Another 3D virtual learning environment called Edusim brings a lessons driven 3D virtual environment to the classroom interactive whiteboard surface allowing the direct manipulation of 3D virtual objects. Umgumbo is an immersive 3D VLE set in a Newtonian simulation of the solar system. Still in development, Umgumbo will allow collaborative and interactive learning within personalized 3D spaces, including educational gaming, and is delivered from a single external website.
List of some virtual learning environments
Learning management systems
Course management systems
Free software and open source Course Management Systems
Virtual learning environment
- Alphastudy - Learning and knowledge portals
- Moodle - An open source (free) modular php virtual learning software
- Blackboard - A family of virtual learning software
- Democrasoft - Collaborize Classroom - A free online learning platform for teachers and students
- CyberExtension - Virtual Managed Learning Environment
- Desire2Learn - A suite of learning software
- Elluminate Live - An interactive classroom environment
- Fronter - Norwegian Learning Environment
- FirstClass - Messaging and communications solution
- Heritage Key – Virtual historical environments, such as Tutankhamun’s tomb.
- Instructure - A full-featured, open-source learning platform
- itslearning - Norwegian Learning Environment, delivered as Software as a Service (SaaS), market leader in Norway, Sweden and UK.
- Mingoville - Introduction to the English language. Age 8 to 12 (Virtual World and Language games)
- RCampus A Learning and ePortfolio Management System with both personal and institutional access
- Saba Centra - Part of a Human Capital Development System with Social Learning and Realtime Collaboration capabilities
- SpicyNodes - Create and share radial maps (related to concept maps and mind maps)
- WebCT - (Now a part of Blackboard) Software applications designed to enhance teaching and learning
- WebTrain - Virtual live classes, enrollment, attendance, attention monitoring.
- School VLE - Managed Virtual Learning Environment for Primary Schools
Other descriptions
See also
References
- ^ Dillenbourg, Pierre. "Virtual learning environments". EUN Conference 2000: Learning in the new millennium: Building new education strategies for schools. http://tecfa.unige.ch/tecfa/publicat/dil-papers-2/Dil.7.5.18.pdf.
- ^ Virtually There, Yorkshire and Humber Grid for Learning Foundation, UK.
- ^ Becta, UK.
- ^ Fraser, B. & Walker, S. (2005). "Development and validation of an instrument for assessing distance education learning environments in higher education: The Distance Education Learning Environments Survey (DELES)". Learning Environment Research. 8 (3)
- ^ Harnish, D., & Reeves, P. (2000). "Issues in the evaluation of large-scale two-way interactive distance learning systems". International Journal of Educational Telecommunications, 6 (3), 267-281.
- ^ Livingstone, D.; Kemp, J.. "Integrating Web-Based and 3D Learning Environments: Second Life Meets Moodle". UPGRADE (European Journal for the Informatics Professional) 9 (3): 8–14. http://www.upgrade-cepis.org/issues/2008/3/up9-3-Livingstone.pdf.
("Techtarget.com")'What is virtual learning environment'
Further reading
- Morgan, G. (2003). Faculty Use of Course Management Systems. 2, Retrieved November 27, 2005, from
- Paulsen, M. F. 2003. Online Education and Learning Management Systems - Global Elearning in a Scandinavian Perspective. Oslo: NKI Forlaget.
- Popat, K, MacLean, H, Heppell, S. (2007). Virtually There : Learning Platforms - YHGfL/Cleveratom ISBN 987-0-9556006-0-9
- Weller, M. (2007). Virtual Learning Environments: Using, choosing and developing your VLE - London. Routledge.
- Moult, R. R. (2005). Learning to listen: Using ICT to capture pupils’ perceptions and help the teacher to respond p19 [1]
- Seale J. (2009). A Research Briefing by the Technology Enhanced Learning Phase of the Teaching and Learning Research Programme [2]