VIRTUAL
LEARNING ENVIRONMENT (VLE)
A virtual learning
environment (VLE) is a set of teaching and learning tools designed to enhance a
student's learning experience by including computers and the Internet in the
learning process. The principal components of a VLE package include curriculum
mapping (breaking curriculum into sections that can be assigned and assessed),
student tracking, online support for both teacher and student, electronic
communication (e-mail, threaded discussions, chat, Web publishing), and
Internet links to outside curriculum resources. In general, VLE users are
assigned either a teacher ID or a student ID. The teacher sees what a student
sees, but the teacher has additional user rights to create or modify curriculum
content and track student performance. There are a number of commercial VLE
software packages available, including Blackboard, WebCT, Lotus Learning Space,
and COSE.
Advantages
1.
Communication – opens up an infinite number of
channels in the format of forums, discussion threads, polls, and surveys –
instant feedback either as a group or individually
2. Producing work – students do not physically have to find their teacher to hand in work due to secure virtual ‘hand-in’ folders that have time windows
3. Resource hub – teachers have infinite online storage space for ppts, docs, worksheets etc. that can either be secure or shared with students
4. Dynamic home pages – teachers have the opportunity to create an exciting virtual space to represent their room/subject
5. Links to outside sources – pathways to all other online learning spaces are linked via the VLE
6. Embedded content – YouTube, BBC, and newspapers can all be embedded as the dynamic feed of the homepage
7. Podcasts & videos – both teacher- and student-produced podcasts and videos have a shared platform; again, either secure or shared.
2. Producing work – students do not physically have to find their teacher to hand in work due to secure virtual ‘hand-in’ folders that have time windows
3. Resource hub – teachers have infinite online storage space for ppts, docs, worksheets etc. that can either be secure or shared with students
4. Dynamic home pages – teachers have the opportunity to create an exciting virtual space to represent their room/subject
5. Links to outside sources – pathways to all other online learning spaces are linked via the VLE
6. Embedded content – YouTube, BBC, and newspapers can all be embedded as the dynamic feed of the homepage
7. Podcasts & videos – both teacher- and student-produced podcasts and videos have a shared platform; again, either secure or shared.
Disadvantages
Although the benefits of using a Virtual Learning
Environment in schools are obvious, there are plenty of sticking points to
consider. As the learners themselves are all ‘Digital Natives’, the educators
tend to be starting from a disadvantage as their own IT skills tend to be
lacking when compared to the current IT savvy youth of today. Making any VLE as
dynamic or versatile as Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter is a tall order and
virtually impossible for an IT specialist teacher.
One of the negative issues about VLEs in general is the fact that, possibly due to the security of the school’s MIS data, users have to physically go and ‘log-in’ to their VLE – no ‘pinging’ of new posts, discussions, comments etc. to their mobile devices – and this is a major downside to most students and staff.
One of the negative issues about VLEs in general is the fact that, possibly due to the security of the school’s MIS data, users have to physically go and ‘log-in’ to their VLE – no ‘pinging’ of new posts, discussions, comments etc. to their mobile devices – and this is a major downside to most students and staff.
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