Virtual learning environments are software packages that are set up to allow students to learn in an online environment. The virtual learning environment will include elements that benefit both the teacher and the student, and will include components that are intended to offer most of the benefits of a physical classroom. Many people who want to pursue structured learning for college credit or attend courses that offer continuing education credits have been able to do so thanks to advancements in Internet technology since the 1990s.
A virtual learning environment, or VLE, allows the teacher or instructor to create a syllabus for the course. The more detailed syllabus that the instructor will use for the course can easily be converted into a student version. This feature allows the instructor to create both required resources at the same time.
Virtual learning environments also allow instructors to keep track of student progress on assignments, set up and administer exams to students, and manage all of the administrative details that come with running a structured learning environment. The instructor has the authority to grant access to the environment’s various components and resources. This allows for the sharing of teaching tools when necessary, as well as the restriction of access to the main learning tools that have been prepared for student use.
Students in a virtual learning environment, particularly in a distance learning scenario, can attend classes around their work schedules and other obligations. Despite the fact that the lectures and assignments are pre-recorded and can be viewed multiple times, the student still has access to the instructor. Email correspondence, interactive chats with the instructor and other students several times a week, and in some cases one-on-one online chats with the instructor are all part of many online learning environments.
While a virtual learning environment’s primary application is online, many of the resources can also be applied in a traditional learning environment. An instructor can use virtual learning software to create slide shows, lesson plans, and other materials that are suitable for use in a physical classroom. One of the newer applications is to use the software to create learning tools that are presented in the real world but then reviewed in a virtual environment.